Top 3 Lessons from Oprah and Jack Canfield
To say that Oprah and Jack Canfield’s work and teachings have impacted my life is a big understatement. For the past 19 years alone, I have been keeping a Gratitude Journal, based on an interview that Oprah did with Sarah Ban Breathnach.
I have been learning from Jack Canfield for just about as long a time frame. What I love about both of them, as ‘virtual mentors’, is that their information is real, it’s simple, it’s relevant and easy to apply……once you make the decision that you want to.
Jack Canfield’s book, ‘The Success Principles’, should be part of every entrepreneur’s library. He lays it all out in there. Go get a copy for yourself today.
Oprah has put together powerful content on the OWN TV Network. My PVR is constantly recording great interviews on Oprah’s Master Class, Super Soul Sunday, and Super Soul Sessions. It’s like getting an MBA right in my living room.
For those of you who do not subscribe to the network, let me give you the top 3 lessons I took away from the interview that aired on Sunday. Jack Canfield was at his best as he spoke from experience and from the heart. This information is only of value to those of you who dare to identify what you want and then go after it! For the rest of you, you can just stop reading right here and now.
- “YOU ARE NOT GIVEN A DREAM UNLESS YOU HAVE THE CAPACITY TO FULFILL IT”.
Stop and think about that for a minute. For many of you, you stopped dreaming years ago. You have been so busy helping others live their dreams that you put your own away in a drawer somewhere. It’s time to bring it out – it’s time to live your best life – it’s time to ‘dare’ to be your best self. From my work with Lou Tice at The Pacific Institute, I know for a fact that once you claim your dream, all the ‘ya-buts’ come out to play. Our habits, attitudes, beliefs and conditioning kick in. We start to question our ability to bring about the dream. Here’s the kicker, people! There are programs available for you to learn how to get past the barriers – it’s quite normal to identify a dream, what you want, set a goal and then get stopped by our own small thinking. ‘I don’t have the money. I don’t have the time. Where will I get the resources? I don’t know how.” It goes on and on and on. But, as Jack said, you don’t get the dream if you don’t have the capacity – and most times, we just don’t know what we don’t know. So get some help. Hire a coach. Learn. Read. Do.
- “LOVE OR FEAR – YOU CHOOSE”.
Your mind cannot focus on these two things at once. And here’s the deal – love or fear, it’s YOUR choice. You have the power. Where are you spending your time and energy? The power of love will increase your energy. We all know, by now, what fear does to our energy levels – to our motivation – to our results. Why go there? I actually have chosen LOVE as one of my themes for 2016 – my intention for my life is to choose love in all aspects – love the people I choose to be with, love the places I am going, love the work I am doing (which includes all the risks, big goals and more), love my team members, love my life. Love is not only my intention- but I will be backing it up with ‘action’ that reflects all of that, too. What about you? What’s your choice?
- “LOOK FOR PEOPLE WHO EXCUDE LOVE, JOY AND EXCELLENCE”.
Nice segue from point #2! I talk about this all the time in the work I do. You must eliminate toxic people from your life. Some people just aren’t good for you! Listen to me on this. And does this mean it could be family members, team members, and/or friends? YES. Yes, it does. Tough choices – but not when you decide to live your best life. This is the only life you have. Take charge. Make a list of the 5 people you spend the most time with – at home, at work, at play. Do they exude love, joy and excellence? If not, then they’ve got to go. Don’t worry – they’ll find others who think and act in the same way they do – they won’t be lonely. There’s a ton of them out there! You deserve to be surrounded by people who lift you up, who love you, who support you, who nurture you. Make this list and then make some changes for 2016. I dare you!
- DON’T WORRY ABOUT FAILURES.
Ok – this is a bonus ‘lesson’. There was just so much great content during this interview that I couldn’t stop at sharing 3 lessons.
“Don’t worry about failures – worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try.” And most people don’t even try. They are paralyzed by fear. Fear is like worry – it’s negative goal-setting. Stop doing that. I would be very happy if the word ‘failure’ didn’t even exist because when it all comes down to it – failure is really ‘life lessons’. Did you know that on Shark Tank/Dragon’s Den you won’t even be considered unless you’ve experienced some failures? It’s a good thing! So change your thinking – get out there and get some great lessons, whether in life or in business. You’ll then build skills in the areas of resiliency, flexibility, risk-taking, celebration and so much more.
As you can tell by now, the interview on Super Soul Sunday between Oprah and Jack Canfield was powerful. It’s not that they shared anything new or earth-shattering. In fact, it was simple life lessons. WE are the ones who make things complicated. It’s so refreshing to hear the basics and know that, from their perspective, this is what set them up for success.
How does this translate into business, you might be asking? Apply these simple life principles and you, too, will:
- Attract ideal clients
- Charge what you’re worth
- Take risks and discover your uniqueness
- Be surrounded by great mentors
- GET a life!
What lesson will you apply today that will make a difference in your life?
Please share your thoughts on my blog:
I’ve had the 1st book Jack wrote when I was a school teacher in the 70s. It was called 100 ways to enhance self concept in the classroom – Ive had it since it came out in 1976. So when I got to meet him here in TO in 1991 I jumped at the chance. I took his course about self esteem in July 1991 and have never looked back. I brought him to TO that fall to speak in a seminar I produced and even created an association on self esteem .. so I’ve known him well before the Chicken Soup books
I used then and have continued ever since, most of the principles he taught even then. They permeate everything I do and have taught entrepreneurs ….. I’m glad you found him, Pat 🙂
Trudy!! Nice to hear from you.
Yes, I knew about Jack ‘back then’ too in the days of ‘self-esteem’ education. He’s come a long way.
Hope you are doing well, my friend. Merry Christmas.
Pat
Nice post. I be taught one thing more difficult on different blogs everyday. It will { be stimulating to learn content from different writers and Thanks for sharing.