Packing a Suitcase of Oprah Wisdom

posted 13th July 2011    Written by: Laura    CATEGORY: Inspiration, Laura, Season 4, What I've Learned

It’s hard to believe that my journey on Stratejoy is nearing its conclusion. I’ve gained so much from having to look inward and consistently come up with something introspective to share. That habitual pattern is the main reason I wanted to be a Stratejoy blogger in the first place. I knew it would be good for me to show up here, for you, every week, and to follow along as five other amazing women did the same.

But as the six-month ride comes to a close, I’m planning on taking a bit of an Internet break. For a little while at least, I’ll be replacing the time I’d normally spend with you with reading a book or journalling instead. To prepare for that, I’ve been trying to think of a few pieces of wisdom to take with me. A few self-care reminders to write on my whiteboard and keep top of mind, even if I’m not “working on myself” with the same formality that connecting with the Stratejoy tribe has given me.

It feels a bit like deciding what to pack in my suitcase for a vacation. Bring enough, but not too much. There’s room for some comforts from home, but not all of them. And so, I’m packing four pieces of advice in particular.

As cheesy as it my sound, some of my favourite nuggets of Oprah wisdom are what’s making it into the suitcase. They’re not lessons I specially gained from all of you. They’re not Molly-isms. Hell, they’re not even Laura-isms. Rather, they’re just things that feel like the right comforts to bring along this time.

They are:

1. Lead from where you are. Countless success stories began with someone doing the best they could, from wherever they were. I’d like to think I’ve done this throughout my adult life, at least from time to time, but I want to embody it even more. Ask the questions no one else is asking, be confident, and believe in the infinite potential of human beings. Those are three ways I will be leading from where I am.

2. Project your compassion, not your ego. Or as I sometimes like to put it, “wear someone else’s shoes.” But while I’ve been preaching this for a long time, it can be really challenging to practice. It’s easy to get wrapped up in how I’m feeling, what I want, what I think I deserve, the way I see things, and the things I want to have. And yes I know, it’s pretty easy for any of us to do that; we’re human. But the key word here for me is “project“. It reminds me that having selfish thoughts and projecting them onto others are two different things. So too are having compassion for others and showing it.

3. Take responsibility for your energy. As an energy-sensitive gal, I can’t even tell you how much love I have for these five words. I feel like so often, we underestimate the impact our energy has on others. For me, this is about remembering that we’re all interconnected. Whether we’re smiling, or our brow is furrowed, or we’re flustered, or breathing quickly – the energy and feelings behind those expressions leak out into the spaces we’re in and affect everyone else who’s in that space. Powerful stuff.

4. Listen. If for no other reason than everybody wants to be heard. Instead of jumping to conclusions, making assumptions, and judging people, I’m going to try to pause. Ask questions. Listen to what is said. Listen to what’s not being said. I believe that listening is one of the most valuable things we can do for ourselves and others. I also believe it’s way easier said than done.

As a few of the Stratejoy girls have talked about this season, we’ve all got a lot goin’ on. A lot of choices, a lot of joy, a lot of goals, and a whole lot of dreams and desires. And while I give all of us mad props for having crazy amounts of passion, ambition and self-awareness, I’m realizing more and more the value of quieting my mind. Maybe for a moment. Maybe for a day. Maybe for a moment several times every day. That’s what I hope these four gems help me do, and that’s why they make it into the suitcase this time.

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Comments (1)

One Response to “Packing a Suitcase of Oprah Wisdom”

  • Katie [blogs] Says:
    July 20th, 2011 at 6:05 pm

    I LOVE that you're taking time away from your computer/Internet. I used to be so afraid to unplug, thinking I'd miss something, when in reality I was missing time with myself.

    Way to go, Laura!

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