In less than two weeks not only will a new year begin, but a new decade. It is an opportune moment to reflect on your goals for the next year, and perhaps for the next ten. Consider what you want your like to look like, the kind of person you want to be, and what do you need to do to achieve those things. No one can do it on their own, we need support and expertise from mentors and loved ones in our lives or educational resources, and one excellent resource, regardless of what goal you are trying to achieve is TED Talks. Below are five great TED Talks, that can help prepare you to be the person you want to be this coming decade:
What Makes A Good Life? Lessons From The Longest Study On Happiness By Robert Waldinger
Psychiatrist Robert Waldinger relieves us of the notion that the keys happiness are fame and money. Waldinger is the director of a 75-year-old study on adult development, giving him access to a remarkable set of data on happiness and contentment. He shares what he learned from the study about living a more purposeful and meaningful life.
Inside The Mind Of A Master Procrastinator by Tim Urban
Tim Urban, the cofounder, writer and illustrator of the website waitbutwhy.com, knows his procrastination habit is ridiculous. He discusses its absurdity, and humorously describes his extensive Wikipedia searches, trips to the refrigerator looking for snacks every 10 minutes, YouTube spirals, etc. Then he discusses the feedback he received on his procrastination blog post, and the pain it was causing, and Urban concludes his talk by asking the audience to consider what we’re really procrastinating before we run out of time.
How Craving Attention Makes You Less Creative by Joseph Gordon-Levitt
As an acclaimed actor, Joseph Gordon-Levitt receives a good amount of attention. But when he created social media accounts and followed his fellow actors, he felt insecure and competitive like all of us. He delves into how social media can detract from creativity, and argues that the more powerful feeling is paying attention, not getting attention.
How To Build Your Confidence—And Spark It In Others by Brittany Packnett
Educator and activist Brittany Packnett shares three ways to crack the code of confidence, which she believes is the key to bring the most ambitious dreams to fruition.
Your Elusive Creative Genius by Elizabeth Gilbert
One of the most famous TED talks, writer Elizabeth Gilbert discusses the precariousness of creativity and suffering being inextricably linked, and how artists and their support systems can better manage the emotional risks of creativity.
