In this clip from Oprah’s Lifeclass, aired in 2013, Saddleback Church’s Rick Warren gives his insight on the five things that shape your life.
He’s created an acrostic to help remember the key items:
S: Spiritual Gifts.
What am I gifted to do?
H: Heart.
What do I love to do?
A: Abilities.
What are your natural inclinations?
P: Personality.
Some people like routine, some people like variety.
E: Experiences.
Types of experiences: Vocational, Family, Education, Spiritual, Hurtful
He says when you understand these things about yourself, you will understand what to do with your life.
“The number one thing God uses in your life to shape your or your contribution, that’s painful experiences.”
Oprah says when you figure out how to use your abilities to shift the paradigm so that you can do things that are bigger than yourself in service to others.
Warren gives his definition of humility. “Humility is not denying your strengths. Humility is being honest about your weaknesses.”
The Emmy award-winning Oprah’s Lifeclass is a richly interactive worldwide social experience for millions of students who participate in inspiring conversations with Oprah Winfrey on-air, online and via social media. For each episode, Oprah is joined by a hand-picked expert, and together they interact with viewers to share principles and tools that can help people live more meaningful and fulfilling lives.
Rick Warren founded Saddleback Church, an evangelical Christian megachurch with locations in four continents. It is the eighth largest church in the United States. Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life, has sold over 32 million copies.
This interview originally appeared on Oprah’s Lifeclass in 2013. It’s presented as part of our #InTheirOwnWords series.