Getting Back Up With Grace + Gratitude: What I Learned From My Day With Oprah + Kerry Washington

I just got back from an amazing day with Oprah + Kerry Washington.

No, we weren’t all sipping Chai Tea lattes at Oprah’s home. (Though you never know when that could happen!)

I went to a live taping of Super Soul Sunday at UCLA’s Royce Hall.

But first, let me back track a bit, in hopes of inspiring you.

About two weeks ago, I had a week without one single audition.  Nothing, nada, zilch.

Not having what you want in any given moment is such an excellent teacher, isn’t it?

Instead of falling into fear + worry, I relaxed about it all + practiced gratitude for what was already in my life.

Guess what happened?  I got three awesome auditions the very next week – great roles in a pilot, a feature film and a TV drama.

I went into to each one prepared, but detached from the outcome.  I felt present, connected, had fun, and got great feedback in each room I entered.  It was an amazing week.

I even told my manager she might have a scheduling issue on her hands, when I book all three.

I booked none of them.  WHAT?

I was shocked, stunned, bummed, sad, frustrated and even kinda angry.

Then, I went to the taping of Super Soul Sunday with Oprah and many amazing thought leaders.

I treated myself to a 4th row ticket (as a birthday present to me + my own act of abundance – so worth it!) and was blown away by the experience.

So many speakers who shared that day, talked of setbacks and let downs.  How their breakdown was the thing that led to their breakthrough.

Oprah shared, intimately, with the audience about her experience with her weight struggles + how one day, instead of looking in the mirror and condemning her thighs or her arms, she just started giving thanks for her body.

She thanked it for all it had done for her, where it had taken her, and how it kept showing up for her no matter how she treated it.

I was moved to tears.

Don’t we all do that in so many ways?

We look at the one thing that is going wrong, when so many things are going right?

We focus all our energy on what isn’t working and blaming + shaming ourselves for not doing, being or having more?

Did you ever think Oprah would have something to be bummed out about?  Oh yeah, she’s human.

I realized that day, that none of us are without struggles.

And she reminds us, “Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.” – Oprah Winfrey

The day ended with a taping of Super Soul Sunday with Kerry Washington.

Kerry shared that she had booked 2 different pilots before getting Scandal and when each of them got picked up, she got written out of both of them.  What?

Imagine the sting of that moment – twice?  How it might make you question your talent, your value and your path.

But instead, Kerry handled it with grace and shared this amazing insight, which I will paraphrase. (watch #SuperSoulSunday for the full interview)

She said that whenever she asks for something, she knows God always has three answers for her….

1. Yes.
2. Yes, but not right now.
3. No, because something even better is on its way.

Talk about aligning with what you want?!  Amazing.

There is no room for lack, worry, fear or scarcity in any of those answers.

All three responses are such a lovely reminder that when we relax about our path, trust in what isn’t going our way and stop telling the Universe how it should all unfold, miracles manifest.

I’m sure Olivia Pope would agree.

And at the end of the day, it seems grace + gratitude are always the answer.

Giving thanks right here, in this moment, opens up the doors of your heart and sends an invitation out to the Universe that you are ready to receive more abundance.

By the next week, I booked a series of Old Navy voiceover spots and got a handful of residual checks from past tv + film work.

I allowed what came my way to be enough.  In fact, I allowed it to be more than enough, and I am excited for what is to come.

Be thankful for what you have, you’ll end up having more.
If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough. 
– Oprah Winfrey

Begin this week giving thanks for all you have done, how far you have come + your awesome ability to pick yourself off, dust yourself off + start all over again with grace + gratitude.

I am rooting for you….as I do the same.

Love + Gratitude,

~Wendy

P.S.  Inspired by this content?  Share the love or leave a comment below + let us know what you do when things aren’t going your way.