Oprah and Edwina Findley Dickerson on Manifesting Life’s Dream for You

0:00Hey, everybody. Thank you for listening to the Oprah podcast and hello to you watching on YouTube. I am happy to be here with you and we are living in some defining times, challenging times, and we can all feel that it's understandable if you're starting to in your life feel overwhelmed. That's why I'm interested in having conversations with people who can give us a positive, a new perspective, a fresh take at some of the issues holding us back in life. And on this episode, we're asking the question, do you feel stuck? Have you lost sight of the big dreams that you once had for yourself? And maybe, just maybe you've decided to just settle for whatever you think is in this moment and let those dreams fall by the wayside.

0:48Well, my guest today is going to inspire you to reconnect with what she calls your God dream and the belief that your story is far from over. In fact, your most powerful chapters may still lie ahead. Her new book is The World is Waiting for You. Embrace your calling and manifest the God dream over your life. Welcome to the Tea House, Edwina Thinley Dickerson. Thank you, Oprah. I'm so happy to be here with you. Edwina Finley Dickerson is an award-winning actress, a loving mother, a devoted wife, and motivational speaker. In 2002, Edwina got her start in Hollywood with her breakout role as Tasha in HBO's groundbreaking series The Wire.

1:34She later starred in Tyler Perry's hit drama If Loving You Is Wrong on OWN. And when all of this falls apart, you are going to regret it. Most recently, Edwina played the critically acclaimed role of Sheila in Shonda Rhimes' hit Netflix series, The Residence. I have no idea why he says this. Zero. None. Edwina's dear friend and mentor, Academy Award winner Viola Davis, writes the foreword for Edwina's debut book, The World is Waiting for You. In the book, Edwina reveals how every success and milestone in her life was foreshadowed by what she calls divine signs. and she explains how you can recognize the divine signs in your own life.

2:17Sometimes we just have to live with a certain level of awareness and being awakened to our lives and awakened to the messages that God's trying to send us. We made it!

2:32Well, we first met over 10 years ago and I have watched your rise. I've watched your rise with such pride. I first met you on Tyler Perry's If Loving You Is Wrong, which aired on OWN for five seasons. And so many of you loved it and loved her on that show. What did you learn being on a Tyler Perry set all those years? Well, first of all, I feel like Tyler Perry is vision incarnate. So his introduction to the Tyler Perry Studios was magical. And it was in and of itself a manifestation. And, you know, when you drive up, there's this huge building aptly called the Dream Building. The Dream Building.

3:14And I feel like what Tyler does is bring people from all walks of life together who may not be living in their fullness. But because he's operating in his God dream, he invites many others. So when I was there, there were people who shared with me, janitors and payroll operators and actors who said I was homeless before Tyler gave me a job. I was formerly incarcerated. I was on drugs. But because his dream was big enough to cover all of us, we were launched into this new place of abundance. And I will always be grateful for him for that. Well, that is what he does. And you know, many years ago, actually 20 years ago, I did something here on the grounds of Promised Land called the Legends Ball.

3:58Yes. And we had a gospel brunch out front. Yes, I remember Yolanda Adams. Yolanda Adams. And really, I'm telling you, it was passing the mic. There was Patti LaBelle and there was Gladys Knight. They were all on the front lawn. And it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. And Tyler, when he left, we were interviewing people as they were leaving. And he said, I'm going to leave here and I'm going to have a bigger dream. I'm going to dream a bigger dream. I'm just absolutely floored. And my thing leaving here, I'm going to dream bigger and dream more.

4:37And he did. Yeah. And he did. And we were all there at the Imagine That. Wasn't that so appropriately named? You know, that huge opening celebration. And I remember when Tyler, one of the things that he did for us during If Loving You Is Wrong, me and my castmates, he drove us around this empty lot. And he showed us his vision. I see a soundstage right there. Yeah. And I see housing right there. And I see housing right there. And just to see it all come together, it was like he allowed us to have a front row seat to a God dream. Yeah, to a God dream. So let's talk about the title. Where did you get the title?

5:14The world is waiting for you. Embrace your calling and manifest the God dream of your life. Well, you know, I've always been inspired by your quote that God can dream a bigger dream for you than you can dream for yourself. And one of the things that's happened in my life a lot is receiving prophecies. And so I received these prophecies first as a young person at 16 years old that I didn't fully understand and then from strangers and they would lay out exactly what was about to happen in my life next. And I started realizing that, oh, this is higher than my vision. This is higher than my dream, that I'm a part of a larger God dream.

5:51And I believe that that's really that visceral divine calling, that divine story that was written over your life before you were ever born. So people were coming. You do such a beautiful job of relating your story in your book and relating your story and how your story relates to all of our stories and being able to see God's dream for us. Now, what's really interesting, you were just talking just before we started that Reverend Wendley Phipps used to be your pastor. You know, I met Wendley when I was in Baltimore and was very, very young and trying to figure out what I was doing in my life. And I was at one of those programs that people have.

6:31And he came up to me backstage and he said, may I speak to you for a moment? And I said, sure. and he said, God has impressed me to tell you that you have been chosen to speak to millions of people around the world. Now, I'm in Baltimore working as a young reporter making$22 ,000 a year. And I said to him then, I said, in Baltimore? And he said, God didn't tell me where it was, but God has impressed me to tell you that that is what's going to happen in your life. And I sort of, I held on to that. And when I got the call to come to Chicago, I was like, well, not millions of people, but all right, I'm going to follow this dream.

7:14So how has that prophecy manifested in your life? The prophecies manifested. But that's a big one. Isn't that a big one? I mean, that's a big one. You know, and something similar happened to me actually multiple times, but there was one church service I went to in Memphis, Tennessee. I had never been to Tennessee in my life. And I was invited to this church service and they said, it's going to be a prophetic revival. And I said, okay. A prophetic revival. That's right. And there was a prophet, Todd Hall, that he was invited in. And he came and he started prophesying to everybody all over the building.

7:49And then he stopped speaking and he started writing these notes. And all of a sudden he came down all the way from the pulpit and put them in my hand. And when I opened them up, it talked about real estate I was going to own. It talked about doing movies and television in California, New York, Georgia, the Caribbean Island. He spoke about all these things. And then as he walked back up, he said, oh, and about, by the way, you're about to know Oprah Winfrey. No. And then he started talking about my mom. Within seven days, I was at a dinner with you. On the eighth day, I was at a brunch with you.

8:22And two months later, I had received the offer to film in Georgia on the Oprah Winfrey network. Exactly how he said. So I do believe that when you are called and when you are chosen, God has already mapped out the way. It's really about us discovering and partnering with him to manifest it. And sometimes it's greater than what we think. Yeah. Well, I learned that as you, thank you for the shout out in the book. I learned that in so many ways, but particularly in Color Purple, when I had this, I had the dream of being just, Can I be the water girl? Can I be the script girl? Can I be the whatever?

9:03And then am given the opportunity to actually be in the movie. And then everything that followed from that. And then I get to live in this space that I obviously paid for. But it is the doing of the Lord. I do know that it is the doing of the Lord. The fact that you named this the promised land. And you know I have my favorite scripture, Joshua 1, 3. And I know that this property is not a mistake. You treaded on some places. You believed some things. And this came into manifestation. And it came into manifestation. You are a big manifester. Did you manifest working with Shonda Rhimes? So. April 1st.

9:50Yes. 2022. I'm thinking, what should I post for April Fool's Day? Yeah. And something just said, why not Photoshop yourself on the cover of a Shondaland poster? I'm like, oh, that's kind of hilarious. So I had someone Photoshop me on the cover of a Shondaland poster and I announced my new role. Well, everyone just started congratulating me. And I'm thinking, oh, this is hilarious. But it was something about their pure faith that just knew, oh, this is happening. Congratulations. Look at God. This is amazing. You deserve it. And their faith, I just took it in and wondered, could something this big actually happen?

10:30Well, a few months later, I was sent the script for The Residence, a new Shondaland production. And by the following April Fool's, I was on set with Shondaland filming The Residence. Oh, my goodness. And those of you who've watched The Residence, you know she portrays Sheila, a White House butler, who is a little bit messy. Just a little. A little bit, maybe a little bit. On the side, taking a few sips. Just a little few sips. You were so great and so fun to watch. Thank you. I can see you really inhabit her. And what did you do to get to that character? You know, I mean, she's an alcoholic. And I felt I wanted to honor her.

11:13It's a comedy, right? But I felt like it was also important to honor her life. And so I started going to AA meetings. I started really discovering what that journey is. I was watching documentaries. I also was going to UCB, taking improv. And then I was just doing a lot of script analysis and a lot of research. My grandmother worked in the White House. So there was something that also was a full circle manifestation with that because our home growing up was filled with pictures of my grandparents with the presidents and all kinds of trinkets and memorials from the White House. So this was all very full circle.

11:48And getting into character for Sheila was, it was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. Well, you deserve it. And you worked it. Hello. You worked Miss Sheila. I appreciate you spending your valuable time with us here on the Oprah podcast. When we come back, Edwina explains how a season of waiting can be powerful if you lean into it and surrender to it. Welcome back to the Oprah podcast. So glad you're here. I'm talking with award-winning actress Edwina Fenley Dickerson about her debut book, The World is Waiting for You, and how she was able to tap into God's divine plan for her life. Let's return to that conversation.

12:27You all know I believe God can dream a bigger dream for you than ever dream for yourself. I discovered that back in 1985. Let's talk about Chapter 5. It's called The Secret Power of Hearing God's Voice. I think people think that, you know, you're going to hear God's voice like Moses in the burning bush or you're going to hear, you know, the Sermon on the Mount. But you and I know, obviously, that it doesn't work that way. How would you describe how God speaks to you and how others can begin to hear it in their own way? Yeah. You know, there are a lot of different ways that God can speak, right?

13:02God can speak through literal dreams while you're sleeping and give you these deep impressions that you're not sure even when you wake up. What was that? Was that meant for something important? Am I supposed to do something? Through signs and wonders, right? Like with me, that's how I ended up in Hollywood. My camera actually took a picture by itself. And the sign said, from Harlem to Hollywood, you're a star. Congratulations. Congratulations. Well, I was living in New York at the time, and I'm looking at this sign, and I'm thinking, how did this even happen? Well, within one year's time, I was cast in a show in Hollywood, ended up living with the Viola Davis.

13:42Because, you know, but God used a literal sign to get my attention. And then there's also things in nature. You know, there's sometimes like I have a friend who always sees a white butterfly. She says, it seems like every time something significant is happening, I see a white butterfly. And then she started looking it up. And so there are these different ways that God tries to get our attention. And so what I encourage people to do is to really pray, is to seek God. The times where I have felt the most prophetic, where I'm the most sensitive to what is God saying about my life, about the lives of others that are around me, it's because I have opened myself up in a very intentional way to hear from God.

14:25And there's a wonderful scripture in Jeremiah that says, call to me and I will answer you. I will show you great and unsearchable things you do not know. And that's a promise. So I really believe that when we claim that promise, when we say, God, I want to hear from you, I need to hear from you, that he will show up in ways that you may not expect. We have listeners joining us via Zoom who want to talk with Edwina about their own dreams. Jamicia is a former TV producer and now a substitute teacher. Hello, love that hat, girl. And I hear you've been feeling a little lost lately, which I think a lot of people are experiencing at work in particular.

15:03What's going on with you? Yeah, so I'm 40 years old and my life is not what I thought it would be at 40. My 14-year career ended. I put in applications, networked, and no doors seemed to open. I'm now living here in Georgia with my mom, substitute teaching. I created a kid's YouTube channel, trying all the things. And I just feel like I'm unable to chart a path forward. I believe God had to plan for me for sure, but I am unable to access it. So any advice you have on that would be helpful. Shabesia, thank you so much for your vulnerability and for the courage to share in such an authentic way what you're going through right now.

15:45One thing that really stood out to me is the fact that you're 40. And there's a very significant, that's a very significant number in the Bible. And if you think about it, the children of Israel wandered for 40 years. But there was a point in Deuteronomy 2, 3 that says, you've wandered this hill country long enough. Now turn north. And just with that one instruction, they entered into the promised land. And I believe for you that it's not the end. I think that this may just be your waiting season. This may just be your season of surrender, which I talk about in the book, where God is pouring into you and he's teaching you new things and he's showing you who you're made of.

16:25and that when it's time to come out of this season, it's gonna be even greater than before. And so one thing I'm gonna encourage you to do, especially if you feel like doors have been closing, again, sometimes that's the most powerful place to be because you're at the end of yourself. That's when you surrender, when you have done everything you can. There was one role that I wanted so bad and I tried everything for three straight months. I couldn't even get an audition. And one day I heard God say, you know what, I want you to get up and go to this Bible study. I'm like, God, I just got home. I'm tired.

16:58I'm trying to go to bed. But I felt that impression so strongly. I want you to get up, put your clothes back on, get on two buses, a train, then walk across town to this Bible study. I get there. Sure enough, it's ending. I'm like, oh, God, why was I supposed to be here? And then this woman I saw across the room that I just felt led to pray for. I prayed for her. She cried and she grabbed my hand. And she said, the things that you are saying to me are things that I've been praying to God about. And here you are. So I just, that was enough for me, just the confirmation that God sent me here for her.

17:34Then I said, you know what? We didn't even exchange names. I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself. Ahmedwina. And she said her name. I said, wait a minute, are you a writer? And she said, yes. I said, did you create this show? And she said, yes, that's my show. I said, I've been trying three straight months to get an audition for your show. Look at God, will you? So she arranged that audition, and that is the show that brought me to Hollywood. So you don't always have to know the how. A lot of times that blocks us from our dream, right? Because he gives us this huge dream, and then we have the question of, but how, but how, but how?

18:14He will intercept your path, sometimes with instructions. And when you make that one decision to follow God's voice, you will end up in a place that you never thought you'd be. So I want you to be encouraged. And I want you during this wilderness season to be very sensitive to the instructions that you're given, because I think there's a breakthrough closer than you think. Pay attention to the signs. Pay attention to the signs. It doesn't come when you exactly want it. But, you know, old folks used to say it always comes on time. and it is in timing with when you are most open and ready to receive it.

18:51You know, when you are most open and ready to receive it. Awesome. Thank you guys so much. That was helpful. Awesome. Thank you, Jamicia. Bless you, Jamicia. Clayton is a health and wellness coach joining us from North Carolina. Clayton, I hear you've been feeling your light start to dim. What's happening? Yes. So almost a decade ago, I made a promise to myself while I was in school and shining my brightest light that I wouldn't let my light dim like I saw happen to so many adults around me. But life as it does had its way and there was struggle and change and burnout. And, you know, one thing I used to use to measure my light was my curiosity.

19:33And I had noticed that it had significantly faded. So now I'm starting to allow that light to flicker back, but it's very, very slowly. So my question is what helps you reconnect to your light and how do you nurture it when it starts to dim? Yes, that's such a beautiful question. Chapter two in the book is called You Are a Star. And star is a double entendre, right? It's not just being rich and famous and wealthy. Yes. It's really about using your light in service of others and igniting this world with your light. So if you feel like your light is beginning to dim, sometimes it's about leaning into service.

20:14Sometimes it's about connecting with a community that you feel called to serve because what that does is bless them as well as bless you. Yeah. So when you start to feel more alive, usually it's because you're using your gifts, talents, and abilities that you've been given and you're connecting in with your calling. So if you're feeling right now that your light is dimming and maybe there's even a sense of isolation that's coming with that, I encourage you to step out, to step out of the box, to take a risk, to make a bold faith move, as I talk about in the book, and allow yourself to be used in service of others.

20:50And you're going to see that as they experience their joy, you are also going to experience joy and you're going to light their flame and they're going to light yours. And I promise you, you will be reignited. Yeah, that's how you do it. You light yourself up by giving your light, however dim you think it may be in this moment, however dim she thinks it is, it's strong for somebody else. So I could see you light up when Edwina said that. How does that resonate with you? Surprisingly enough, that is the word that comes up for me a lot. And I haven't really given it the attention that it's needed because it always feels like, oh, well, later when this is done, then when I have the space for that or the funds for that or the time or whatever it is.

21:35But I think that by you sharing that, it sounds like what is the word that comes up over? Service. Wow. Honey, child. Honey child, let me tell you, if it's coming up over and over, it's coming up over and over for you to pay attention to, which is another thing that Edwina talks about in the book. That is the pattern of how, for some people, how God shows himself, how it speaks to you. Because you'll see a sign, then you'll see the sign again. You'll see the billboard. You'll see a TV commercial. And it comes through another way and another way. And, you know, my favorite quote of all times is from Martin Luther King, who says that not everybody can be famous, but everybody can be great because greatness is determined by service.

22:26And I will share this with you. Any job that you have, any career that you choose, if you operate from the paradigm of service, you will be elevated and enhanced and successful. 100 % guaranteed. The Oprah Winfrey Show was the number one show for 25 years because I understood the paradigm of service and had called the producers in and said, this is 1980. We started in 86 and 89. I said, we're not just no longer just going to be a talk show. We are going to serve the audience where they are. We're going to offer ourselves in service to wherever they are, whatever their dreams are, whatever their desires are.

23:13And that's why we were, number one, because we were in service. And I would say this, no matter what you are, you're a teacher, you're a lawyer, you're a clerk. If you change the paradigm to how do I use this service to something bigger than myself, your fire will get ignited. Your light, it automatically brightens your light. Thank you so much. You are welcome. You are welcome. The world is waiting for you. Isn't that true? Isn't that true? You're using your art in service. Let me tell you, everything, even getting on those buses and that train. Yes. In service. In service. Us, my husband and I, we produced this little series, 21 Days of Happy.

23:54Yes. Purely in service. That's all. We felt like God said, you know, help encourage people during the pandemic. Bring other faith leaders, celebrities together. Yeah, I remember when you did that. And then after that, and we just put it out into the world purely as an act of service. And who called me on the phone? But Miss Oprah Winfrey. I almost fell out of my seat. She said, I love that you've been doing. I love it. Edwina, Oprah. Edwina, Oprah. But the fact that you had been exposed to 21 Days of Happy, you know, that again was a reminder that when we do things purely, out of obedience and out of service, we have no idea what's on the other side, that we can be blessing others in a turnaround and bless us too.

24:43Are you thinking about how you can switch the paradigm to service? Yes, absolutely. You are? Yeah, I'm telling you. Guaranteed. Guaranteed. Thank you, Clayton. Thank you. I appreciate it. Listener, I thank you for taking the time to be here with us on the Oprah podcast. When we return, We're going to hear from guests from around the country who feel stuck in their personal lives and their careers. Edwina has advice on what she calls the God dream over your life. You know I know a few things about that. I'm so glad you've joined me here on the Oprah podcast. I'm here with Edwina Findlay Dickerson.

25:17Let's get back to our conversation. One of the things that you talk about, you introduce us to the term neuroimagining. imagining. You say when you visualize a dream or a desired experience, your brain doesn't differentiate between that imagined experience and reality. And you practice this with your Aunt Iris on a visit to L.A., you say. I did. So at that time, I was literally living in low-income housing in New York City. I was stopping drug deals and gunfights and there were sirens every night and literally stopped an attempted murder. Like, I was not living a fabulous life. But I was invited to come here as an act of service to speak to aspiring artists of faith who really wanted to come into the entertainment industry.

26:03And so I just poured out what I had. And while I was here, my Aunt Iris said, you know, I just want to take you on a little road trip. I said, OK. And first she said, I need you to rent the car, though. I need you to drive. And I'm like, on Iris. I haven't driven in years. She said, you need to rent the car. So here I am with my little bit of money. And the clerk gives me a drop top convertible for the price of the economy of economy that I reserved. So I'm looking at this convertible like, wow, okay. And the top is down and I'm feeling the wind. I go pick up on Iris. She gets in the side and we drive down the coast of Southern California, and I smelled the salty air, and I heard the birds chirping, as I do right now, and the wind blowing, I felt it on my face.