It was fantastic news when I learned months ago that my hometown – Houston – was on Oprah’s The Life You Want Tour. There was only one thing for me to do – buy a ticket and mark the dates. So this past weekend Oprah and her Trailblazers (Deepak Chopra, Rob Bell, Elizabeth Gilbert and Iyanla Vanzant) graced our presence here in the Toyota Center. We gave Oprah a hearty Texas-sized welcome and showed her there are many here who really love her!
The positive energy was contagious among the attendees as we hung out in O-Town and inside the Toyota Center jamming with DJKISS as she played funky celebration music for us (http://www.kissthedeejay.com). Needless to say, there was a huge female presence at the tour but, surprisingly, there were many brave and secure men in attendance, too. We, attendees, wore these wonderful bracelets that lit up in various colors at certain points during the event. This small item united all of us and made us one with a directed focus in the Toyota Center. It was simple yet amazing.
When Oprah appeared on the stage in the Toyota Center it was thrilling. Just the fact that she created this tour is inspirational because it demonstrates her genuine commitment to enlightening and inspiring the world community. Oprah shared with us her thoughts and feelings about her life journey. She encouraged us to open ourselves to the unlimited possibilities of the universe and to have faith that God will be with us and for us on our journeys.
As a person who learned Transcendental Meditation (http://www.tm.org) in 1995 and paid $1000 to learn, Deepak Chopra delivered a fabulous life-changing gift to every attendee when he taught and led a TM session. He imparted his wisdom to us on the importance of the mind-body relationship and it’s relation to our spiritual well being. This was a rejuvenation moment for me because I have not practiced TM for many years now and just started again last week. Also, I have also neglected my spiritual life even though I believe the quote from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin – “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” So Deepak Chopra’s directions were of special interest to me.
Rob Bell gave us guidance on finding purpose, finding joy in our daily lives and reconnecting with God.
Elizabeth Gilbert challenged us to step out of the lives others have built for us and to set off on our own quest. She helped me to realize that all of those times I packed up and traveled away from my daily life were mini-quests. I knew that at a gut-level and secretly felt guilty about it but now I can fully embrace it.
Iyanla Vanzant directed us on the art of forgiveness and the importance it has on acceptance and moving forward in our lives.
We, the attendees, worked through exercises in the workbook that was provided to help us identify what we have been called to do. We were guided by Oprah as we awakened to the life we want, viewed and rated our lives today, discarded negative language and chose a new language in our lives, and created a specific NEW vision for our lives to declare into the universe. It was INCREDIBLE as Oprah patiently guided us through these workbook exercises. She even gave us homework to send her our new vision before Sunday, 10/19/14, 5pm CDT and I tweeted mine on Saturday night. She told us she enjoys reading them. It was challenging to describe it in 140 characters but I did it.
Near the end of the event, there was a session where Oprah selected a few of the attendee questions to be answered by the Trailblazers. The tour ended with Oprah encouraging us and giving us permission to have a limitless vision for ourselves; to open ourselves to God’s purpose and be obedient. She told us to get clear about what we want and to have faith that it will happen.
I have wrapped myself with all of the positive energy and guidance from Oprah’s The Life You Want Tour Weekend to implement in my life. One of the quotes I learned there that resonates with me is one by Paulo Coelho, “And, when you want something all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” Today, I wrote a full page document on the specifics of the new vision for my life and I have declared that vision to the universe. I know I have work to do. I know the work will be challenging. I know there will be some “letting go”. And, because of this weekend, I know that now I am ready.
QUESTION(S):
Do you want a new limitless vision for your life?
Sounds like a great event!
As usual you have put those of us who did not attend inside the Toyota Center. Sounds like a very life-affirming, positive experience. Leave it to Lady “O” to present out loud what many of us think/feel inside but have not moved on it. As I read your post, I was thinking about how this message could help me move beyond where I am in my life and experience something great and challenging. I feel it coming, I just need to move!