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Making the Mindful Move: A Personal Account of Self-Actualization | Sarah Howell | TEDxUNG


how do we find fulfillment in life is

how do we find fulfillment in life is that not something that each and every

that not something that each and every

that not something that each and every one of us desires and is searching for

one of us desires and is searching for

one of us desires and is searching for what is your purpose and do you even

what is your purpose and do you even

what is your purpose and do you even believe that you have the potential to

believe that you have the potential to

believe that you have the potential to be anything more than you are right now

be anything more than you are right now

be anything more than you are right now you see I believe that the answers to

you see I believe that the answers to

you see I believe that the answers to these questions reside with our

these questions reside with our

these questions reside with our perceptions the definition of our

perceptions the definition of our

perceptions the definition of our perceptions is the neuro physiological

perceptions is the neuro physiological

perceptions is the neuro physiological processes including memory in which an

processes including memory in which an

processes including memory in which an organism becomes aware of and interprets

organism becomes aware of and interprets

organism becomes aware of and interprets its external stimuli it’s a way of

its external stimuli it’s a way of

its external stimuli it’s a way of regarding understanding and interpreting

regarding understanding and interpreting

regarding understanding and interpreting something perception affects all of us

something perception affects all of us

something perception affects all of us throughout our lives in the long-term

throughout our lives in the long-term

throughout our lives in the long-term day-to-day in the moment-to-moment

day-to-day in the moment-to-moment

day-to-day in the moment-to-moment it’s the difference between finding $20

it’s the difference between finding $20

it’s the difference between finding $20 in the laundry now think back to that

in the laundry now think back to that

in the laundry now think back to that moment when you lost it you can recall

moment when you lost it you can recall

moment when you lost it you can recall it losing it or are you even mad oh why

it losing it or are you even mad oh why

it losing it or are you even mad oh why not and then look at when you get that

not and then look at when you get that

not and then look at when you get that $20 parking ticket and you let it

$20 parking ticket and you let it

$20 parking ticket and you let it destroy your day I believe that

destroy your day I believe that

destroy your day I believe that perceptions can be illustrated by the

perceptions can be illustrated by the

perceptions can be illustrated by the lenses that we choose to wear some of us

lenses that we choose to wear some of us

lenses that we choose to wear some of us choose rose-colored glasses and are very

choose rose-colored glasses and are very

choose rose-colored glasses and are very overtly optimistic some of us look at

overtly optimistic some of us look at

overtly optimistic some of us look at life on a gray scale where we find the

life on a gray scale where we find the

life on a gray scale where we find the bad and everything even things that may

bad and everything even things that may

bad and everything even things that may be good but nothing ever goes right for

be good but nothing ever goes right for

be good but nothing ever goes right for me and it’s always something and then

me and it’s always something and then

me and it’s always something and then there’s those of us that wear blinders

there’s those of us that wear blinders

there’s those of us that wear blinders that do not can that do not address the

that do not can that do not address the

that do not can that do not address the uncomfortable things in life and just

uncomfortable things in life and just

uncomfortable things in life and just let life lead us and expect it so with

let life lead us and expect it so with

let life lead us and expect it so with all these different lenses to choose

all these different lenses to choose

all these different lenses to choose from and there are many more how do we

from and there are many more how do we

from and there are many more how do we find what is the key to that balance how

find what is the key to that balance how

find what is the key to that balance how do we find the balance between all of

do we find the balance between all of

do we find the balance between all of these lenses

these lenses

these lenses and that is mindfulness mindfulness is

and that is mindfulness mindfulness is

and that is mindfulness mindfulness is defined as a mental state achieved by

defined as a mental state achieved by

defined as a mental state achieved by focusing one’s attention on the present

focusing one’s attention on the present

focusing one’s attention on the present moment calmly acknowledging one’s

moment calmly acknowledging one’s

moment calmly acknowledging one’s feelings the impact of your thoughts and

feelings the impact of your thoughts and

feelings the impact of your thoughts and the way that your body interacts with

the way that your body interacts with

the way that your body interacts with its environment you see there’s nothing

its environment you see there’s nothing

its environment you see there’s nothing wrong with being affected negatively by

wrong with being affected negatively by

wrong with being affected negatively by reality because injustice does happen

reality because injustice does happen

reality because injustice does happen and sometimes we’re the victim of it but

and sometimes we’re the victim of it but

and sometimes we’re the victim of it but I believe that the only way to overcome

I believe that the only way to overcome

I believe that the only way to overcome injustice and powerlessness is through

injustice and powerlessness is through

injustice and powerlessness is through awareness yes you know I have been three

awareness yes you know I have been three

awareness yes you know I have been three people in my life one was a victim

people in my life one was a victim

people in my life one was a victim daughter of alcohol and drug addicted

daughter of alcohol and drug addicted

daughter of alcohol and drug addicted parents overweight with deep

parents overweight with deep

parents overweight with deep self-loathing tendencies she definitely

self-loathing tendencies she definitely

self-loathing tendencies she definitely had body image issues she was lonely

had body image issues she was lonely

had body image issues she was lonely insecure and didn’t feel that she

insecure and didn’t feel that she

insecure and didn’t feel that she belonged not at home not at school and

belonged not at home not at school and

belonged not at home not at school and not even with her own friends she would

not even with her own friends she would

not even with her own friends she would look at her friends and watch them

look at her friends and watch them

look at her friends and watch them interact belonging connecting with one

interact belonging connecting with one

interact belonging connecting with one another but never quite felt she was she

another but never quite felt she was she

another but never quite felt she was she perceived the world in terms of what

perceived the world in terms of what

perceived the world in terms of what other people had of what she didn’t have

other people had of what she didn’t have

other people had of what she didn’t have she was fixated desperately on the

she was fixated desperately on the

she was fixated desperately on the negative space in her life which allowed

negative space in her life which allowed

negative space in her life which allowed her which allowed her to define her

her which allowed her to define her

her which allowed her to define her perceptions of her world and herself

perceptions of her world and herself

perceptions of her world and herself therefore she sought attention

therefore she sought attention

therefore she sought attention desperately and she wanted to be

desperately and she wanted to be

desperately and she wanted to be profound

profound

profound so in conversations she would find

so in conversations she would find

so in conversations she would find insecurities and others and bring them

insecurities and others and bring them

insecurities and others and bring them to the table call people out on their

to the table call people out on their

to the table call people out on their stuff in an attempt to make her feel

stuff in an attempt to make her feel

stuff in an attempt to make her feel superior to them she was rebellious

superior to them she was rebellious

superior to them she was rebellious and even on occasion suicide she

and even on occasion suicide she

and even on occasion suicide she believed that there was no God or higher

believed that there was no God or higher

believed that there was no God or higher power that we were just a speck of rock

power that we were just a speck of rock

power that we were just a speck of rock hurtling through an indifferent universe

hurtling through an indifferent universe

hurtling through an indifferent universe playing out a script not written or for

playing out a script not written or for

playing out a script not written or for us at any attempt of meaning was futile

us at any attempt of meaning was futile

us at any attempt of meaning was futile then I was an actress I was creative

then I was an actress I was creative

then I was an actress I was creative artistic charismatic an honor roll

artistic charismatic an honor roll

artistic charismatic an honor roll student deeply accepting of others and

student deeply accepting of others and

student deeply accepting of others and anyone had permission to be my friend

anyone had permission to be my friend

anyone had permission to be my friend involved in school always enjoyed being

involved in school always enjoyed being

involved in school always enjoyed being in leadership roles in contrast to the

in leadership roles in contrast to the

in leadership roles in contrast to the victim she believed in something bigger

victim she believed in something bigger

victim she believed in something bigger than herself but there was an order to

than herself but there was an order to

than herself but there was an order to the universe and that she played an

the universe and that she played an

the universe and that she played an integral part of it she would stand up

integral part of it she would stand up

integral part of it she would stand up to bullies like the victim she

to bullies like the victim she

to bullies like the victim she celebrated people’s differences and in

celebrated people’s differences and in

celebrated people’s differences and in the way that they perceived themselves

the way that they perceived themselves

the way that they perceived themselves she would lift people up be a light in

she would lift people up be a light in

she would lift people up be a light in the room to negative situations she

the room to negative situations she

the room to negative situations she would help people realize their goals

would help people realize their goals

would help people realize their goals and she also had something to say always

and she also had something to say always

and she also had something to say always but she wanted wisdom and weight behind

but she wanted wisdom and weight behind

but she wanted wisdom and weight behind her words she was desperately fixated on

her words she was desperately fixated on

her words she was desperately fixated on others perceiving her as someone who had

others perceiving her as someone who had

others perceiving her as someone who had it who had life figured out she was the

it who had life figured out she was the

it who had life figured out she was the definition of fake it till you make it

definition of fake it till you make it

definition of fake it till you make it all without realizing she was faking it

all without realizing she was faking it

all without realizing she was faking it and before you now is the woman I am

and before you now is the woman I am

and before you now is the woman I am committed to growth I’m fronting myself

committed to growth I’m fronting myself

committed to growth I’m fronting myself on all levels

on all levels

on all levels I found mentors who brought attention to

I found mentors who brought attention to

I found mentors who brought attention to the destructive self-talk that I fed

the destructive self-talk that I fed

the destructive self-talk that I fed myself things like this may sound stupid

myself things like this may sound stupid

myself things like this may sound stupid but where are my keys

but where are my keys

but where are my keys and I no longer define myself clearly

and I no longer define myself clearly

and I no longer define myself clearly through the circumstances that are

through the circumstances that are

through the circumstances that are handed to me I even had the courage to

handed to me I even had the courage to

handed to me I even had the courage to become an entrepreneur now but I now

become an entrepreneur now but I now

become an entrepreneur now but I now believe that I’m a survivor above being

believe that I’m a survivor above being

believe that I’m a survivor above being a victim and dedicated to new ways to

a victim and dedicated to new ways to

a victim and dedicated to new ways to look at the world and experience new

look at the world and experience new

look at the world and experience new things rather than being perceived as

things rather than being perceived as

things rather than being perceived as wise though

wise though

wise though I actually strive to becoming that wise

I actually strive to becoming that wise

I actually strive to becoming that wise person that I wanted to now I have a

person that I wanted to now I have a

person that I wanted to now I have a willingness to fail pick myself back up

willingness to fail pick myself back up

willingness to fail pick myself back up again because I know that I will be a

again because I know that I will be a

again because I know that I will be a better person for it

better person for it

better person for it and rather than faking it til I make it

and rather than faking it til I make it

and rather than faking it til I make it I realized that life is a book and I am

I realized that life is a book and I am

I realized that life is a book and I am the author then making it is a process

the author then making it is a process

the author then making it is a process and one is in a perpetual state of

and one is in a perpetual state of

and one is in a perpetual state of becoming I’m now empowered to forgive

becoming I’m now empowered to forgive

becoming I’m now empowered to forgive myself and be great for myself so that I

myself and be great for myself so that I

myself and be great for myself so that I can then be great for others well what a

can then be great for others well what a

can then be great for others well what a journey what changed well in my search

journey what changed well in my search

journey what changed well in my search for self-actualization I couldn’t help

for self-actualization I couldn’t help

for self-actualization I couldn’t help but think to myself I cannot be the only

but think to myself I cannot be the only

but think to myself I cannot be the only one suffering isn’t that suffering

one suffering isn’t that suffering

one suffering isn’t that suffering something that makes us all human

something that makes us all human

something that makes us all human well I began to search not a search for

well I began to search not a search for

well I began to search not a search for what makes us human but in a search for

what makes us human but in a search for

what makes us human but in a search for what connects each and every one of us

what connects each and every one of us

what connects each and every one of us in this infinite universe and how to

in this infinite universe and how to

in this infinite universe and how to find meaning in that and to live a life

find meaning in that and to live a life

find meaning in that and to live a life that’s more fulfilling now there are

that’s more fulfilling now there are

that’s more fulfilling now there are many laws that govern our universe many

many laws that govern our universe many

many laws that govern our universe many of them you’re familiar with some are

of them you’re familiar with some are

of them you’re familiar with some are the law of cause and effect and the law

the law of cause and effect and the law

the law of cause and effect and the law of relativity but there is one that is

of relativity but there is one that is

of relativity but there is one that is commonly overlooked and that is the law

commonly overlooked and that is the law

commonly overlooked and that is the law of vibration now I’ll take it easy on

of vibration now I’ll take it easy on

of vibration now I’ll take it easy on you guys

you guys

you guys and I’ll touch on this here but the law

and I’ll touch on this here but the law

and I’ll touch on this here but the law of vibration states that everything that

of vibration states that everything that

of vibration states that everything that exists seen or unseen is in a constant

exists seen or unseen is in a constant

exists seen or unseen is in a constant state of motion it is vibrating and that

state of motion it is vibrating and that

state of motion it is vibrating and that nothing rests everything from you me

nothing rests everything from you me

nothing rests everything from you me this building color and even the very

this building color and even the very

this building color and even the very air that we breathe have one thing in

air that we breathe have one thing in

air that we breathe have one thing in common and that is that we can all be

common and that is that we can all be

common and that is that we can all be broken down into tiny little pieces the

broken down into tiny little pieces the

broken down into tiny little pieces the purest OHS of ourselves and that is pure

purest OHS of ourselves and that is pure

purest OHS of ourselves and that is pure energy or life

all of these vibrations have their own

all of these vibrations have their own frequency the vibration is just the rate

frequency the vibration is just the rate

frequency the vibration is just the rate of vibration is a frequency and they are

of vibration is a frequency and they are

of vibration is a frequency and they are unique to one another the law of

unique to one another the law of

unique to one another the law of vibration also states that the same

vibration also states that the same

vibration also states that the same principles of these physical things that

principles of these physical things that

principles of these physical things that I’ve described also are correlated with

I’ve described also are correlated with

I’ve described also are correlated with our thoughts feelings and desires

our thoughts feelings and desires

our thoughts feelings and desires they’re applicable see the thoughts that

they’re applicable see the thoughts that

they’re applicable see the thoughts that we choose actually have the power to

we choose actually have the power to

we choose actually have the power to change our personal vibrational

change our personal vibrational

change our personal vibrational frequency because you see a feeling is

frequency because you see a feeling is

frequency because you see a feeling is our body’s conscious recognition of what

our body’s conscious recognition of what

our body’s conscious recognition of what of what vibrational frequency we are in

of what vibrational frequency we are in

of what vibrational frequency we are in so if you’re in a negative vibration you

so if you’re in a negative vibration you

so if you’re in a negative vibration you may experience emotions like sadness

may experience emotions like sadness

may experience emotions like sadness anger jealousy when you’re in a positive

anger jealousy when you’re in a positive

anger jealousy when you’re in a positive vibration you may feel emotions of

vibration you may feel emotions of

vibration you may feel emotions of happiness and compassion like really

happiness and compassion like really

happiness and compassion like really does attract like and knowing that the

does attract like and knowing that the

does attract like and knowing that the things and the people that we are in

things and the people that we are in

things and the people that we are in harmonious vibration with are attracted

harmonious vibration with are attracted

harmonious vibration with are attracted to us I mean think about your friend

to us I mean think about your friend

to us I mean think about your friend group you all have to have some things

group you all have to have some things

group you all have to have some things in common a mindset of goal an

in common a mindset of goal an

in common a mindset of goal an aspiration it’s like the old saying goes

aspiration it’s like the old saying goes

aspiration it’s like the old saying goes birds of a feather flock together and

birds of a feather flock together and

birds of a feather flock together and misery loves company see I believe these

misery loves company see I believe these

misery loves company see I believe these facts illustrate that our perception on

facts illustrate that our perception on

facts illustrate that our perception on the world can make an impact on our

the world can make an impact on our

the world can make an impact on our experiences within it dr. Viktor Frankl

experiences within it dr. Viktor Frankl

experiences within it dr. Viktor Frankl a psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor

a psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor

a psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor wrote a book called man’s search for

wrote a book called man’s search for

wrote a book called man’s search for meaning and in that book he wrote

meaning and in that book he wrote

meaning and in that book he wrote between stimulus and response there is a

between stimulus and response there is a

between stimulus and response there is a space and in that space is our power to

space and in that space is our power to

space and in that space is our power to choose our response in our response lies

choose our response in our response lies

choose our response in our response lies our growth and our freedom reading that

our growth and our freedom reading that

our growth and our freedom reading that gave me freedom it gave me power

gave me freedom it gave me power

gave me freedom it gave me power it conveyed the importance to me once

it conveyed the importance to me once

it conveyed the importance to me once again of mindfulness that and you know

again of mindfulness that and you know

again of mindfulness that and you know it takes practice but you don’t have to

it takes practice but you don’t have to

it takes practice but you don’t have to be good at it to see results you have

be good at it to see results you have

be good at it to see results you have the power to change the course of your

the power to change the course of your

the power to change the course of your life like how I was once a background

life like how I was once a background

life like how I was once a background character in mine and now I’m the author

character in mine and now I’m the author

character in mine and now I’m the author I’ve instilled this in myself to be more

I’ve instilled this in myself to be more

I’ve instilled this in myself to be more mindful of my thoughts and my intentions

mindful of my thoughts and my intentions

mindful of my thoughts and my intentions but I hope you understand fulfillment

but I hope you understand fulfillment

but I hope you understand fulfillment does not exist in a vacuum it’s not just

does not exist in a vacuum it’s not just

does not exist in a vacuum it’s not just something you put a cup on put a lid on

something you put a cup on put a lid on

something you put a cup on put a lid on and you carry around with you it’s

and you carry around with you it’s

and you carry around with you it’s something that you choose to have with

something that you choose to have with

something that you choose to have with you and strive towards see I believe

you and strive towards see I believe

you and strive towards see I believe that by being mindful of how we perceive

that by being mindful of how we perceive

that by being mindful of how we perceive the world we can reshape our experiences

the world we can reshape our experiences

the world we can reshape our experiences in it to live a more meaningful and

in it to live a more meaningful and

in it to live a more meaningful and purposeful life you have the power to

purposeful life you have the power to

purposeful life you have the power to change your perceptions so I invite you

change your perceptions so I invite you

change your perceptions so I invite you to take a seat in that space between

to take a seat in that space between

to take a seat in that space between stimulus and response knowing that you

stimulus and response knowing that you

stimulus and response knowing that you have the power to change the course of

have the power to change the course of

have the power to change the course of your life forever all you need to do is

your life forever all you need to do is

your life forever all you need to do is try

”

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