Life can be tough, and sometimes we need a little inspiration to help us keep going. Here are three powerful speeches by Denzel Washington, Lisa Nichols, and Oprah Winfrey that can instantly change how you see things and help you find the strength to move forward.
1. Denzel Washington: “Put God First and Don’t Be Afraid to Fail”
In 2015, Denzel Washington gave a speech at Dillard University that has inspired many people. He started by saying, “Put God first in everything you do.” For Denzel, his faith in God is the foundation of everything he has achieved. He shared a story from his college days when he was failing with a 1.7 GPA. At that low point, a stranger told him, “Boy, you are going to travel the world and speak to millions of people.”
That prediction came true, but Denzel emphasizes that what really mattered was keeping his faith strong, even during tough times. “I didn’t always stick with him, but he’s always stuck with me,” he said, urging others to hold onto their faith as well.
“Put God first in everything you do. Everything that you think you see in me, everything that I’ve accomplished, everything that you think I have—and I have a few things—everything that I have is by the grace of God. Understand that. It’s a gift.
Forty years ago, March 27, 1975, I was flunking out of college. I had a 1.7 GPA. I hope none of you can relate. I was sitting in my mother’s beauty shop, and I’m looking in the mirror, and I see behind me this woman under the dryer. Every time I looked up, she was looking at me, right in the eye. I didn’t know who she was. And she said, ‘Somebody give me a pen, give me a pencil. I have a prophecy.’ March 27, 1975, she said, ‘Boy, you are going to travel the world and speak to millions of people.
Now, mind you, I’m flunked out of college. I’m thinking about joining the army. I didn’t know what I was going to do. And she’s telling me I’m going to travel the world and speak to millions of people. Well, I have traveled the world, and I have spoken to millions of people. But that’s not the most important thing, the success that I had. The most important thing is that what she taught me and what she told me that day has stayed with me since.
I’ve been protected. I’ve been directed. I’ve been corrected. I’ve kept God in my life and has kept me humble. I didn’t always stick with him, but he’s always stuck with me. So stick with him in everything you do.
If you think you want to do what you think I’ve done, then do what I’ve done and stick with God.”
Denzel also encourages us to embrace failure: “Fail big. You only live once, so do what you feel passionate about. Take chances professionally. Don’t be afraid to fail.” He believes that failure is not something to fear but rather a part of the journey to success. By taking risks and stepping out of your comfort zone, you learn and grow stronger.
“That’s right. Fail big. You only live once, so do what you feel passionate about. Take chances professionally. Don’t be afraid to fail.”
2. Lisa Nichols: “From Struggling to Thriving”
Lisa Nichols is a motivational speaker who has an incredible story of transformation. She was once a single mother with just $11.42 in her bank account, struggling to make ends meet. In one of her speeches, she talks about how she stood in line for food stamps, feeling ashamed and hopeless. But in that moment, she made a promise to herself: “I told myself that I would never be in that line again.”
Lisa’s journey to success wasn’t easy. She had to face her fears and push through her doubts. She started investing in herself by reading books, attending seminars, and surrounding herself with positive people. “I began to say ‘yes’ to myself, to my dreams, to my future,” she explains.
“I was broke and broken. I had just come out of a toxic relationship. I had a son and $11.42 in my bank account. I didn’t know how I was going to provide for him, how I was going to keep the lights on, how I was going to make it to the next day. I was on government assistance, and one day I stood in line for food stamps, feeling ashamed and defeated. But I made a decision in that moment—a decision that I was going to turn my life around. I told myself that I would never be in that line again.” I started to make small changes. I invested in myself, even when I didn’t have the money to do so. I read books, attended seminars, and surrounded myself with people who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. I began to say ‘yes’ to myself, to my dreams, to my future. But it wasn’t easy. I had to face my fears, confront my limiting beliefs, and push past the pain. There were days when I wanted to give up, days when I felt like I wasn’t enough. But I kept going, kept fighting, kept believing that something greater was possible for me.”
I realized that I wasn’t just fighting for myself, but for my son, for my family, and for every woman who had ever been told she wasn’t enough. I was determined to rewrite my story, to create a life of abundance, joy, and purpose.
Today, I stand here as a testament to what’s possible when you refuse to give up, when you choose to rise above your circumstances, when you decide to believe in yourself. I went from being a struggling single mother to a millionaire entrepreneur, from feeling worthless to knowing my worth.
And now, my mission is to help others do the same—to inspire, to empower, to uplift. Because if I can do it, anyone can.
You have the power within you to create the life you desire. It doesn’t matter where you start; it only matters where you’re willing to go. So, stand tall, speak your truth, and live your purpose. Your past doesn’t define you—your willingness to rise does.”
Her transformation wasn’t just for herself but for her son and for every woman who has been told she’s not enough. “I was determined to rewrite my story, to create a life of abundance, joy, and purpose,” Lisa says. Today, she is a successful entrepreneur who inspires others to believe in themselves and never give up.
3. Oprah Winfrey: “Stop Being Soft”
Oprah Winfrey is known for her wisdom, and one of her most important messages is about being strong in the face of life’s challenges. She says, “You have to be strong. Life will hit you hard—there’s no doubt about that. But you can’t let those hits make you soft.”
Oprah grew up in poverty and faced many hardships, but instead of letting these difficulties define her, she used them to build her strength. “I had to be tough, not just in the face of adversity, but in my mind, my spirit, and my will to keep moving forward,” she says.
She warns against letting life’s struggles make you feel like a victim. “You have to be tough enough to stand up and say, ‘This is my life, and I’m going to make it what I want it to be,’” Oprah advises. For her, success and happiness are things you have to work for—they don’t just happen on their own.
You have to be strong. Life will hit you hard—there’s no doubt about that. But you can’t let those hits make you soft. You can’t let them weaken you.
I grew up in poverty, was abused, and faced countless obstacles. There were so many moments where it would have been easy to give up, to let life beat me down, to feel sorry for myself. But I knew that wouldn’t get me anywhere. I had to be tough, not just in the face of adversity, but in my mind, my spirit, and my will to keep moving forward.
Too often, we let our hardships define us. We let the difficulties of life make us feel like victims, like we have no power. But the truth is, you have more power than you think. The strength you need is already inside you—you just have to tap into it.
Don’t be soft. Don’t let the world convince you that you’re not enough, that you’re too fragile to handle what’s thrown your way. You have to build resilience. You have to be willing to do the hard work, to push through the pain, to keep going even when everything in you says to stop.
The world doesn’t owe you anything. Your success, your happiness, your peace—they’re your responsibility. You have to claim them. You have to work for them. You have to be tough enough to stand up and say, ‘This is my life, and I’m going to make it what I want it to be.
There will always be challenges, but don’t let them make you soft. Let them make you stronger. Let them fuel your fire. And remember, every time you push through, you’re building the muscle you need to face the next challenge. So stand tall, be strong, and never, ever be soft.”
Oprah’s message is clear: “Don’t be soft.” Let your challenges make you stronger.” Oprah’s life shows us that being strong is key to overcoming difficulties and achieving your goals.
Let These Words Inspire You
These three speeches from Denzel Washington, Lisa Nichols, and Oprah Winfrey offer more than just motivation—they provide a roadmap to overcoming life’s obstacles and realizing your true potential. Each of these speakers has faced their own struggles, their own doubts, and their own moments of fear. Yet, through faith, strength, and an unyielding belief in themselves, they emerged stronger and more determined.
Denzel Washington reminds us that failure is not the end, but a necessary step toward greatness. He challenges us to take risks, to put our passions into action, and to trust that with faith, anything is possible. “Fail big,” he says, because it’s through those failures that we learn, grow, and eventually succeed.
Lisa Nichols’ journey from broke and broken to empowered and abundant is a real life example of the power of self-belief and perseverance. Her story teaches us that no matter how low we may feel, we have the power to change our circumstances.
And then there’s Oprah Winfrey, who embodies strength, and determination. She speaks directly to our souls, urging us to rise above the challenges life throws at us. “You have to be strong,” she tells us, because life will test you—it will try to break you. But it’s in those moments of struggle that you must dig deep and find your inner strength. Don’t let life’s hardships make you soft; instead, let them forge you into the strongest version of yourself.
Conclusion
You have the power to decide how your story will unfold. The world may try to tell you that you’re not enough, that you’re too fragile to face what’s ahead but remind yourself that the strength you need is already within you. You just have to claim it.
So, as you move forward, let these words be light in your darkest moments. Remember that failure is not the end, that your circumstances don’t define you, and that your strength is your greatest asset. Stand tall, speak your truth, and live your purpose.
Your past does not determine your future—your courage to rise does.
Embrace these lessons, let them fuel your fire, and transform yourself today, because the world needs the best version of you.
As Oprah would say, “You are worthy. You are powerful. You are enough.” So go out there and show the world what you’re made of.
At Sunan Designs, we believe in the power of transformation—whether it’s through the work we do for our clients or the words we choose to live by. Just as these speeches can inspire and empower you to reach your full potential, our mission is to help Muslim-led organizations, Islamic nonprofits, and purpose-driven brands realize their own unique vision. Together, let’s build a better, stronger future, grounded in faith, resilience, and unwavering determination.
