I had really mixed feelings about the show today. On one hand, I found Oprah's comment at the end of her show (about married women coming out as lesbians) to really hit home. She said, "I just would say to anybody, whatever secret you're holding, live your own truth. Life is really short." Such good advice. I started to think about the ways in which I hold myself back from living the life I dream for myself. I have a million ways to rationalize why I don't, can't, or won't fully realize my goals. I am lucky not to live with such a crushing secret as today's guests did, but still, I feel bound in many ways. I am going to do some writing in my journal (Oprah would be so proud!) about how I might not be living in all the ways I would prefer. I think the clarity of writing things on paper will help me see a deeper truth, unclouded by the fear of what I might find if I launch into a comprehensive and unflinching self-examination.
So, here's where my mixed feelings about the show come in...
How can I live my own truth when there are pressures impressed upon me by icons such as Oprah that ask me to judge my life and my choices against what they believe to be attractive, admirable or acceptable? I feel like Oprah's profound statement was contradicted by so many of her other show topics. I think this will be one of my struggles during 2008. I am dedicated to following her suggestions, but what happens when they conflict with each other? I have my doubts and feel a bit resistant against what she assures us will make us feel better about ourselves.
Who knows, though, maybe I need to be broken down in order to be built up.
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5 comments:
First let me say: I love your experiment and I'm looking forward to the voyeuristic journey ahead of me! My thoughts about today would be: maybe you need to take a closer look at the difference between what Oprah shares as an idea, what she recommends, what she suggests, and what you "MUST" do. I personally feel that her statement was in line with her mantras-of-late... "Soul Series", "Living your best life", etc. If you took the statement very literally, you would take it to mean that psychopaths should give in to the voices in their heads and hurt people! But I think it was just another way for her to say "Live your best life."
hi christy! some very good thoughts. i'm trying not to take oprah too literally. (i like the psychopath analogy, by the way.) i have been trying to quote her directly and not assume everything is a MUST statement.
you've given me a great idea - i think i will create a spreadsheet and make a column for each term with which she gives advice. could be a fun pie chart at the end of the project.
thanks much, LO
Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see the contradiction. She says live your own truth...I think she is fairly consistent in saying "your own truth" versus saying it's important to live...(fill in the descriptor of choice). Personally, I think her statement is broad enough that any contradiction is more the result of someone not having fully defined their personal truth.
I didn't watch today's episode, but I have seen others in which O. urges people to live with both integrity and transparency. Of all her messages, those are the ones that resonate with me the most. You haven't mentioned the other guru she helped launch -- Dr. Phil. But those are often the messages he has on his show. It does seem like nothing good can come from people harboring secrets, especially about their identity.
I think the pie chart would be fascinating. In your endeavor, it may help you to take a look at A.J. Jacobs' book "The Year of Living Biblically." His strategy for living with conflicting lives may help you with yours. If anything has more strange advice than Oprah, it'd be the Bible!
http://www.amazon.com/Year-Living-Biblically-Literally-Possible/dp/0743291476
ahaha! great advice about "The Year of Living Biblically." a couple folks have mentioned it to me since i started this project. i should pick it up. i saw A.J. Jacobs on a talk show but haven't yet read his book. great suggestion. thanks so much!
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