11 Best Life Lessons From Oprah Winfrey

"The only courage you ever need is the courage to fulfill the dreams of your own life."

Takeaway: It takes courage to overcome obstacles and realize your true potential. You can do anything you put your mind to if you face the challenge with courage.

"It's never too late to achieve [what] you believe. . . . It's never too late to have a wake-up call. All life is about growing to be who you are most meant to be, the best version of yourself, and that even if it takes a disaster in your life, there's always time until you take your last breath to recognize that you have the power."

Takeaway: Saying that "it's too late for me" is an excuse you give yourself for not finding the courage to live up to your fullest potential. Get out of your comfort zone, and achieve your highest calling. There are countless examples out there that show us it's never too late. Take a page from former felon Jeff Henderson, who spent 10 years in prison for drug dealing and then became the executive chef at Café Bellagio in Las Vegas and a bestselling author.

"Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past can be any different. . . . And I know many of you, you think forgiving means accepting what has happened to you. Well, it is accepting that it has happened to you, not accepting that it was OK for it to happen. It is accepting that it has happened, and now, what do I do about it? Forgiving is giving up the hope. Not holding on, hoping, wishing that it could've been any other way than it actually was. Giving up the hope that the past could be any different. And when I got that, I think it took me to the next level of being a better person, because I don't hold grudges for anything, any situation, and neither should you. It's letting go so that the past does not hold you prisoner, so that it does not hold you hostage. If you allow the past to define your present, then you never actually really get to live the life that you were meant to live, because you're always holding on to what was and always holding and defining yourself by what was or what should've been or what could've been."

Takeaway: Forgiving someone or letting go of a past grudge is not a failure on your end. When you keep harping on a past hurt, you give that incident or the person who hurt you the power to continue negatively impacting you. Let go and forgive, and you will be happier for it.

"The energy you're putting out is coming back all the time. . . . For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."

Takeaway: Remember that the actions you take come back to you in some form. When you are spreading positivity, you will receive it in kind. Be careful not to spew negativity, or you will surround yourself with it.

"When you know better, you do better. . . . You know how freeing those words are, how freeing they can be for you? What it means is you don't have to hold yourself hostage to who you used to be or anything you ever used to do. Because who has lived and hasn't made mistakes?"

Takeaway: Don't be so hard on yourself about your past mistakes. You made them because you didn't know any better. But now that you do, you can take the steps to never make those mistakes again. Mistakes are empowering, because they can lead you to the right path.

"Slow down, because the only moment we can really live is now. Being in the present moment, if you can learn to do that, begins to change your whole life. Just staying focused on what is happening now . . . When we're truly present, we recognize that the ordinary moments are life's greatest gifts."

Takeaway: Slow down, and don't multitask. This will distract you, and you may end up making mistakes that you can't take back. Another benefit to slowing down is that you'll be able to appreciate the small and seemingly mundane things.