As we moved into this Lifeclass, I knew that I had this.  Singing the mantra from Oprah for years, I have always known that “when you know better you do better.”  But, in tonight’s Lifeclass, the definition of what this meant took on a deeper meaning.  This is not just about learning from your mistakes but it is about stepping out of your past and not letting what has already happened define who you are today.  It is about letting go of hurt, of anger, of shame and pulling yourself up and into who you are today and believing in the possibilities of  tomorrow.  Watch. Read. Learn.  And then, be the possibility in the world.  Feeling very inspired today…life is a lot lighter when you let go all of the mistakes of the past and concentrate on living your best life now.  Here are my notes…

• Watching other people live their lives and hearing their stories are lessons for me.  I can gain from other’s triumph and what they have gone through so that I can avoid the same mistakes and grow from thier stories.
• Maya Angelou – “That was when you were in your 20’s, now you are in your 30’s.  When you know better you do better.” “You should not be judged for the person that you were but for the person that you are trying to be now.”
• You don’t have to hold yourself hostage for who you used to be or anything you ever used to do.  Everyone has made mistakes.  Don’t hold yourself hostage for who you’ve been or what you’ve done.
• Case Study – Contessa on getting out of prostitution.  “I dont’ feel clean yet…I feel like a dirty person all the time…I feel all used up.”  Oprah’s Lesson to her:  That is something you did – It is NOT who you are.  You are not used up.  God has great plans for you.  Great things will happen in your life.  You just have to claim that for yourself.
• Hiding a secret and carrying shame blocks you from living to your fullest potential.
• It’s never too late to change.  The moment you recognize the person you have been or the actions you have taken are not who you want to be – the moment of awareness – is the moment you can begin to turn that around.
• Case Study – The Skinheads on The Oprah Winfrey Show – Negativity has energy too.  Be aware of that in your life.  You do not have to stay in the place of negativity.  You can walk away from that energy.  Don’t let people who put off negativity in the world attach to you…Don’t be a part of letting that kind of energy have power in the world.  There is a force of dark energy in the world.  Don’t be a part of it.  It is possible for ANYBODY to wake up and do better. 
• See the negativity with a different understanding:  I understand that the thing that you do is not you and that everybody acts out of their own pain. When we make mistakes it’s because we’re acting out of our own pain.
• When you know better and you are given the opportunity to do better you get to rise to the best of yourself.  When you know better and choose to do better, you rise into your best self.
• Case Study – Oprah’s Tina Turner Wig Phase.  One day Stedman told Oprah, “I don’t know when someone is going to tell you.  You are not Tina Turner.  And you should be happy being Oprah.”  Oprah’s not sure it’s a “know better, do better moment” but producers think it is.  So…it’s on the show.  (Oprah rocked that wig…just sayin…but I do like her much better as Oprah…not Tina.)
• The important thing is to figure out what that means in your OWN life – when you know better you do better.
• Knock down the obstacles for yourself and use this lesson to UP your game.