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Self-Love, be Intentional | Caitlyn Roux | TEDxYouth@CapeTown


I have a question for everyone that

I have a question for everyone that question is what defines you as a person

question is what defines you as a person

question is what defines you as a person what makes you you a lot of us tend to

what makes you you a lot of us tend to

what makes you you a lot of us tend to define ourselves through our physical

define ourselves through our physical

define ourselves through our physical image of jobs or bank balance and a lot

image of jobs or bank balance and a lot

image of jobs or bank balance and a lot of the time to what others have to say

of the time to what others have to say

of the time to what others have to say about us I used to find myself through

about us I used to find myself through

about us I used to find myself through three things in high school I was quite

three things in high school I was quite

three things in high school I was quite the people pleaser I wanted everyone to

the people pleaser I wanted everyone to

the people pleaser I wanted everyone to like me because I thought that the more

like me because I thought that the more

like me because I thought that the more likeable I was the further that I would

likeable I was the further that I would

likeable I was the further that I would get in life because being popular was so

get in life because being popular was so

get in life because being popular was so cool and I tried so hard to become this

cool and I tried so hard to become this

cool and I tried so hard to become this person that everyone would like a

person that everyone would like a

person that everyone would like a majority of the time I was living my

majority of the time I was living my

majority of the time I was living my life through other people’s opinions of

life through other people’s opinions of

life through other people’s opinions of me from the age of 16 I started to

me from the age of 16 I started to

me from the age of 16 I started to obsess over my weight so I wanted to

obsess over my weight so I wanted to

obsess over my weight so I wanted to look like the cover girl in Cosmo

look like the cover girl in Cosmo

look like the cover girl in Cosmo magazine you know the Photoshop one my

magazine you know the Photoshop one my

magazine you know the Photoshop one my diet consisted of just salads and used

diet consisted of just salads and used

diet consisted of just salads and used to look chic on every single calorie

to look chic on every single calorie

to look chic on every single calorie that my body was consuming I even went

that my body was consuming I even went

that my body was consuming I even went to the extreme of harming my body for

to the extreme of harming my body for

to the extreme of harming my body for many years to try and get rid of the

many years to try and get rid of the

many years to try and get rid of the food that I’d eaten because I needed the

food that I’d eaten because I needed the

food that I’d eaten because I needed the thigh gap and I needed the thin waist I

thigh gap and I needed the thin waist I

thigh gap and I needed the thin waist I was in a relationship for the last two

was in a relationship for the last two

was in a relationship for the last two years of school

years of school

years of school and I truly believe that my happiness

and I truly believe that my happiness

and I truly believe that my happiness came from someone else giving it to me I

came from someone else giving it to me I

came from someone else giving it to me I had put so much pressure on this other

had put so much pressure on this other

had put so much pressure on this other person to be everything to me to make me

person to be everything to me to make me

person to be everything to me to make me feel worthy and make me feel like I was

feel worthy and make me feel like I was

feel worthy and make me feel like I was enough and then when the relationship

enough and then when the relationship

enough and then when the relationship ended I was completely broken I didn’t

ended I was completely broken I didn’t

ended I was completely broken I didn’t know how I was gonna stand on my own and

know how I was gonna stand on my own and

know how I was gonna stand on my own and I felt like I lost a little sense of

I felt like I lost a little sense of

I felt like I lost a little sense of identity that I had and I was terrified

identity that I had and I was terrified

identity that I had and I was terrified of being alone I know today that the

of being alone I know today that the

of being alone I know today that the only reason I felt so empty and broken

only reason I felt so empty and broken

only reason I felt so empty and broken inside was because I didn’t know myself

inside was because I didn’t know myself

inside was because I didn’t know myself at all so it was the hardest five months

at all so it was the hardest five months

at all so it was the hardest five months hardest and most emotional five months

hardest and most emotional five months

hardest and most emotional five months of my life and I didn’t know how to deal

of my life and I didn’t know how to deal

of my life and I didn’t know how to deal with how I was feeling all this pain or

with how I was feeling all this pain or

with how I was feeling all this pain or this emotion and one day I called the

this emotion and one day I called the

this emotion and one day I called the person that I used to be with and I

person that I used to be with and I

person that I used to be with and I asked are you happy and he said yes and

asked are you happy and he said yes and

asked are you happy and he said yes and it was from that moment that I decided

it was from that moment that I decided

it was from that moment that I decided that I was going to be happy

that I was going to be happy

that I was going to be happy you and that I was gonna find a

you and that I was gonna find a

you and that I was gonna find a happiness that worked for me that I

happiness that worked for me that I

happiness that worked for me that I wasn’t going to deal with this pain and

wasn’t going to deal with this pain and

wasn’t going to deal with this pain and these waves of emotion anymore so I

these waves of emotion anymore so I

these waves of emotion anymore so I started journaling my breakup I wrote

started journaling my breakup I wrote

started journaling my breakup I wrote down my feelings and my thoughts and

down my feelings and my thoughts and

down my feelings and my thoughts and recently looking back on my journal I

recently looking back on my journal I

recently looking back on my journal I realized how would end my writing off

realized how would end my writing off

realized how would end my writing off with positive affirmations towards

with positive affirmations towards

with positive affirmations towards myself things like you can do this kids

myself things like you can do this kids

myself things like you can do this kids and I’m a huge fan of quotes so I was

and I’m a huge fan of quotes so I was

and I’m a huge fan of quotes so I was putting quotes all around my room in

putting quotes all around my room in

putting quotes all around my room in places that I could see is the and I

places that I could see is the and I

places that I could see is the and I started reading motivational books and

started reading motivational books and

started reading motivational books and positivity and powerful thoughts and how

positivity and powerful thoughts and how

positivity and powerful thoughts and how to change your mind I was trying

to change your mind I was trying

to change your mind I was trying everything to get through how I was

everything to get through how I was

everything to get through how I was feeling something that seemed so

feeling something that seemed so

feeling something that seemed so impossible but just like there’s

impossible but just like there’s

impossible but just like there’s positive affirmations that I was writing

positive affirmations that I was writing

positive affirmations that I was writing towards myself I knew that I had the

towards myself I knew that I had the

towards myself I knew that I had the strength to move on I just didn’t know

strength to move on I just didn’t know

strength to move on I just didn’t know how strong actually was so I had to pick

how strong actually was so I had to pick

how strong actually was so I had to pick myself up in some way and I did I slowly

myself up in some way and I did I slowly

myself up in some way and I did I slowly started to and for the first time in my

started to and for the first time in my

started to and for the first time in my life I realized just how capable I

life I realized just how capable I

life I realized just how capable I actually was of standing on my own and

actually was of standing on my own and

actually was of standing on my own and being my own person I just had to learn

being my own person I just had to learn

being my own person I just had to learn through loss that all I needed to have

through loss that all I needed to have

through loss that all I needed to have was me so for the whole of high school I

was me so for the whole of high school I

was me so for the whole of high school I laid those three things define me other

laid those three things define me other

laid those three things define me other people’s opinions of me my weights a

people’s opinions of me my weights a

people’s opinions of me my weights a relationship and by allowing these

relationship and by allowing these

relationship and by allowing these things to define me I let them control

things to define me I let them control

things to define me I let them control and consume my life and I was looking

and consume my life and I was looking

and consume my life and I was looking for happiness in those three places but

for happiness in those three places but

for happiness in those three places but I could never ever seem to quite find it

I could never ever seem to quite find it

I could never ever seem to quite find it I believe that happiness is something

I believe that happiness is something

I believe that happiness is something that you create for yourself by yourself

that you create for yourself by yourself

that you create for yourself by yourself on your own terms the world that we live

on your own terms the world that we live

on your own terms the world that we live in is something that we create for

in is something that we create for

in is something that we create for ourselves and I’m not talking about

ourselves and I’m not talking about

ourselves and I’m not talking about society’s world I’m talking about the

society’s world I’m talking about the

society’s world I’m talking about the individual world that each and every one

individual world that each and every one

individual world that each and every one of us experience because as we shape our

of us experience because as we shape our

of us experience because as we shape our world and our lives we shape ourselves

world and our lives we shape ourselves

world and our lives we shape ourselves too so I’ve learned through picking

too so I’ve learned through picking

too so I’ve learned through picking myself up through a breakup and letting

myself up through a breakup and letting

myself up through a breakup and letting go of the things that I thought to find

go of the things that I thought to find

go of the things that I thought to find me just how important it was for me to

me just how important it was for me to

me just how important it was for me to take the time out to figure myself out

take the time out to figure myself out

take the time out to figure myself out get inside my own mind and understand

get inside my own mind and understand

get inside my own mind and understand myself and there’s only one part of the

myself and there’s only one part of the

myself and there’s only one part of the universe we can all be certain about

universe we can all be certain about

universe we can all be certain about improving and that’s ourselves I’m

improving and that’s ourselves I’m

improving and that’s ourselves I’m currently reading a book called the 15

currently reading a book called the 15

currently reading a book called the 15 invaluable laws but John Maxwell and in

invaluable laws but John Maxwell and in

invaluable laws but John Maxwell and in this book he says something that really

this book he says something that really

this book he says something that really made me think he says as children our

made me think he says as children our

made me think he says as children our bodies

bodies

bodies automatically a year goes by we get

automatically a year goes by we get

automatically a year goes by we get taller we become stronger become capable

taller we become stronger become capable

taller we become stronger become capable of doing more things facing new

of doing more things facing new

of doing more things facing new challenges but a lot of people carry

challenges but a lot of people carry

challenges but a lot of people carry with them a subconscious belief into

with them a subconscious belief into

with them a subconscious belief into adulthood that spiritual mental and

adulthood that spiritual mental and

adulthood that spiritual mental and emotional growth occurs automatically to

emotional growth occurs automatically to

emotional growth occurs automatically to now just think about that for a second

now just think about that for a second

now just think about that for a second because I was one of those people that

because I was one of those people that

because I was one of those people that believed that those things occur

believed that those things occur

believed that those things occur automatically but it’s not personal

automatically but it’s not personal

automatically but it’s not personal growth has to be intentional we have to

growth has to be intentional we have to

growth has to be intentional we have to take ownership of our growth process

take ownership of our growth process

take ownership of our growth process because we do not simply improve by

because we do not simply improve by

because we do not simply improve by accidents think about a close friend of

accidents think about a close friend of

accidents think about a close friend of yours the longer you spend time with

yours the longer you spend time with

yours the longer you spend time with them the more you learn about them and

them the more you learn about them and

them the more you learn about them and the closer you become and it’s exactly

the closer you become and it’s exactly

the closer you become and it’s exactly the same with yourself the more you

the same with yourself the more you

the same with yourself the more you focus your energy on getting to know

focus your energy on getting to know

focus your energy on getting to know yourself spending time by yourself the

yourself spending time by yourself the

yourself spending time by yourself the more you will learn about yourself and

more you will learn about yourself and

more you will learn about yourself and the closely who becomes yourself and let

the closely who becomes yourself and let

the closely who becomes yourself and let me tell you that is such a beautiful

me tell you that is such a beautiful

me tell you that is such a beautiful feeling when you realize how close you

feeling when you realize how close you

feeling when you realize how close you are becoming to yourself I’ve decided to

are becoming to yourself I’ve decided to

are becoming to yourself I’ve decided to make myself a priority in my life and

make myself a priority in my life and

make myself a priority in my life and self discovery is the best gift that I’m

self discovery is the best gift that I’m

self discovery is the best gift that I’m giving myself and it’s the one gift I

giving myself and it’s the one gift I

giving myself and it’s the one gift I wish I could get each and every one of

wish I could get each and every one of

wish I could get each and every one of you you don’t have it already it has

you you don’t have it already it has

you you don’t have it already it has allowed me to grow in my own terms

allowed me to grow in my own terms

allowed me to grow in my own terms without someone else telling me how to

without someone else telling me how to

without someone else telling me how to and by doing this I’m becoming the

and by doing this I’m becoming the

and by doing this I’m becoming the person who wants to be rather than the

person who wants to be rather than the

person who wants to be rather than the person I was told to be and a lot of

person I was told to be and a lot of

person I was told to be and a lot of people think that putting herself first

people think that putting herself first

people think that putting herself first is selfish but putting yourself first

is selfish but putting yourself first

is selfish but putting yourself first simply means taking for me it simply

simply means taking for me it simply

simply means taking for me it simply means taking a stand looking at yourself

means taking a stand looking at yourself

means taking a stand looking at yourself and saying that I’m going to do

and saying that I’m going to do

and saying that I’m going to do everything in my power to see myself

everything in my power to see myself

everything in my power to see myself succeed and reach my dreams I’m gonna

succeed and reach my dreams I’m gonna

succeed and reach my dreams I’m gonna make the best choices in my life

make the best choices in my life

make the best choices in my life including the people that I surround

including the people that I surround

including the people that I surround myself with people that add nothing but

myself with people that add nothing but

myself with people that add nothing but value to me and once you decide to love

value to me and once you decide to love

value to me and once you decide to love who you are you can then take that love

who you are you can then take that love

who you are you can then take that love that you have for yourself and spread it

that you have for yourself and spread it

that you have for yourself and spread it to other people because without that

to other people because without that

to other people because without that self-love you limit your ability to pour

self-love you limit your ability to pour

self-love you limit your ability to pour into the lives of other people and add

into the lives of other people and add

into the lives of other people and add value to them living the best version of

value to them living the best version of

value to them living the best version of yourself inspires other people to live

yourself inspires other people to live

yourself inspires other people to live the best version of themselves – I was

the best version of themselves – I was

the best version of themselves – I was speaking to one of my friends the other

speaking to one of my friends the other

speaking to one of my friends the other day and she asked me two questions she

day and she asked me two questions she

day and she asked me two questions she said katelynn how did you decide that

said katelynn how did you decide that

said katelynn how did you decide that you wanted to make a change in your life

you wanted to make a change in your life

you wanted to make a change in your life within yourself and your mindset and

within yourself and your mindset and

within yourself and your mindset and secondly

secondly

secondly how did you make it stick so I had to

how did you make it stick so I had to

how did you make it stick so I had to think quite hard about what she asked me

think quite hard about what she asked me

think quite hard about what she asked me but I said to her I knew that I wanted

but I said to her I knew that I wanted

but I said to her I knew that I wanted to make a change in my life the moment

to make a change in my life the moment

to make a change in my life the moment that I decided that I was going to be

that I decided that I was going to be

that I decided that I was going to be the only person that was going to Turman

the only person that was going to Turman

the only person that was going to Turman my happiness that I was going to be the

my happiness that I was going to be the

my happiness that I was going to be the only person I was going to define me not

only person I was going to define me not

only person I was going to define me not those three things and how I made a

those three things and how I made a

those three things and how I made a stick

stick

stick I pushed I pushed through all the

I pushed I pushed through all the

I pushed I pushed through all the negative thoughts I pushed through all

negative thoughts I pushed through all

negative thoughts I pushed through all the negative self-talk and it wasn’t

the negative self-talk and it wasn’t

the negative self-talk and it wasn’t easy easy

easy easy

easy easy it’s never easy but I always had a

it’s never easy but I always had a

it’s never easy but I always had a craving to know myself deep and if you

craving to know myself deep and if you

craving to know myself deep and if you want anything that badly anything is

want anything that badly anything is

want anything that badly anything is possible

possible

possible I know that the relationship that I have

I know that the relationship that I have

I know that the relationship that I have with myself is the most important

with myself is the most important

with myself is the most important relationship the relationship that you

relationship the relationship that you

relationship the relationship that you have with yourself is the most important

have with yourself is the most important

have with yourself is the most important relationship and how you see yourself

relationship and how you see yourself

relationship and how you see yourself and how you treat yourself is how you

and how you treat yourself is how you

and how you treat yourself is how you see and how you treat other people how

see and how you treat other people how

see and how you treat other people how can you expect to give love if you can’t

can you expect to give love if you can’t

can you expect to give love if you can’t give love to yourself first ask yourself

give love to yourself first ask yourself

give love to yourself first ask yourself the day if the relationships you have in

the day if the relationships you have in

the day if the relationships you have in your life by adding value to you or they

your life by adding value to you or they

your life by adding value to you or they help you grow into the person you want

help you grow into the person you want

help you grow into the person you want to become and then ask yourself but am i

to become and then ask yourself but am i

to become and then ask yourself but am i adding value to me and these two

adding value to me and these two

adding value to me and these two questions are very important because the

questions are very important because the

questions are very important because the people that you surround yourself with

people that you surround yourself with

people that you surround yourself with in life have a very big impact and

in life have a very big impact and

in life have a very big impact and influence on you and your growth but you

influence on you and your growth but you

influence on you and your growth but you have the biggest impact and influence on

have the biggest impact and influence on

have the biggest impact and influence on you so if the answer to these questions

you so if the answer to these questions

you so if the answer to these questions are no then decide today it’s maybe make

are no then decide today it’s maybe make

are no then decide today it’s maybe make a change and if you decide to make that

a change and if you decide to make that

a change and if you decide to make that change don’t just place a small amount

change don’t just place a small amount

change don’t just place a small amount of value on yourself because rest

of value on yourself because rest

of value on yourself because rest assured the world will not raise your

assured the world will not raise your

assured the world will not raise your price know your worth

price know your worth

price know your worth start focusing yourself developing

start focusing yourself developing

start focusing yourself developing yourself improving yourself good things

yourself improving yourself good things

yourself improving yourself good things will come and know that the space

will come and know that the space

will come and know that the space between where you are now currently and

between where you are now currently and

between where you are now currently and where you want to be is growth and the

where you want to be is growth and the

where you want to be is growth and the thing called life that happens in

thing called life that happens in

thing called life that happens in between is hard but it’s really really

between is hard but it’s really really

between is hard but it’s really really beautiful thank you

beautiful thank you

beautiful thank you [Applause]

”

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