The Unforgettable Carol Burnett Quote That Redefines Success

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BY JENNIFER SILVERMAN

You may recall from previous posts that I happen to have oodles of admiration for the great and powerful, Oprah Winfrey.

Her mission to empower the population to become more aligned, more informed, and more present is pretty much unmatched as far as I’m concerned.

Of course, there are no statistics on Winfrey’s actual reach, but I’d bet a bundle that she has indeed changed millions of lives for the better.

Of Oprah’s many contributions to humankind, one of my personal favorites is her TV series, Oprah's Master Class. Although it last aired in 2018, many of the episodes have stuck with me.

If you’re unfamiliar with the premise, imagine a sit down with icons and groundbreakers in which they share their most influential memories and greatest life lessons learned.

The series offered an unprecedented glimpse into how Ted Turner became a mogul, what motivates Diane Sawyer, and how my forever favorite, Whoopi Goldberg went from modest beginnings to become the highest-paid actress in 1992.

Although each episode boasted a golden nugget (or twelve), my most profound aha moment was courtesy of a Carol Burnett quote.

I vividly recall watching the comedy legend in a sort of slow motion, aware that a light bulb was forming above my head.

I remember attempting to press my internal “record button” so I could play Burnett’s story on repeat, allowing the moral to forever seep into my consciousness.

(Luckily my internal recording device worked like a charm, and I’ve turned to the “recording” time and again.)

Burnett’s story began with the events leading up to her big break.

She and another actress were the last two contenders competing for a career-making, stuff-of-Hollywood-dreams, gig.

Despite Burnett’s best efforts, the other actress was ultimately awarded the part, and Burnett’s dreams were once again placed on hold.

Rather than becoming green with jealousy or spiraling into a melancholy funk, Burnett’s attitude was the polar opposite. She tolerated nothing less than positivity towards the other actress. In my memory, Burnett asserted that:

“It wasn’t my turn. It was her turn. My turn will come.”

Isn’t that the most incredible sentiment?

Imagine avoiding all the emotional, negative, unproductive rigmarole, and simply accepting that her big break was around the corner – and it was.

One has to wonder if her positive attitude manifested that big break, or at least produced the momentum necessary to bring it about sooner.

If we could simply accept that by design, setbacks don’t happen to us, but for us, couldn’t it turn our mindset on its head in every regard?

What if opportunities lost, failures, and disappointments are actually teachers that prepare us for everything to come?

With this realization, wouldn’t we be inspired to stay on course rather than resorting to ice cream and TV binges?

Another phrase that packs a similar punch to Burnett’s perspective is, “what is for you won’t go by you.”

Lost a job? Okay, it wasn’t for you anymore.

Got divorced? Good, your ex lacks the surname, “Right.”

Spending every waking moment praying for a promotion, award, or opportunity? If it doesn’t pan out, let it go.

With this outlook, you’ll never miss out on what is truly for you.

Most of us tend to reject the notion that things happen as they should.

Just maybe, we can instead take a card from the deck of Burnett and dance to the beat of a new mantra: "My time will come."

(P.S. – I have a hunch you noticed the elephant-themed cover pic for this ode to Burnett blog post, and were, shall we say…perplexed. I totally get it. My mom was also thrown by my choice of photos. Here’s the inside scoop: Elephants are known for their perfect memories, and Burnett’s is a quote to remember!)

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