The universe tries to nudge you in a new direction whenever things go wrong, renowned media proprietor, talk show host and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey said on Friday.

Oprah is in Houston for Oprah's The Life You Want Weekend, which features the media mogul and a handful of guest speakers holding court.

Dressed in a long yellow gown, she shared her personal story with an eager crowd at the Toyota Center on Friday night. She touched several topics ranging from her childhood church in Mississippi to her beginning in television news, and from getting an awful perm in New York to cooking a goose for her boyfriend Stedman Graham. She stressed that each anecdote played a role in shaping her life.

She insisted that the spirit inside her was the same as the one in other people, and that she was not extraordinary.

Speaking on the topic, the 60-year-old OWN network head said, "When things go wrong, it's the universe trying to nudge you in a new direction. I know the spirit inside me is the same as the one that's in you. Intentions determine outcomes. That's the energy - BAM - that's coming back to you!"

She is also scheduled to make an appearance on Saturday. The list of guest speakers includes Deepak Chopra, Rob Bell, author Elizabeth Gilbert, and spiritual life coach Iyanla Vanzant.

The event yesterday attracted more than 10,000 people who bought tickets at exorbitant prices to hear Oprah's keys to success and happiness. A pair of two-day pass for Friday and Saturday's events ran up to $800, while floor tickets were sold for up to $1,600 for VIP seats.