Oprah and Her Spiritual Mod Squad

Last evening, Oprah and her co-teachers–Iyanla Vanzant, Deepak Chopra, Tony Robbins, Bishop Jakes–discussed the art of gratitude. Oprah  shared her gratitude ritual with us. After meeting Sarah Van Ban Breathnach, author of Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy, Oprah started keeping a daily gratitude journal. Each day, she writes down at least five things for which she is grateful. She strongly believes that gratitude can change our consciousness.  If we are grateful for what we have, we will have more.

Insights from the Spiritual Mod Squad…

Iyanla Vanzant

Your life will stop at different places. Be grateful for each step along the way and pay attention to how you respond.

When you are conscious of the energy you bring to the room, your presence is enough.

Deepak Chopra

The sinner and the saint are merely exchanging notes. The saint has a past and the sinner has a future.

The only true belief you need to have is in your infinite potential.

Tony Robbins

Our biggest addiction is problems…We can reduce our life to a description that makes other people feel sorry for us. Or we can expand our life to a dimension that connects and gives to others.

Flood yourself with positive experiences…that changes your biochemistry.

Bishop Jakes

It is not your outer vision, but your inner vision that makes you special.

Wherever there is appreciation, there will be duplication.

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Chopra/Oprah Tour–A Class Act

Last night, Oprah welcomed spiritual master Deepak Chopra to her life class at Radio City Music Hall in New York. A global leader in the field of mind-body medicine, Deepak Chopra is a prolific author of 65 books, including 19 New York Times bestsellers.

Throughout the two-hour program, Oprah and Deepak Chopra discussed and  answered questions about spirituality. I particularly liked the segment where he shared his STOP formula for controlling unwanted thoughts.

S=Stop

T=Take three deep breaths

O=Observe what is happening in your body

P=Proceed with kindness and compassion

Quotable Quotes…

5. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.

4.  The highest form of intelligence is being able to observe yourself without judgment.

3.  You can believe the diagnosis, but never believe the prognosis.

2.  I use memories, but I do not allow memories to use me.

1.  The past is gone. The future is not here. Now I am free of both. Choose joy.

What is your favourite quote?

Oprah in Toronto

With over 8500 people assembled at the Metro Toronto Centre,  Oprah achieved her dream of having the world’s largest classroom. Joining her were four Master Class life teachers–Iyanla Vanzant, Tony Robbins, Deepak Chopra and Bishop T.D. Jakes–her spiritual mod squad. The two-hour life class dealt with the power of forgiveness. Throughout the evening, Oprah and the mod squad stressed the fact that forgiveness can set us free.

So many wonderful insights…

Iyanla Vanzant

Until you heal the wounds of your past, you will continue to bleed.

Too many people are spiritually constipated and emotionally retarded. Forgiveness is a spiritual laxative.

Tony Robbins

Become aware of your love patterns.

Level 1–Baby or brat love

Level 2–Horse Trading (you give only to get)

Level 3–Real love

Level 4–Pure spirit love as demonstrated by Nelson Mandela and Dalai Lama

Deepak Chopra

Process your pain or it will surface as disease.

Holding onto resentment is like holding your breath–you suffocate.

What other people think about you is not your business. If you make it your business, you will be offended for the rest of your life.

Bishop T.D. Jakes

Unforgiveness unchecked becomes a cancer in our soul.

Forgive so you can detach from the poison.

If you forget, you lose the wisdom from the experience.

When you taste one segment of your life in isolation, it is bitter. Combine all the segments and it will taste better.

Do not expect people to love on a gallon level if they are pint people.

Irrigate your life with gallon people.

Nuggets from Bishop T.D. Jakes

Oprah said it best. “He isn’t a preacher. He’s a prophet.”

On Monday night, Bishop T. D. Jakes was featured on Oprah’s Life Class. The founder of the 30,000-member Potter’s House Church in Dallas ignited the members of the studio and worldwide audience with his insightful comments. I am looking forward to reading his latest book, Let It Go.

In the meantime, I am  reflecting upon his many nuggets of wisdom.

My Top Five…

5. Don’t allow your situation to become your world when it’s just a launching pad into the next dimension of your life.

4. Don’t ask permission for what you are directed to do.

3. You cannot embrace your destiny if you’re holding on to your history.

2. Don’t let other people put a period where God has put a comma.

1. You need to be around people who make deposits not withdrawals.

What is your favorite nugget?