Press "Enter" to skip to content

Life Begins at the End of Your Comfort Zone | Yubing Zhang | TEDxStanford


it’s a cold and foggy winter morning and

it’s a cold and foggy winter morning and I’m standing on the world’s tallest

I’m standing on the world’s tallest

I’m standing on the world’s tallest bungy platform the platform standing on

bungy platform the platform standing on

bungy platform the platform standing on is so tiny that I have to stand on my

is so tiny that I have to stand on my

is so tiny that I have to stand on my toes and balance myself against the wind

toes and balance myself against the wind

toes and balance myself against the wind the operator ties one end of the bungee

the operator ties one end of the bungee

the operator ties one end of the bungee cord to my ankle and throws the slack in

cord to my ankle and throws the slack in

cord to my ankle and throws the slack in the air I can feel the weight of the

the air I can feel the weight of the

the air I can feel the weight of the Rope i’ma ankles slowly dragging me down

Rope i’ma ankles slowly dragging me down

Rope i’ma ankles slowly dragging me down I look down all the buildings and roads

I look down all the buildings and roads

I look down all the buildings and roads are buried in heavy fog there is only

are buried in heavy fog there is only

are buried in heavy fog there is only one voice in my head I can’t do this so

one voice in my head I can’t do this so

one voice in my head I can’t do this so I turn around and tell them that I want

I turn around and tell them that I want

I turn around and tell them that I want to quit and then I see a huge quote

to quit and then I see a huge quote

to quit and then I see a huge quote printed on the glass window right next

printed on the glass window right next

printed on the glass window right next to me life begins at the edge of your

to me life begins at the edge of your

to me life begins at the edge of your comfort zone I don’t know why but this

comfort zone I don’t know why but this

comfort zone I don’t know why but this short yet powerful sentence gives me the

short yet powerful sentence gives me the

short yet powerful sentence gives me the final potion before I realize it I walk

final potion before I realize it I walk

final potion before I realize it I walk straight back to the platform and jump

straight back to the platform and jump

straight back to the platform and jump off the world’s highest bungee platform

during the 5 seconds of free fall I

during the 5 seconds of free fall I remember thinking to myself it’s not as

remember thinking to myself it’s not as

remember thinking to myself it’s not as scary as it looks

scary as it looks

scary as it looks and that’s not led to a whole new world

and that’s not led to a whole new world

and that’s not led to a whole new world every time I hear the voice of fear in

every time I hear the voice of fear in

every time I hear the voice of fear in my head I can’t leave this job because

my head I can’t leave this job because

my head I can’t leave this job because I’m not going to find anything better

I’m not going to find anything better

I’m not going to find anything better I’m scared of entering a new

I’m scared of entering a new

I’m scared of entering a new relationship because I don’t want to be

relationship because I don’t want to be

relationship because I don’t want to be hurt again and even a minute ago before

hurt again and even a minute ago before

hurt again and even a minute ago before I walk onto the stage the voice was

I walk onto the stage the voice was

I walk onto the stage the voice was repeating in my head every time I hear

repeating in my head every time I hear

repeating in my head every time I hear that voice I take a deep breath and tell

that voice I take a deep breath and tell

that voice I take a deep breath and tell myself it’s never as scary as it looks

myself it’s never as scary as it looks

myself it’s never as scary as it looks let me take you back to the summer of

let me take you back to the summer of

let me take you back to the summer of 2007 a remote village in Cambodia a

2007 a remote village in Cambodia a

2007 a remote village in Cambodia a small room in a domestic violence victim

small room in a domestic violence victim

small room in a domestic violence victim center it’s my first day of work I

center it’s my first day of work I

center it’s my first day of work I walked into room and was introduced to

walked into room and was introduced to

walked into room and was introduced to an 18 year old girl her name was

an 18 year old girl her name was

an 18 year old girl her name was chia-chia was so emotionally physically

chia-chia was so emotionally physically

chia-chia was so emotionally physically abused that she was trembling all the

abused that she was trembling all the

abused that she was trembling all the time and she couldn’t even look at me in

time and she couldn’t even look at me in

time and she couldn’t even look at me in the eyes and on her face I saw a fear

the eyes and on her face I saw a fear

the eyes and on her face I saw a fear anxiety and shame and that day she

anxiety and shame and that day she

anxiety and shame and that day she refused to take our help and went back

refused to take our help and went back

refused to take our help and went back to her husband and in the course of next

to her husband and in the course of next

to her husband and in the course of next few months she would do that again and

few months she would do that again and

few months she would do that again and again only come back with more bruises

again only come back with more bruises

again only come back with more bruises and cuts xie knew that she should leave

and cuts xie knew that she should leave

and cuts xie knew that she should leave her husband but she was scared too

her husband but she was scared too

her husband but she was scared too because she had been married to her him

because she had been married to her him

because she had been married to her him since 14 depending on him for survival

since 14 depending on him for survival

since 14 depending on him for survival and did not know that she could live a

and did not know that she could live a

and did not know that she could live a life on her own to help cheer and

life on her own to help cheer and

life on her own to help cheer and thousands of other girls like Gia I

thousands of other girls like Gia I

thousands of other girls like Gia I started as vocational skill training

started as vocational skill training

started as vocational skill training program after 3 months of training magic

program after 3 months of training magic

program after 3 months of training magic happened Xie regained confidence and

happened Xie regained confidence and

happened Xie regained confidence and dignity step out of the fear of failure

dignity step out of the fear of failure

dignity step out of the fear of failure found a new job in a local hotel and

found a new job in a local hotel and

found a new job in a local hotel and separated with her husband she started a

separated with her husband she started a

separated with her husband she started a new chapter of life at the edge of her

new chapter of life at the edge of her

new chapter of life at the edge of her comfort zone

comfort zone

comfort zone Chea might be an extreme example but I

Chea might be an extreme example but I

Chea might be an extreme example but I can see myself in her and maybe you can

can see myself in her and maybe you can

can see myself in her and maybe you can too

too

too what is it that you’re not doing because

what is it that you’re not doing because

what is it that you’re not doing because of fear of failure finding a new job

of fear of failure finding a new job

of fear of failure finding a new job starting a new company or asking someone

starting a new company or asking someone

starting a new company or asking someone out for a date for me it was the fear of

out for a date for me it was the fear of

out for a date for me it was the fear of public speaking whatever it is I

public speaking whatever it is I

public speaking whatever it is I encourage you to try it because as Chia

encourage you to try it because as Chia

encourage you to try it because as Chia found and I found and I think you will

found and I found and I think you will

found and I found and I think you will find – it’s never as scary as he looks

find – it’s never as scary as he looks

find – it’s never as scary as he looks and you’re stronger and more capable

and you’re stronger and more capable

and you’re stronger and more capable than you thought the second story is

than you thought the second story is

than you thought the second story is about embracing uncertainty my friend

about embracing uncertainty my friend

about embracing uncertainty my friend Jean lives an extremely comfortable life

Jean lives an extremely comfortable life

Jean lives an extremely comfortable life in Hong Kong he works from 9:00 to 5:00

in Hong Kong he works from 9:00 to 5:00

in Hong Kong he works from 9:00 to 5:00 and receives a very good pay but he’s

and receives a very good pay but he’s

and receives a very good pay but he’s dispassionate about his job and life and

dispassionate about his job and life and

dispassionate about his job and life and he’s constantly complaining he has lived

he’s constantly complaining he has lived

he’s constantly complaining he has lived his whole life with certainty that the

his whole life with certainty that the

his whole life with certainty that the fear of losing what he had is stopping

fear of losing what he had is stopping

fear of losing what he had is stopping him from pursuing his passion until one

him from pursuing his passion until one

him from pursuing his passion until one morning I got a call from him – I went

morning I got a call from him – I went

morning I got a call from him – I went to a positive psychology class last

to a positive psychology class last

to a positive psychology class last quarter got so inspired I quit my job

quarter got so inspired I quit my job

quarter got so inspired I quit my job today and I’m moving to Australia you

today and I’m moving to Australia you

today and I’m moving to Australia you what what are you gonna do with your

what what are you gonna do with your

what what are you gonna do with your life I asked he said this is the first

life I asked he said this is the first

life I asked he said this is the first time in life that I don’t have a plan

time in life that I don’t have a plan

time in life that I don’t have a plan and I view every bit as scared as I’m

and I view every bit as scared as I’m

and I view every bit as scared as I’m excited the next time I saw him was six

excited the next time I saw him was six

excited the next time I saw him was six months later he just got back from

months later he just got back from

months later he just got back from Australia a licensed hypnotherapist from

Australia a licensed hypnotherapist from

Australia a licensed hypnotherapist from a trader to a hypnotherapist I was

a trader to a hypnotherapist I was

a trader to a hypnotherapist I was shocked when I saw him again his face

shocked when I saw him again his face

shocked when I saw him again his face was pink eyes glittering his whole body

was pink eyes glittering his whole body

was pink eyes glittering his whole body was just glowing he is living his dream

was just glowing he is living his dream

was just glowing he is living his dream right now traveling around the world

right now traveling around the world

right now traveling around the world giving workshops and therapy sessions

giving workshops and therapy sessions

giving workshops and therapy sessions for thousands of people to find

for thousands of people to find

for thousands of people to find happiness in life and as with Chia I

happiness in life and as with Chia I

happiness in life and as with Chia I could see myself in Jung and maybe you

could see myself in Jung and maybe you

could see myself in Jung and maybe you can too we’re all scared of uncertainty

can too we’re all scared of uncertainty

can too we’re all scared of uncertainty giving up all you have to pursue a dream

giving up all you have to pursue a dream

giving up all you have to pursue a dream that may or may not work out loving

that may or may not work out loving

that may or may not work out loving someone with whole heart without

someone with whole heart without

someone with whole heart without guarantee it’s incredibly hard but as

guarantee it’s incredibly hard but as

guarantee it’s incredibly hard but as John found and I found and I think you

John found and I found and I think you

John found and I found and I think you will find – it’s never as scary as it

will find – it’s never as scary as it

will find – it’s never as scary as it looks and it leads to more possibilities

looks and it leads to more possibilities

looks and it leads to more possibilities and happiness in life the last story is

and happiness in life the last story is

and happiness in life the last story is about vulnerability and the last story

about vulnerability and the last story

about vulnerability and the last story is about me my love for my parents is

is about me my love for my parents is

is about me my love for my parents is the strongest emotion my life but in

the strongest emotion my life but in

the strongest emotion my life but in Asian culture love is seldom expressed

Asian culture love is seldom expressed

Asian culture love is seldom expressed in words it makes me feel extremely

in words it makes me feel extremely

in words it makes me feel extremely uncomfortable to tell them I love you or

uncomfortable to tell them I love you or

uncomfortable to tell them I love you or to even share my feelings with them our

to even share my feelings with them our

to even share my feelings with them our daily conversation is a combination of

daily conversation is a combination of

daily conversation is a combination of what I had for lunch and what they had

what I had for lunch and what they had

what I had for lunch and what they had for dinner the word courage came from

for dinner the word courage came from

for dinner the word courage came from Latin root kur which means heart and the

Latin root kur which means heart and the

Latin root kur which means heart and the original meaning of courage is to tell

original meaning of courage is to tell

original meaning of courage is to tell the story of who you are with their

the story of who you are with their

the story of who you are with their whole heart I don’t know why I have the

whole heart I don’t know why I have the

whole heart I don’t know why I have the courage to stand here today and share my

courage to stand here today and share my

courage to stand here today and share my story with you but I don’t have the

story with you but I don’t have the

story with you but I don’t have the courage to tell my parents I love you

they raised me with love so much love

they raised me with love so much love they made me believe I’m worthy of love

they made me believe I’m worthy of love

they made me believe I’m worthy of love not because of what I achieve but

not because of what I achieve but

not because of what I achieve but because of who I am yet I so desperately

because of who I am yet I so desperately

because of who I am yet I so desperately want to be this perfect child for them

want to be this perfect child for them

want to be this perfect child for them and share my happiness and achievements

and share my happiness and achievements

and share my happiness and achievements and withhold my struggles and failures

and withhold my struggles and failures

and withhold my struggles and failures and as I’m proud of my achievements I

and as I’m proud of my achievements I

and as I’m proud of my achievements I didn’t know that this created a huge

didn’t know that this created a huge

didn’t know that this created a huge emotional gap between us and we no

emotional gap between us and we no

emotional gap between us and we no longer share the joy and pain of each

longer share the joy and pain of each

longer share the joy and pain of each other’s life journey I’ve been

other’s life journey I’ve been

other’s life journey I’ve been experiencing a tough time recently a

experiencing a tough time recently a

experiencing a tough time recently a heartbroken ending of three year

heartbroken ending of three year

heartbroken ending of three year relationship many questions about

relationship many questions about

relationship many questions about friendship and deep insecurity about

friendship and deep insecurity about

friendship and deep insecurity about future a cup of weeks ago I came back

future a cup of weeks ago I came back

future a cup of weeks ago I came back from the exhausting recruiting shoot

from the exhausting recruiting shoot

from the exhausting recruiting shoot from New York the moment I walked in my

from New York the moment I walked in my

from New York the moment I walked in my room in darkness I experienced an

room in darkness I experienced an

room in darkness I experienced an emotional breakdown

emotional breakdown

emotional breakdown I caught my mom I burst into tears the

I caught my mom I burst into tears the

I caught my mom I burst into tears the moment I heard her voice and for the

moment I heard her voice and for the

moment I heard her voice and for the next hour and first time in my life I

next hour and first time in my life I

next hour and first time in my life I shared my struggles with her and even

shared my struggles with her and even

shared my struggles with her and even though she hasn’t been with me in this

though she hasn’t been with me in this

though she hasn’t been with me in this journey for so long she understands

journey for so long she understands

journey for so long she understands exactly what I’ve been going through the

exactly what I’ve been going through the

exactly what I’ve been going through the feeling of reconnection after so many

feeling of reconnection after so many

feeling of reconnection after so many years is like magic in the end I told

years is like magic in the end I told

years is like magic in the end I told her I love you and she said I love you

her I love you and she said I love you

her I love you and she said I love you too it’s the first time remember either

too it’s the first time remember either

too it’s the first time remember either of us has said that I didn’t expect what

of us has said that I didn’t expect what

of us has said that I didn’t expect what felt so uncomfortable previously came so

felt so uncomfortable previously came so

felt so uncomfortable previously came so natural and peacefully in the end I see

natural and peacefully in the end I see

natural and peacefully in the end I see life as a constant fight against your

life as a constant fight against your

life as a constant fight against your comfort zone you push it it pushes back

comfort zone you push it it pushes back

comfort zone you push it it pushes back what’s the fear that’s holding you back

what’s the fear that’s holding you back

what’s the fear that’s holding you back what are you not saying or doing because

what are you not saying or doing because

what are you not saying or doing because it’s outside your comfort zone I

it’s outside your comfort zone I

it’s outside your comfort zone I challenge you to find that comfort zone

challenge you to find that comfort zone

challenge you to find that comfort zone today bravely step out of it and as you

today bravely step out of it and as you

today bravely step out of it and as you get comfortable again push it even

get comfortable again push it even

get comfortable again push it even further don’t try to get rid of fear

further don’t try to get rid of fear

further don’t try to get rid of fear accept that you will be afraid and then

accept that you will be afraid and then

accept that you will be afraid and then go do it anyway as the words that high

go do it anyway as the words that high

go do it anyway as the words that high on the boundary platform life begins at

on the boundary platform life begins at

on the boundary platform life begins at the edge of your comfort zone thank you

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *