Recently, when I was in Los Angeles, I went to see one of America’s most watched talk show — the Ellen DeGeneres Show. The audience flocks outside for a good two hours before they finally get to enter the studio. In America, everyone takes such talk shows quite seriously, as they jot down questions they want to ask the host and the guests.
Often, the questions are not related to the celebrities on the show, but to their own problems, which they have not been able to deal with. There are people with secrets that they have kept buried within themselves for years. Through the talk show, they hope to get answers that will not only help them solve their problems, but also change their life for good. Interestingly, talk show hosts, unlike prolonged therapy sessions, are able to do just that little bit to break the dam and let all the emotions come pouring out.
For instance, recently in The Oprah Winfrey Show, a woman revealed to the audience how she was sexually abused by her father from the age of 14 to her early twenties. She said she knew it was wrong, but she craved for his attention and love and thus, did not want to reject him. Her father though took advantage of his daughter’s craving.
This interview spread like a massive wave in the United States and Oprah went on to do subsequent sessions with people who wanted to speak about their dark secrets. She let people across the board speak about that one issue that changed their life for the worse, and prevented them from living normal lives again.
It is only when one sees another person talking about a similar problem, that they realise they are no longer alone. Speaking and venting your anger and sharing the same problems openly in front of media helps people break the shackles and expose the perpetrators. Oprah made that extra effort to convey to such people that they had not committed a crime, but instead were victims.
However, a taboo topic often always holds people from revealing the truth, even if it is a country like the United States, where people are far more open and liberal with their thoughts and lifestyle.
I could not help but think about our own country. How many such women would ever come forth and confess that they were abused by either their father or brother? Sometimes even if the mother is aware of this grave situation, she lets it pass helplessly. We need many Oprahs in our country to help people tap that brave and bold side in them. No man will want himself to be exposed.
On a lighter note, Ellen DeGeneres had Bethany Frankleen as a guest on her show. She has written a bestselling book called A place of Yes: 10 rules for getting everything you want out of life.
During the show, Bethany opened up and shared the obstacles she overcame and the great success she enjoyed when she approached life from a “place of yes”.
She developed 10 mantras to deal with life, which included finding your truth, acting on it and then owning it. It was heart-rending to see the audience throw questions at her, hoping that these would alleviate the suffering of their hearts and minds, and put them on a path of happiness and freedom.