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The epidemic you’ve never heard of | Ali Goljahmofrad | TEDxIdahoFalls


I would argue that there’s no real

I would argue that there’s no real difference between being dead and not

difference between being dead and not

difference between being dead and not living and I want you to hold that

living and I want you to hold that

living and I want you to hold that thought for just a second now the CDC

thought for just a second now the CDC

thought for just a second now the CDC tells us that heart disease takes more

tells us that heart disease takes more

tells us that heart disease takes more life every single year in America than

life every single year in America than

life every single year in America than any other ailment but what if i told you

any other ailment but what if i told you

any other ailment but what if i told you that i might have discovered something

that i might have discovered something

that i might have discovered something that actually takes more life and heart

that actually takes more life and heart

that actually takes more life and heart disease and the crazy thing about it is

disease and the crazy thing about it is

disease and the crazy thing about it is not too many people are aware of it the

not too many people are aware of it the

not too many people are aware of it the way i came across this is I found some

way i came across this is I found some

way i came across this is I found some information from the Harris group that

information from the Harris group that

information from the Harris group that reported that two out of three Americans

reported that two out of three Americans

reported that two out of three Americans are admitting that they’re not very

are admitting that they’re not very

are admitting that they’re not very happy and this didn’t sit right with me

happy and this didn’t sit right with me

happy and this didn’t sit right with me two out of three Americans in a place

two out of three Americans in a place

two out of three Americans in a place where where you can learn and grow and

where where you can learn and grow and

where where you can learn and grow and progress where you can live where you

progress where you can live where you

progress where you can live where you want to live where you can do what you

want to live where you can do what you

want to live where you can do what you want to do where you can be whoever you

want to do where you can be whoever you

want to do where you can be whoever you want to be two out of three of us are

want to be two out of three of us are

want to be two out of three of us are reporting that we’re not very happy I

reporting that we’re not very happy I

reporting that we’re not very happy I couldn’t wrap my mind around this

couldn’t wrap my mind around this

couldn’t wrap my mind around this because we have a population of 320

because we have a population of 320

because we have a population of 320 million people and sixty-seven percent

million people and sixty-seven percent

million people and sixty-seven percent of that that’s a lot of people who are

of that that’s a lot of people who are

of that that’s a lot of people who are unhappy so I built a little graphic now

unhappy so I built a little graphic now

unhappy so I built a little graphic now this represents the u.s. population

this represents the u.s. population

this represents the u.s. population there are 320 figures with each figure

there are 320 figures with each figure

there are 320 figures with each figure representing a million of us so if this

representing a million of us so if this

representing a million of us so if this is the entire US population then this

is the entire US population then this

is the entire US population then this would be the population who are

would be the population who are

would be the population who are admitting that they’re not very happy

admitting that they’re not very happy

admitting that they’re not very happy and again this didn’t sit right with me

and again this didn’t sit right with me

and again this didn’t sit right with me because of the opportunities that we

because of the opportunities that we

because of the opportunities that we have so I thought how why what’s causing

have so I thought how why what’s causing

have so I thought how why what’s causing this unhappiness and so naturally i

this unhappiness and so naturally i

this unhappiness and so naturally i looked at my own life I looked at times

looked at my own life I looked at times

looked at my own life I looked at times when maybe I wasn’t as happy as I could

when maybe I wasn’t as happy as I could

when maybe I wasn’t as happy as I could have been or I should have been really

have been or I should have been really

have been or I should have been really and that’s when I discovered this

and that’s when I discovered this

and that’s when I discovered this epidemic this disease that I argue takes

epidemic this disease that I argue takes

epidemic this disease that I argue takes more life and stops us from living more

more life and stops us from living more

more life and stops us from living more than any other ailment we’ve ever seen

than any other ailment we’ve ever seen

than any other ailment we’ve ever seen now before I tell you exactly what it is

now before I tell you exactly what it is

now before I tell you exactly what it is I

I

I share with you kind of what it looks

share with you kind of what it looks

share with you kind of what it looks like when I was 14 15 years old I was

like when I was 14 15 years old I was

like when I was 14 15 years old I was one of the youngest kids in high school

one of the youngest kids in high school

one of the youngest kids in high school it was my first year of high school I

it was my first year of high school I

it was my first year of high school I didn’t have a car I didn’t have a

didn’t have a car I didn’t have a

didn’t have a car I didn’t have a driver’s license and I I kept getting

driver’s license and I I kept getting

driver’s license and I I kept getting swirlies all too often they dip your

swirlies all too often they dip your

swirlies all too often they dip your head in the toilet and flush I heard

head in the toilet and flush I heard

head in the toilet and flush I heard somebody go oh you got him too I feel my

somebody go oh you got him too I feel my

somebody go oh you got him too I feel my pain now jokes aside 14 15 years old

pain now jokes aside 14 15 years old

pain now jokes aside 14 15 years old first year high school and I kept

first year high school and I kept

first year high school and I kept telling myself I’ll be happy when I’m a

telling myself I’ll be happy when I’m a

telling myself I’ll be happy when I’m a senior because when i’m a senior I’m

senior because when i’m a senior I’m

senior because when i’m a senior I’m talked about top dog at the school I

talked about top dog at the school I

talked about top dog at the school I have a car I’ll be able to do what I

have a car I’ll be able to do what I

have a car I’ll be able to do what I want to do fingers crossed swirlies will

want to do fingers crossed swirlies will

want to do fingers crossed swirlies will stop and I kept telling myself I’ll be

stop and I kept telling myself I’ll be

stop and I kept telling myself I’ll be happy when I become a senior well my

happy when I become a senior well my

happy when I become a senior well my senior year came and it wasn’t

senior year came and it wasn’t

senior year came and it wasn’t everything I thought it was going to be

everything I thought it was going to be

everything I thought it was going to be so I started telling myself you know

so I started telling myself you know

so I started telling myself you know what I’ll be happy when I graduate

what I’ll be happy when I graduate

what I’ll be happy when I graduate that’s when i’ll be happy when i

that’s when i’ll be happy when i

that’s when i’ll be happy when i graduated started working that got

graduated started working that got

graduated started working that got really old really quick and I started

really old really quick and I started

really old really quick and I started telling myself man i’ll be happy when i

telling myself man i’ll be happy when i

telling myself man i’ll be happy when i get to college cuz then I that’s when

get to college cuz then I that’s when

get to college cuz then I that’s when the fun starts I can start to be my own

the fun starts I can start to be my own

the fun starts I can start to be my own person when I got to college and I was

person when I got to college and I was

person when I got to college and I was stressed from exams and studying and

stressed from exams and studying and

stressed from exams and studying and having very little money and I started

having very little money and I started

having very little money and I started telling myself I’ll be happy when I get

telling myself I’ll be happy when I get

telling myself I’ll be happy when I get into my career and you very easily start

into my career and you very easily start

into my career and you very easily start to recognize this pattern of constantly

to recognize this pattern of constantly

to recognize this pattern of constantly saying i will be happy when and that’s

saying i will be happy when and that’s

saying i will be happy when and that’s when I discovered this epidemic this

when I discovered this epidemic this

when I discovered this epidemic this disease that stops us from living it’s

disease that stops us from living it’s

disease that stops us from living it’s something i call happy when itís

I’m not kidding I’ve defined it as the

I’m not kidding I’ve defined it as the subtle aggressive lie we tell ourselves

subtle aggressive lie we tell ourselves

subtle aggressive lie we tell ourselves that we will be happy when some future

that we will be happy when some future

that we will be happy when some future event takes place and the terrifying

event takes place and the terrifying

event takes place and the terrifying thing about happy when itís is that it

thing about happy when itís is that it

thing about happy when itís is that it actually doesn’t explicitly make us

actually doesn’t explicitly make us

actually doesn’t explicitly make us unhappy happy when I just is not what

unhappy happy when I just is not what

unhappy happy when I just is not what makes you this can fill discontent

makes you this can fill discontent

makes you this can fill discontent matter of fact happy when I just says

matter of fact happy when I just says

matter of fact happy when I just says you know what you can be happy you will

you know what you can be happy you will

you know what you can be happy you will be happy just not right now happy when

be happy just not right now happy when

be happy just not right now happy when itís says the feeling of sadness that

itís says the feeling of sadness that

itís says the feeling of sadness that feeling of anger that feeling again of

feeling of anger that feeling again of

feeling of anger that feeling again of discontent that’s all justified and it’s

discontent that’s all justified and it’s

discontent that’s all justified and it’s okay that you feel that way you should

okay that you feel that way you should

okay that you feel that way you should feel that way because happiness it’s

feel that way because happiness it’s

feel that way because happiness it’s it’s in the future for you the problem

it’s in the future for you the problem

it’s in the future for you the problem with putting our happiness off into the

with putting our happiness off into the

with putting our happiness off into the future is that the future never really

future is that the future never really

future is that the future never really gets here so before we know it or 40 50

gets here so before we know it or 40 50

gets here so before we know it or 40 50 60 years old having spent the last 30

60 years old having spent the last 30

60 years old having spent the last 30 years of our life saying I will be happy

years of our life saying I will be happy

years of our life saying I will be happy when and that’s why I argued that this

when and that’s why I argued that this

when and that’s why I argued that this disease takes more life than any ailment

disease takes more life than any ailment

disease takes more life than any ailment we’ve ever seen and if there is truly no

we’ve ever seen and if there is truly no

we’ve ever seen and if there is truly no difference between being dead and not

difference between being dead and not

difference between being dead and not living then we have to do something

living then we have to do something

living then we have to do something about it so that’s the bad news the good

about it so that’s the bad news the good

about it so that’s the bad news the good news is I I also think I might have

news is I I also think I might have

news is I I also think I might have found the cure and it’s three simple

found the cure and it’s three simple

found the cure and it’s three simple ingredients that if we employ we can

ingredients that if we employ we can

ingredients that if we employ we can fight happy when itís and the reason

fight happy when itís and the reason

fight happy when itís and the reason why these are the three remedies is

why these are the three remedies is

why these are the three remedies is because every instance every scenario

because every instance every scenario

because every instance every scenario every problem that is tied back to happy

every problem that is tied back to happy

every problem that is tied back to happy at when itís can be traced back to one

at when itís can be traced back to one

at when itís can be traced back to one of these three things and they are

of these three things and they are

of these three things and they are perspective action and relationships so

perspective action and relationships so

perspective action and relationships so to finish I want to talk about these

to finish I want to talk about these

to finish I want to talk about these three things quickly and I want us to

three things quickly and I want us to

three things quickly and I want us to understand first what are they second

understand first what are they second

understand first what are they second why are they relevant and third how do

why are they relevant and third how do

why are they relevant and third how do they combat the disease so first

they combat the disease so first

they combat the disease so first perspective and what I mean by

perspective and what I mean by

perspective and what I mean by perspective is the way we view the world

perspective is the way we view the world

perspective is the way we view the world see perspective is is

see perspective is is

see perspective is is the lens by which we view life through

the lens by which we view life through

the lens by which we view life through and much like much like my glasses

and much like much like my glasses

and much like much like my glasses they’re the proper prescription for me

they’re the proper prescription for me

they’re the proper prescription for me so they allow me to see my life more

so they allow me to see my life more

so they allow me to see my life more clearly if I have a proper perspective

clearly if I have a proper perspective

clearly if I have a proper perspective if you have a proper perspective it

if you have a proper perspective it

if you have a proper perspective it allows you to see life more clearly and

allows you to see life more clearly and

allows you to see life more clearly and the reason why this is still relevant is

the reason why this is still relevant is

the reason why this is still relevant is because it keeps small problems small

because it keeps small problems small

because it keeps small problems small and when we’re faced with a big problem

and when we’re faced with a big problem

and when we’re faced with a big problem perspective says yes acknowledge there’s

perspective says yes acknowledge there’s

perspective says yes acknowledge there’s a big problem but a proper perspective

a big problem but a proper perspective

a big problem but a proper perspective says don’t focus on the problem focus on

says don’t focus on the problem focus on

says don’t focus on the problem focus on what’s my next step an unhealthy

what’s my next step an unhealthy

what’s my next step an unhealthy perspective says I’ll be happy when my

perspective says I’ll be happy when my

perspective says I’ll be happy when my significant other or my immediate family

significant other or my immediate family

significant other or my immediate family change I’ll be happy when my boss or my

change I’ll be happy when my boss or my

change I’ll be happy when my boss or my colleagues change i’ll be happy when you

colleagues change i’ll be happy when you

colleagues change i’ll be happy when you know what i’ll be happy when i get that

know what i’ll be happy when i get that

know what i’ll be happy when i get that new marble countertop in my house that’s

new marble countertop in my house that’s

new marble countertop in my house that’s when i’ll be happy but a healthy

when i’ll be happy but a healthy

when i’ll be happy but a healthy perspective says i’m happy i don’t have

perspective says i’m happy i don’t have

perspective says i’m happy i don’t have to go through life alone a healthy

to go through life alone a healthy

to go through life alone a healthy perspective says i’m glad that i get a

perspective says i’m glad that i get a

perspective says i’m glad that i get a work with a diverse group of people that

work with a diverse group of people that

work with a diverse group of people that undoubtedly make me a better person a

undoubtedly make me a better person a

undoubtedly make me a better person a healthy perspective says that marble

healthy perspective says that marble

healthy perspective says that marble countertop it will look nice in my house

countertop it will look nice in my house

countertop it will look nice in my house but i’m just happy that i have a roof

but i’m just happy that i have a roof

but i’m just happy that i have a roof over my head every night I go to sleep

that’s the first ingredient the first

that’s the first ingredient the first step to combating happy when itís

step to combating happy when itís

step to combating happy when itís second is action and what I mean by

second is action and what I mean by

second is action and what I mean by action is working towards something of

action is working towards something of

action is working towards something of value for you or in the words of my

value for you or in the words of my

value for you or in the words of my mentor he said working towards something

mentor he said working towards something

mentor he said working towards something that’s going to outlive you and the

that’s going to outlive you and the

that’s going to outlive you and the reason why this is so important is

reason why this is so important is

reason why this is so important is because the wall street journal just

because the wall street journal just

because the wall street journal just recently reported and this is fantastic

recently reported and this is fantastic

recently reported and this is fantastic news this is a great news Wall Street

news this is a great news Wall Street

news this is a great news Wall Street Journal said job satisfaction is higher

Journal said job satisfaction is higher

Journal said job satisfaction is higher than it’s been in a decade right now job

than it’s been in a decade right now job

than it’s been in a decade right now job satisfaction has hit its peak in 10

satisfaction has hit its peak in 10

satisfaction has hit its peak in 10 years which is great news until you hear

years which is great news until you hear

years which is great news until you hear that that great news is forty-eight

that that great news is forty-eight

that that great news is forty-eight percent which means that over half of

percent which means that over half of

percent which means that over half of working Americans are unhappy with the

working Americans are unhappy with the

working Americans are unhappy with the way that they’re spending over half of

way that they’re spending over half of

way that they’re spending over half of their day I would argue that we are not

their day I would argue that we are not

their day I would argue that we are not working towards something of value for

working towards something of value for

working towards something of value for us we’re not working towards something

us we’re not working towards something

us we’re not working towards something that will outlive us because if we were

that will outlive us because if we were

that will outlive us because if we were forty-eight percent of us sorry

forty-eight percent of us sorry

forty-eight percent of us sorry fifty-two percent of us wouldn’t be

fifty-two percent of us wouldn’t be

fifty-two percent of us wouldn’t be dissatisfied with our job satisfaction

dissatisfied with our job satisfaction

dissatisfied with our job satisfaction now how do we do that how do we

now how do we do that how do we

now how do we do that how do we accomplish this what will leave us

accomplish this what will leave us

accomplish this what will leave us satisfied and Forbes magazine they

satisfied and Forbes magazine they

satisfied and Forbes magazine they looked at all the factors of job

looked at all the factors of job

looked at all the factors of job satisfaction they looked at pay benefits

satisfaction they looked at pay benefits

satisfaction they looked at pay benefits who your bosses where you work who you

who your bosses where you work who you

who your bosses where you work who you work with and none of those were the

work with and none of those were the

work with and none of those were the number one factor of job satisfaction

number one factor of job satisfaction

number one factor of job satisfaction the number one factor was simply

the number one factor was simply

the number one factor was simply interest in the work you’re involved in

interest in the work you’re involved in

interest in the work you’re involved in so it doesn’t matter if you’re a first

so it doesn’t matter if you’re a first

so it doesn’t matter if you’re a first responder or an educator or a

responder or an educator or a

responder or an educator or a stay-at-home mom or you work at a bakery

stay-at-home mom or you work at a bakery

stay-at-home mom or you work at a bakery if you find interest in the work that is

if you find interest in the work that is

if you find interest in the work that is working towards something of value for

working towards something of value for

working towards something of value for you that’s the second ingredient third

you that’s the second ingredient third

you that’s the second ingredient third and finally arguably the most important

and finally arguably the most important

and finally arguably the most important are our relationships now one of my

are our relationships now one of my

are our relationships now one of my favorite speaker authors another small

favorite speaker authors another small

favorite speaker authors another small town Idaho boy the late Jim Rohn he

town Idaho boy the late Jim Rohn he

town Idaho boy the late Jim Rohn he would argue that were the average of the

would argue that were the average of the

would argue that were the average of the five people that we spend the most time

five people that we spend the most time

five people that we spend the most time with so when I say relationships I don’t

with so when I say relationships I don’t

with so when I say relationships I don’t mean just our significant others I don’t

mean just our significant others I don’t

mean just our significant others I don’t mean just our immediate family I mean

mean just our immediate family I mean

mean just our immediate family I mean everybody around us the people that

everybody around us the people that

everybody around us the people that influence us the most and I happen to

influence us the most and I happen to

influence us the most and I happen to agree with Jim Rohn that we are the

agree with Jim Rohn that we are the

agree with Jim Rohn that we are the average of the people that we come in

average of the people that we come in

average of the people that we come in contact with the most and the reason why

contact with the most and the reason why

contact with the most and the reason why this is so relevant is because we can’t

this is so relevant is because we can’t

this is so relevant is because we can’t help but be affected by those who we

help but be affected by those who we

help but be affected by those who we invest in and who we allowed to invest

invest in and who we allowed to invest

invest in and who we allowed to invest in us i have this sign up in my

in us i have this sign up in my

in us i have this sign up in my classroom i’m a high school teacher and

classroom i’m a high school teacher and

classroom i’m a high school teacher and this is something i share with my

this is something i share with my

this is something i share with my students you can’t stay dry in a pool

students you can’t stay dry in a pool

students you can’t stay dry in a pool it’s pretty obvious thought and as it

it’s pretty obvious thought and as it

it’s pretty obvious thought and as it relates to relationships is you can’t

relates to relationships is you can’t

relates to relationships is you can’t expect to jump into a pool and not get

expect to jump into a pool and not get

expect to jump into a pool and not get away so we can’t expect it if we’re

away so we can’t expect it if we’re

away so we can’t expect it if we’re always hanging around negative angry

always hanging around negative angry

always hanging around negative angry complaining people that we’re not going

complaining people that we’re not going

complaining people that we’re not going to be negative angry complainers and

to be negative angry complainers and

to be negative angry complainers and that’s an idea that I share with my

that’s an idea that I share with my

that’s an idea that I share with my students which is so obvious to us from

students which is so obvious to us from

students which is so obvious to us from the outside looking in but if we’re

the outside looking in but if we’re

the outside looking in but if we’re surrounded by it sometimes it’s hard to

surrounded by it sometimes it’s hard to

surrounded by it sometimes it’s hard to see

see

see so ladies and gentlemen I don’t share

so ladies and gentlemen I don’t share

so ladies and gentlemen I don’t share this idea with you just for the sake of

this idea with you just for the sake of

this idea with you just for the sake of sharing an idea I share this idea with

sharing an idea I share this idea with

sharing an idea I share this idea with you because I believe that there is an

you because I believe that there is an

you because I believe that there is an epidemic actually not just in our

epidemic actually not just in our

epidemic actually not just in our country but in the world and I do

country but in the world and I do

country but in the world and I do believe it takes more life away than any

believe it takes more life away than any

believe it takes more life away than any other ailment we’ve ever seen and our

other ailment we’ve ever seen and our

other ailment we’ve ever seen and our first speaker steven hatch he said he

first speaker steven hatch he said he

first speaker steven hatch he said he said listen we’re always finding

said listen we’re always finding

said listen we’re always finding ourselves in a place of either

ourselves in a place of either

ourselves in a place of either fulfilling our needs fulfilling our

fulfilling our needs fulfilling our

fulfilling our needs fulfilling our wants or trying to leave a legacy I

wants or trying to leave a legacy I

wants or trying to leave a legacy I honestly believe that if we ask

honestly believe that if we ask

honestly believe that if we ask ourselves what perspective am i keeping

ourselves what perspective am i keeping

ourselves what perspective am i keeping what action am i working towards what

what action am i working towards what

what action am i working towards what relationships am i working on we can

relationships am i working on we can

relationships am i working on we can very easily go from the first or second

very easily go from the first or second

very easily go from the first or second step to the third step of leaving a

step to the third step of leaving a

step to the third step of leaving a legacy and if there truly is no

legacy and if there truly is no

legacy and if there truly is no difference between being dead and not

difference between being dead and not

difference between being dead and not living what are you gonna do about it

”

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