Top 10 TED Talks That Could

Change Your Life

Melanie Pinola
Yesterday 8:00am Filed to: WEEKEND ROUNDUP

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Theres no time like the present to grow or refine ourselves a little

bit more, and few resources are as helpful as TED talks. In that
vein, here are the top 10 TED talks weve featured on Lifehacker or
that have been popular on TED.
The summaries for all of the videos below are just quick
introductions to the subject. They cant really do these speakers
talks justice, so hopefully youll have about 20 minutes to spare for
each video (or come back to watch the rest later).

10. Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are

Change your posture, change your life. Amy Cuddy explains how
even faking powerful body language can reduce stress and make
you more confident. Adopting a power pose is such a small thing
but could make all the difference when youre in a high-stress
situation like a job interview or negotiating a raise.

9. The Power of Vulnerability

We all feel vulnerable and fearful of uncertainty at times, but these
situations can be powerful paths to growth. Dr. Brene Browns
research on human connection finds that happier people tend to
accept the unknown and also that being vulnerable made them feel
better and beautiful.

8. The Mathematics of Love

Still looking for that special someone? Mathematician Hannah Fry
dishes up several math-based tips to find the perfect partner,
including not using the perfect online dating photo.

7. Why We All Need to Practice Emotional First Aid

Psychologist Guy Winch argues in his TED talk that too many of us
dont care for our emotional and mental health with the same
diligence that we take care of our bodies (and things like brushing
our teeth). Loneliness, guilt, and other psychological injuries
could be even more dangerous than physical traumas. Try to think
of emotional wounds as you would physical ones.

6. I Am the Son of a Terrorist. Heres How I Chose Peace.

It takes a lot of energy to hold hate inside you. Thats the
message from Zak Ebrahims moving TED talk, his story of
choosing a different path than the violence and bigotry he was
raised in. Though his story is about a very specific subject of
terrorism and bullying, Ebrahim shares a few important lessons:
You can use your experience to develop better empathy, actually

getting to know people of different walks of life will expand your

own life, and whatever your environment or familys ideology, you
are not them.

5. How to Speak So That People Want to Listen

Everybody wants to be heard when they speaknot just heard, but
listened to. Part of it is we could all use to become better listeners,
but another part of it is changing how we communicate with others.
Sound consultant Julian Treasure offers the HAIL method of talking
to others so theyll trust what you say and pay attention: Honesty,
Authenticity, Integrity, and Love.

4. How to Make Hard Choices

You cant go through life without making difficult decisions.
Philosopher Ruth Change helps us make life-changing decisions by
looking within yourselfits an opportunity to decide who you
want to be.

3. Why We Do What We Do
What motivates you and makes you do the things that you do? What
drives you today? Tony Robbins says that emotions are the
invisible force of internal drive. We all have great minds and think
intellectually, but its our emotions that makes the difference in the
quality of our lives. Fulfillment, Robbins says, is an art and its all
about appreciation and contribution. (Watch it at least 5:30-5:40
for the Al Gore high-five.)

2. You Can Grow New Brain Cells. Heres How

Who doesnt want more active brain cells? Neurocscientist Sanrine
Thuret points out three things you can do to grow new brain cells
through neurogenesis: Learning, sex, and running. Sounds good to
us.

1. My Stroke of Insight

Brain researcher Jill Bolte Taylors description of how the brain

works and her experience after having a massive stroke is one of
the most emotional TED talks you could watch. Its about selfawareness, a near-death experience, and, most importantly, that
we are all energy beings connected to the energy all around us
including each other. Whether or not you appreciate the spiritual
undertones, Dr. Taylors note that we have the power to choose,
moment by moment, who and how we want to be in the world is
powerful advice.