Oprah Life Lessons

EVERY DECISION, SETBACK, and triumph in your life is a chance to identify the seeds of truth that make you the wondrous human you are. But sometimes we need help deciphering those truths, and I believe we can learn how from anyone or anything that shows up in our lives, if we’re willing to listen. Teachers come in many guises. There are those who’ve put in the work to master their fields and spend their lives sharing what they’ve learned—they are mentors and guides, no matter their areas of expertise. I’ve spoken often with people about the role of soul teachers, both in terms of my own evolution and in helping others to become their best selves. Drawing on experts whose wisdom has been cultivated over time and experience is…

IT WASN’T ROCKET SCIENCE. My coworkers and I had signed up for a monthlong course that would allegedly turn us into happier people, and I was crushing it. The assignments were, to put it kindly, basic—things a needlepoint pillow or a kindergarten teacher could recommend: Be kind, look on the bright side, say thank you. But it was science. A Yale psychology professor, Laurie Santos, had created the course, grounding it in measurable research. (She had adapted it from Psychology and the Good Life, her spring 2018 class that nearly 25 percent of Yale undergrads signed up for, making it the most popular in the school’s history.) According to decades’ worth of studies, if we could spend a month living in accordance with the platitudes on pillows, we could expect…

As a child of the early ’80s, I remember doing Jane Fonda’s first-of-its-kind, dance-based workout in our living room. It was a double-sided vinyl record, with a companion book that had photographs for following along. “Whether you’re 15 or 50, with the help of this album and a little hard work, you can achieve a well-proportioned healthy body—not to mention the outward glow that comes from feeling good inside,” she promised. “Learn to understand and respect your body. It’s your temple. And remember, discipline is liberation!” I also remember the late-’80s invention of step aerobics. And I remember my mom making vegetarian dinners from the Moosewood Cookbook because she was worried about our hereditary high cholesterol. I don’t remember ever hearing the word wellness, though. Wellness, in its current form,…

LATASHA MORRISON’S uncommon gift was put to the test in her new hometown of Austin, where she moved in 2012 from Atlanta. “I have pictures of my godkids and family up in my office. Now, I’m the only Black person that works at this place,” Morrison, who goes by Tasha, says of the church where she’d begun working. A white coworker would routinely walk into her office and, her eyes falling to the cluster of photos, exclaim, “I just love little Black boys!” At first, Morrison thought, That is so weird, and let the comment pass. But after the third time, she turned to her coworker and said, “Imagine me coming into your office saying, ‘I just love little white boys!’ What would you think? She said, ‘Oh my goodness!’…

1. Form a book club. There’s no shortage of excellent novels and nonfiction by Black, Asian American, Latinx, and Indigenous authors. A book club is a fun, social way to spark meaningful conversation, and some releases include guided questions in their back pages. If you’re not sure where to start, must-read recommendations abound online. Or ask a librarian at your local library for a curated list—if they don’t have one, you may inspire them to create it. 2. Educate yourself about whiteness and the history of race in America. Research the racial history of the town you live or grew up in, including the roles your ancestors may have played, to gain awareness and to examine history’s lasting impact. Seek out books and podcasts on the topic, such as Scene on Radio’s…

IMAGINE THIS: You’re walking along a path in your favorite park when a butterfly suddenly flutters past. You stop to observe its magnificent colors, the curvature of its wings, and the velvety surface of its skin. To your surprise, it lands on your hand. You delight in mutually observing each other, and a profound feeling of well-being and satisfaction moves through you. What is that feeling? Is it joy? Is it happiness? Scientists are currently investigating the difference between the two. To understand the distinction and why it matters, we spoke with experts about what joy is and how we can cultivate it beyond the holiday season. While joy and happiness are both positive expressions, they are not one and the same. Happiness is a state of mind and well-being…