No matter where you are in the world at this moment it is fair to say that a great majority of us have spent the last few weeks hunkered down in our homes. Some have chosen to learn a new skill, others have rekindled family connections, and some may have had a very difficult period dealing with the adjustment of self-isolation. Fear and anxiety about the future has consumed our thoughts quite a bit but I believe this is a rare time for the world to self-reflect. I will be writing a separate entry called ‘perspectives’ in which I will share my perspectives on the world pre and post COVID-19 but for now I wanted to share a few Ted Talks that I found particularly motivating / inspiring. If you want to take a break from NetFlix these Ted Talks are a great way to gain some perspective.
If you didn’t know already, TED stands for convergence of ”technology, entertainment, and design”. The first TED talk in 1984 showcased the compact disc, and the e-book. TED struggled in its first six years until the world was ready to gather in an audience of influential thought leaders and open-minded people. You can apply to attend a TED talk. TEDex which was launched in 2009, is a “radical opening up of the TED format to independently organized events” (TED). If you have an important lesson, experience, or wisdom to share you may even consider applying to give a Ted talk.
So here is goes:
1. Persistence, and simple steps help achieve the most ambitious goals:
I found this Ted talk by Stephen Duneier particularly endearing and inspiring. My connection with Stephen is that he’s an institutional investor but his talk was about something completely different – it is about progress, and a simple yet enlightening tip on how to achieve your most ambitious goals. Stephen is authentic in his presentation and provides perspective on how best to use our time. Setting goals is easy but achieving them should be viewed as climbing a mountain whereby you climb up to a particular camp, rest for a bit, and start your trek to the next camp, until you reach the peak. Knowing that small and systematic steps can help achieve difficult goals is a simple concept, but many people overlook this important lesson.
2. A story of trauma, resilience, and stubborn determination:
This man Tommy Caldwell tells a fascinating story about being held hostage in Kyrgyzstan, escaping, and then…I don’t want to give it away so you will have to watch the Ted Talk. I found this talk particularly moving because it tells the story of human ambition and resilience. It tells you how you can break away from the odds stacked against you through stubborn determination.
3. The real barrier to learning is emotional, not intellectual:
Like many people I have a keen interest in learning new things. But like many people I have also heard that it takes 10,000 hours to master a new skill. “Mastering” means becoming an expert. But do you need to be an expert? How about becoming reasonably good at something and taking it from there? As it turns out Josh Kaufman shares how one can learn a new skill and become reasonably good in a mere 20 hours. I can relate and this TedTalk resonated because that is close to how long it took for me to get reasonably good at playing guitar. Josh shares his journey learning the ukulele (a musical instrument). Maybe after watching this Ted talk you may consider spending some time during quarantine on a new skill you always aspired about learning.
4. Good Night and Sweet Dreams:
The largest sleep experiment takes place every year during day light savings. Apparently in Spring when we lose an hour of sleep, we see a 24% rise in heart attacks the following day. In contrast, in autumn when we gain an hour of sleep, we see a 21% reduction in heart attacks the following day. Similar statistics exist for car crashes and suicides. Matt Walker argues that sleep is our superpower.
Better sleep provides us with 40% better ability in creating memory than lack thereof. Sleeping pills are blunt instruments so we need to find natural ways to achieve sufficient sleep (tips provided in the Ted talk). I found Matt’s presentation and advice useful because it sheds light on the importance of sleep for our mental and physical health. Often times sleep is viewed as an activity for the lazy, but if used effectively it can become our greatest power. Watch the full Ted talk for some interesting facts and tips.
References: TED.
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