She has been ranked the richest African American of the 20th century, the greatest black philanthropist in American history, and was once the world’s only black billionaire.

Some consider Oprah to be the most influential woman in the world.

Winfrey was born into poverty in rural Mississippi to a teenage single mother; she was later raised in an inner-city Milwaukee neighborhood.  Oprah went though considerable hardship during her childhood, but has become a person of great success.

7 Amazing Life Lessons from Oprah:

1. See What You Want to Be

“When I look into the future, it’s so bright it burns my eyes.”

What do you see when you look into your future? What you see is what you’ll get.  Do you see your future as so bright it burns your eyes?  If you do, then that’s what you’re going to get.  If you see your future as “average,” then that’s exactly what you’ll get as well.

Your perception of your future will eventually become your reality, so begin to see what you want to be today.

2. You Must Change

“We can’t become what we need to be by remaining what we are.”

As I often say, in order to have more, you must become more.  Nothing changes in your life until you grow.  What are you doing (daily) to grow, to change?  If you’re not changing, you should not expect your life to change.  To the degree that you change, is to the degree that your life will change.  If you keep on doing, what you’ve always been doing, you’re going to keep on getting the results you’ve always been getting, to expect otherwise is insane.

3. We All Fall Down

“Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it.”

Imagine if a small child quit trying to learn how to walk after falling down twenty times.  Imagine if he or she said, “I guess this walking thing isn’t for me.”  In life you will fail, you will make mistakes, you will get discouraged, but you must not quit.  Every failure is a step in the right direction.  The only people not failing are the people who are not stretching themselves beyond their current comfort zone.  Dare to fail until you succeed.

4. Maximize Your Potential

“The whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you were intended to be.”

Are you maximizing your potential?  Are you utilizing 100 percent of your skills, talents, and knowledge, or are you settling.  The purpose of life is to grow, to become all that you were intended to be.

Your purpose is to grow big enough so that you can help others, so the question is, are you maximizing your potential?

5. Think Bigger

“What God intended for you goes far beyond anything you can imagine.”

So many people live beneath their capabilities because they are riddled with guilt by the thought of living a lavish life.  Your creator intended for you to have the best, and to become your very best.  The best was made for you!  If not you, then who?

6. Focus on the Good

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”

As we all know, what you focus on expands!  If you focus on the good, you will get more of it.  If you focus on lack and poverty, you will get more of that as well.  Learn to recognize the good in your life; give thanks for it everyday.  Soon your focus will change, and so will your life.

7. The Power of Passion

“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”

Passion is experienced when you do what you love.  Passion is power!  Discover your passion, and dedicate your life to fulfilling that passion, no matter how long it takes.

Thank you for reading and be sure to pass this along!

Written on 2/26/2010 by Mr. Self Development who is a motivational author that offers a practical guide to success and wealth; support him by visiting his blog at mrselfdevelopment.com. .