--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've passed along some advice that Oprah…" description: "\"I've passed along some advice that Oprah [Winfrey] gave to me: When something bad is happening, it's not happening to you; it's happening for you.\" — A..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/ava-duvernay-4018_advice_i-ve-passed-along-some-advice-that-oprah_2182051.jpg" --- # I've passed along some advice that Oprah \[Winfrey\] gave to… ![“I've passed along some advice that Oprah [Winfrey] gave to me: When something bad is happening, it's not happening to you; it's happening for you.” quote by Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/ava-duvernay-4018_advice_i-ve-passed-along-some-advice-that-oprah_2182051.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/ava-duvernay-4018_advice_i-ve-passed-along-some-advice-that-oprah_2182051.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/ava-duvernay-4018_advice_i-ve-passed-along-some-advice-that-oprah_2182051.jpg) > “I've passed along some advice that Oprah \[Winfrey\] gave to me: When something bad is happening, it's not happening to you; it's happening for you.” [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adversity is reframed as purposeful, suggesting that challenges serve personal growth rather than being purely detrimental. **In simple terms:** Bad events can be lessons for you. Key Takeaway Seek growth in hardship. Themes adversity growth mindset purpose resilience Mood inspirational hopeful Type self‑help motivational When to use this quote - career setbacks - health crises - relationship issues - financial loss Key Concepts psychology spirituality personal development Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate growth from suffering? - When is it okay to accept a situation as “for you”? A Different Perspective Not all hardships have clear purpose, and this view may minimize real pain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Advice Oprah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice-oprah-4717389/) [Bad Happening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-happening-893989/) [Happening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happening/) [Happenings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happenings/) [Winfrey Gave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winfrey-gave-4717390/) ## Related quotes > [If you are at all successful in your business, be prepared to never have another good day or bad day at work. There will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-szaky/if-you-are-at-all-successful-in-your-business-be-prepared-to-never/) [Tom Szaky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-szaky/) > [It's really difficult to get good information, and there's a reason for that. They're not letting journalists in. Whenever something really bad is happening,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hamilton/it-s-really-difficult-to-get-good-information-and-there-s-a-reason/) [Rebecca Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hamilton/) > [When you see something bad happening out in the world, you should try to help in whatever way you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/when-you-see-something-bad-happening-out-in-the-world-you-should-try/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [Do the right things at right time, it is surely the death of bad happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitiz-jordan/do-the-right-things-at-right-time-it-is-surely-the-death-of-bad/) [Nitiz Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nitiz-jordan/) > [Whenever my country has something bad happening I feel guilty for not being there. It's weird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-azalea/whenever-my-country-has-something-bad-happening-i-feel-guilty-for-not-2/) [Iggy Azalea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-azalea/) > [Whenever my country has something bad happening I feel guilty for not being there. Its weird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-azalea/whenever-my-country-has-something-bad-happening-i-feel-guilty-for-not/) [Iggy Azalea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-azalea/) > [“Something pretty bad's happening nearby in the space-time continuum.' the Doctor shouted over the noise. 'The TARDIS is a terrible rubbernecker - like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/something-pretty-bad-s-happening-nearby-in-the-space-time-continuum/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [Worrying won't stop the bad from happening, it will stop the good from being enjoyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/worrying-won-t-stop-the-bad-from-happening-it-will-stop-the-good-from/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [... music is an immediate art; it's always happening right now ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-andrew/music-is-an-immediate-art-it-s-always-happening-right-now/) [Sam Andrew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-andrew/) > [If you take a deep breath and look around, 'Look what's happening to me!' can become 'Look what's happening!' And what's happening? The incredible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/if-you-take-a-deep-breath-and-look-around-look-what-s-happening-to-me/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [Auditioning is a horrible experience because you know you are being absolutely scrutinized and judged. There are days where you can do it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/auditioning-is-a-horrible-experience-because-you-know-you-are-being/) [Kelly Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/) > [I think a lot of the romantic comedies need to catch up with what's actually kind of happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-meriwether/i-think-a-lot-of-the-romantic-comedies-need-to-catch-up-with-what-s/) [Elizabeth Meriwether](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-meriwether/) > [Yes, we were amazed when that happened. It was a real joke to us. Konrad Lueg and I did a Happening, and we used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/yes-we-were-amazed-when-that-happened-it-was-a-real-joke-to-us-konrad/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [Today, something is happening to the whole structure of human consciousness. A fresh kind of life is starting. Driven by the forces of love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/today-something-is-happening-to-the-whole-structure-of-human/) [Pierre Teilhard de Chardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/) > [Cause I swear that I'm dying, slowly but its happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/cause-i-swear-that-i-m-dying-slowly-but-its-happening/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) ## More by Ava DuVernay > [We're living based on laws and ideas that we, as a society, embraced back in the days of slavery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/we-re-living-based-on-laws-and-ideas-that-we-as-a-society-embraced/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [All the traditional models for doing things are collapsing; from music to publishing to film, and it's a wide open door for people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/all-the-traditional-models-for-doing-things-are-collapsing-from-music/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [Don't wait for permission to do something creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/don-t-wait-for-permission-to-do-something-creative/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [Netflix represents, as well as all the streaming services, something that I've been talking about being so important to inclusive voices around films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/netflix-represents-as-well-as-all-the-streaming-services-something/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I didn't go to film school. I got my education on the set as a niche publicist in the film industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-didn-t-go-to-film-school-i-got-my-education-on-the-set-as-a-niche/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [Hollywood needs more women directors, and Mama Ava needs a carafe and a half of that sweet vino divino.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/hollywood-needs-more-women-directors-and-mama-ava-needs-a-carafe-and/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I've been to Sundance eight times as a publicist and thought I was very prepared. I mean, who could've been more prepared for me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-ve-been-to-sundance-eight-times-as-a-publicist-and-thought-i-was/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I think it's a wonderful time to be a black woman who makes films. It's a good time to be an artist period. Traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-think-it-s-a-wonderful-time-to-be-a-black-woman-who-makes-films-it/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I think for female filmmakers a big issue is making their second and third films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-think-for-female-filmmakers-a-big-issue-is-making-their-second-and/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I make films about black women and it doesn't mean that you can't see them as a black man, doesn't mean that he can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-make-films-about-black-women-and-it-doesn-t-mean-that-you-can-t-see/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [The documentaries were something that I could do for a small amount of money, and then I felt like as long as I found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/the-documentaries-were-something-that-i-could-do-for-a-small-amount/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [ \[ Hollywood\] is a patriarchy, headed by men and built for men. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/hollywood-is-a-patriarchy-headed-by-men-and-built-for-men/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I know that sounds a little bit corny, but I've found some solace in that. I hope art can continue to do that for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-know-that-sounds-a-little-bit-corny-but-i-ve-found-some-solace-in/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [We have to find new ways to work without permission, new ways to turn corners and go through doors that are closed off to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/we-have-to-find-new-ways-to-work-without-permission-new-ways-to-turn/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [We're a new world and it's not pretty. It's going to be for the brave to figure out how to survive in this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/we-re-a-new-world-and-it-s-not-pretty-it-s-going-to-be-for-the-brave/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) [Explore all 117 Ava DuVernay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) ## More Advice quotes > [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Don't get too attached to someone you know you can't be together with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-get-too-attached-to-someone-you-know-you-can-t-be-together-with/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Time is priceless. You have it, but you don't own it. You spend it, but you can't keep it. And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [My relationship with Ibrahimovic was completely neutral. He is not the type of player to approach the younger players and give them advice. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/my-relationship-with-ibrahimovic-was-completely-neutral-he-is-not-the/) [Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/) [Browse all 8,535 Advice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've passed along some advice that Oprah [Winfrey] gave to me: When something bad is happening, it's not happening to you; it's happening for you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ava DuVernay" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-ve-passed-along-some-advice-that-oprah-winfrey-gave-to-me-when/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Advice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-ve-passed-along-some-advice-that-oprah-winfrey-gave-to-me-when/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/ava-duvernay-4018_advice_i-ve-passed-along-some-advice-that-oprah_2182051.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/ava-duvernay-4018_advice_i-ve-passed-along-some-advice-that-oprah_2182051.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/ava-duvernay-4018_advice_i-ve-passed-along-some-advice-that-oprah_2182051.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've passed along some advice that Oprah [Winfrey] gave to me: When something bad is happening, it's not…” — Ava DuVernay", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ava DuVernay", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've passed along some advice that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-ve-passed-along-some-advice-that-oprah-winfrey-gave-to-me-when/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-ve-passed-along-some-advice-that-oprah-winfrey-gave-to-me-when/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```