Ellen DeGeneres is an amazing woman who thrives in the unique personality that is hers alone. Her words, whether inspiring or funny, contain some brilliant insight that you need to hear. Keep on reading to discover eight secrets Ellen DeGeneres can teach you about success.
1. Success demands acceptance of who you are.
“Beauty is about being comfortable in your own skin. It’s about knowing and accepting who you are.”
Successful people won’t radically change their appearance or persona to please others. They avoid the temptation to get caught up in what other people think, because they know the people who matter will accept them as they are.
2. Success demands a warm and inviting nature.
“The world is full of a lot of fear and a lot of negativity, and a lot of judgment. I just think people need to start shifting into joy and happiness. As corny as it sounds, we need to make a shift.”
Successful people don’t judge people who think differently than them. They might be firm in their beliefs, but they don’t resort to personal attacks, because they know being a good example is the best way to bring about positive change.
3. Success demands readiness to do things that make you feel uncomfortable.
“Just go up to somebody on the street and say ‘You’re it!’ and then run away.”
Successful people aren’t afraid of doing frightening things. They lean into their fears, no matter how much their mind resists, because they know the things that scare them most are often the very same things that lead to breakthroughs.
4. Success demands enthusiastic action in the face of failure.
“You know, it’s hard work to write a book. I can’t tell you how many times I really get going on an idea, then my quill breaks. Or I spill ink all over my writing tunic.”
Successful people won’t let a mistake (or several) diminish their enthusiasm. They look at failure as an unavoidable part of their evolutionary process, because they know a stubborn refusal to quit can take them farther than talent ever will.
5. Success demands self-care, no matter how busy you are.
“You have to stay in shape. My grandmother, she started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She’s 97 today and we don’t know where the hell she is.”
Successful people aren’t so “busy” that they can’t take care of themselves. They make time for exercise (play) and meal-planning (nourishment), because they know neglecting their health will only make them feel miserable and exhausted.
6. Success demands time away to rest and relax.
“Procrastination is not the problem. It is the solution. It is the universe’s way of saying stop, slow down, you move too fast. Listen to the music. Whoa whoa, listen to the music.”
Successful people don’t work themselves to death. They are willing to hustle as hard as they need to, but they are also mindful of their breaking point, because they know depriving themselves of fun won’t make them happy or fulfilled.
7. Success demands an ability to bring people together.
“We focus so much on our differences, and that is creating, I think, a lot of chaos and negativity and bullying in the world. And I think if everybody focused on what we all have in common – which is – we all want to be happy.”
Successful people aren’t so close-minded that they can’t befriend people they disagree with. They get tickled at people who obsess with issues that push us apart, because they know concentrating on our common goals will lead to a happier life.
8. Success demands willingness to be brutally honest with yourself.
“Sometimes you can’t see yourself clearly until you see yourself through the eyes of others. ”
Successful people don’t get so absorbed in their work that they become arrogant. They actively seek feedback that will make them better at what they do, because they know every new day is another opportunity to learn and grow.
Featured photo credit: Ellen Degeneres to Host Oscars in 2014/The Guardian via theguardian.com
