It’s been a long time since I had time to sit and watch the Oprah Show, but I used to love watching it. The last time I took the time was when I recorded her interview with President Barak Obama and his wife, Michelle. But I recorded her last show…and I managed yesterday morning to watch about 20 minutes of it. (I’ll watch the rest this weekend.) I learned a lot of things in those 20 minutes as the tears streamed down my face. Here’s one.
Follow your calling. I usually call this your purpose or your mission. Most nonfiction writers have one. They feel called to write about a certain topic. I know I have felt that way–topics seems to have almost chosen me as I followed my passions and pursued the subjects I felt I needed to disseminate as a way of helping otheres. Over the last few years I’ve actually left a few topics behind and, in the process, I felt I left part of myself behind with them. I’ve been struggling for ways to either get back to the topics or to combine them with new ones–to make myself whole again.
Like Oprah, I’ve been lucky, my profession as a journalist and editor and my calling to help others by disseminating information on human potential, personal growth, practical spirituality, and publishing and writing seem to have collided becoming one and the same. Oprah, a broadcast journalist, ended up on television. She went on stage every day for 25 years and never missed a day. Can you believe that? Can you say that about yourself? She knew her audience was out their waiting, and she didn’t want to let them down. Plus, she loved her job. She felt passionate about it. She wanted to get out on that stage and help–to give–to each person in that audience.
What’s your calling? Do you know? If not, it’s time you asked yourself in what way you want to serve your readers. Then create a writing career around that calling. You’ll achieve much more success if you do.
I’ve know this for a long time, but I forgot. Watching Oprah’s 25th show reminded. me.
Follow your calling. That’s what I learned from Oprah.
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