Best of TED 2015: 6 Amazing Talks for Purposeful Women

2015 had some incredible TED talks to offer. As has become my tradition, I’ve listened to dozens over the year and have chosen the talks that impacted me the most—and that I think will impact you as well!

I love how each TED I listen to seems to bring out the courageous inside of me. They make me want to hold my family closer, cherish my health, chase a dream, change my community for the better, and so much more.

Enjoy!

Best of TED 2015: 6 Amazing TED Talks for Purposeful Women

1. What Makes a Good Life? Lessons from the Longest Study on Happiness by Robert Waldinger

Since 1938, The Harvard Study of Adult Development has been tracking the lives of 724 men. With only 60 of the participants still alive, Waldinger, the fourth director of the study, says they’re ready to say what they’ve found. It isn’t wealth or fame or how hard we work that ultimately determines our happiness levels; it’s one specific thing that we nurture every day of our lives.

2. The Story We Tell About Poverty Isn’t True by Mia Birdsong

“Everywhere I go I see people who are broke but not broken.”

This talk offers a self-check I think we all need. It’s a beautiful narrative filled with examples of real Americans living in poverty but contributing to their families and communities in deeply meaningful ways.

“I’m tired of the story we tell that hard work leads to success, because that story allows those of us who make it to believe we deserve it, and by implication, those who don’t make it don’t deserve it.”

3. Everything You Think You Know About Addiction Is Wrong by Johann Hari

“A core part of addiction is not being able to bear to be present in your life.”

As a mother, I really identify with the perspective that connection is the antidote to addiction. Love and belonging are the best things we can give our kids. Bonds with us instead of bonds to substances.

By the way, this talk is worth listening to just for his description of “rat park.” 🙂

4. 5 Ways to Kill Your Dreams by Bel Pesce

A great talk to share with a teenager in your life, because these are principles every young person should know.

“Achieving a dream is a momentary sensation. And your life is not. The only way to really achieve all of your dreams is to fully enjoy every step of your journey.”

5. How To Make Peace? Get Angry by Kailash Satyarthi

A beautiful talk to deepen your world view—and bring out the change-maker in you. This man’s story and his bravery at such a young age are awe-some in the truest sense of the word.

6. How My Mind Came Back to Life—And No One Knew by Martin Pistorius

When you’re feeling unconnected from the people in your life, watch this talk and learn what true disconnect would feel like. And then feel your capacity for empathy shoot up ten notches.