--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What has made me successful is the…" description: "\"What has made me successful is the ability to surrender my plans, dreams and goals to a power that's greater than other people and greater than myself...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df8/oprah-winfrey-186_ability_what-has-made-me-successful-is-the-abili_2620669.png" --- # What has made me successful is the ability to surrender my… ![“What has made me successful is the ability to surrender my plans, dreams and goals to a power that's greater than other people and greater than myself.” quote by Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df8/oprah-winfrey-186_ability_what-has-made-me-successful-is-the-abili_2620669.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df8/oprah-winfrey-186_ability_what-has-made-me-successful-is-the-abili_2620669.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df8/oprah-winfrey-186_ability_what-has-made-me-successful-is-the-abili_2620669.png) > “What has made me successful is the ability to surrender my plans, dreams and goals to a power that's greater than other people and greater than myself.” [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success comes from trusting a higher power beyond personal ambition. **In simple terms:** Trust a higher power for success. Key Takeaway Surrender personal plans to greater purpose. Themes faith humility success trust purpose Mood inspirational reflective Type motivational spiritual When to use this quote - career decisions - personal setbacks - goal setting - spiritual practice Key Concepts spirituality self-transcendence faith Questions to Reflect On - How does surrender affect personal agency? - What higher power guides you? A Different Perspective May lead to pass-reliance on external forces. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ability Surrender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-surrender-2107878/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Dreams and goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams-and-goals/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals-power-2107879/) [Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plans/) [Power Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-greater-868652/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Successful Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-ability-2107877/) [Surrender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrender/) ## Related quotes > [“Our ability to surrender in life is directly related to the amount of peace and fulfillment we experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-robbins/our-ability-to-surrender-in-life-is-directly-related-to-the-amount-of/) [Mike Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-robbins/) > [Focus on the experiences in your life where you were successful. This can give you the ability to see the positive side of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/focus-on-the-experiences-in-your-life-where-you-were-successful-this/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > [You become what you believe. And to believe that you are created by the power that's greater than yourself means anything is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/you-become-what-you-believe-and-to-believe-that-you-are-created-by/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“In our hands is a placed power greater with their hoarded gold, greater than the might of armies magnified a thousand-fold. We can bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-chaplin/in-our-hands-is-a-placed-power-greater-with-their-hoarded-gold/) [Ralph Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-chaplin/) > [“When you're involved in the work of the Lord, the power behind you is always greater than the obstacles before you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/when-you-re-involved-in-the-work-of-the-lord-the-power-behind-you-is/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [There is no power greater than true affection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-no-power-greater-than-true-affection/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [We all possess more power and greater possibilities than we realize, and visualizing is one of the greatest of these powers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genevieve-behrend/we-all-possess-more-power-and-greater-possibilities-than-we-realize/) [Genevieve Behrend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genevieve-behrend/) > [It's fair to say that if you have a lot of experience, your power is greater. You have more of an opportunity to roll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/it-s-fair-to-say-that-if-you-have-a-lot-of-experience-your-power-is/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [That's what love is. It's some power greater than you and me, that draws us to one special person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/that-s-what-love-is-it-s-some-power-greater-than-you-and-me-that/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“We’re brought together by a power greater than either of us. Something bigger than our own world.” It’s not just a romantic saying; it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/we-re-brought-together-by-a-power-greater-than-either-of-us-something/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) > [Humans are extremely good in acquiring new power, but they are not very good in translating this power into greater happiness, which is why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/humans-are-extremely-good-in-acquiring-new-power-but-they-are-not/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [The greater the power, the greater the responsibility in its exercise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kapil-sibal/the-greater-the-power-the-greater-the-responsibility-in-its-exercise/) [Kapil Sibal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kapil-sibal/) > [I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-hope-our-wisdom-will-grow-with-our-power-and-teach-us-that-the-less/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Oh, darling, that’s what love is. It’s some power greater than you and me, that draws us to one special person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/oh-darling-that-s-what-love-is-it-s-some-power-greater-than-you-and/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [The less the power, the greater the desire to exercise it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/the-less-the-power-the-greater-the-desire-to-exercise-it/) [Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) ## More by Oprah Winfrey > [I've seen that many times in rural African villages where people have nothing but a hut and a bowl. The joy in the children's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-ve-seen-that-many-times-in-rural-african-villages-where-people-have/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [These French-style caramels are handmade in California. It's always hard to give them away!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/these-french-style-caramels-are-handmade-in-california-it-s-always/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I was in a conversation and someone said: "You know, we were talking about the whole issue of transgender and how it has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-was-in-a-conversation-and-someone-said-you-know-we-were-talking/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“Forgiveness is about letting go of the past and not holding on to it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/forgiveness-is-about-letting-go-of-the-past-and-not-holding-on-to-it/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [The deepest courage we can exercise is continuing to believe in our dreams until we make them come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-deepest-courage-we-can-exercise-is-continuing-to-believe-in-our/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [If you can see it, and believe it, it is a LOT easier to achieve it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/if-you-can-see-it-and-believe-it-it-is-a-lot-easier-to-achieve-it/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [There is no greater gift you can give or receive than to honor your calling. It's why you were born. And how you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/there-is-no-greater-gift-you-can-give-or-receive-than-to-honor-your/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Gratitude is the single greatest treasure I will take with me from this experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/gratitude-is-the-single-greatest-treasure-i-will-take-with-me-from/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I am disappointed by this controversy surrounding A Million Little Pieces because I rely on the publishers to define the category that a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-am-disappointed-by-this-controversy-surrounding-a-million-little/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Keep a grateful journal. Every night, list five things that you are grateful for. What it will begin to do is change our perspective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/keep-a-grateful-journal-every-night-list-five-things-that-you-are/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I want every day to be a fresh start on expanding what is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-want-every-day-to-be-a-fresh-start-on-expanding-what-is-possible/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [We often block our own blessings because we don't feel inherently good enough or smart enough or pretty enough or worthy enough... You're worthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/we-often-block-our-own-blessings-because-we-don-t-feel-inherently/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [One if the hardest things in life to learn are which bridges to cross and which bridges to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/one-if-the-hardest-things-in-life-to-learn-are-which-bridges-to-cross/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [You must feed your mind with reading material, thoughts, and ideas that open you to new possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/you-must-feed-your-mind-with-reading-material-thoughts-and-ideas-that/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Your soul tells you when it's time to move on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/your-soul-tells-you-when-it-s-time-to-move-on/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) [Explore all 971 Oprah Winfrey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What has made me successful is the ability to surrender my plans, dreams and goals to a power that's greater than other people and greater than myself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oprah Winfrey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/what-has-made-me-successful-is-the-ability-to-surrender-my-plans/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/what-has-made-me-successful-is-the-ability-to-surrender-my-plans/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df8/oprah-winfrey-186_ability_what-has-made-me-successful-is-the-abili_2620669.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df8/oprah-winfrey-186_ability_what-has-made-me-successful-is-the-abili_2620669.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df8/oprah-winfrey-186_ability_what-has-made-me-successful-is-the-abili_2620669.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What has made me successful is the ability to surrender my plans, dreams and goals to a power that's greater…” — Oprah Winfrey", "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": "Oprah Winfrey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What has made me successful is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/what-has-made-me-successful-is-the-ability-to-surrender-my-plans/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/what-has-made-me-successful-is-the-ability-to-surrender-my-plans/#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 } } ] } ```