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Best Ted Talks 2015 – Draw your future – Take control of your life


[Applause]

[Applause] Maya Angelou once said a solitary

Maya Angelou once said a solitary

Maya Angelou once said a solitary fantasy can transform a million

fantasy can transform a million

fantasy can transform a million realities what dream or vision do you

realities what dream or vision do you

realities what dream or vision do you want to turn into reality I always

want to turn into reality I always

want to turn into reality I always wanted to go into business for myself I

wanted to go into business for myself I

wanted to go into business for myself I could be a consultant I’m gonna go

could be a consultant I’m gonna go

could be a consultant I’m gonna go gluten-free right after I eat that last

gluten-free right after I eat that last

gluten-free right after I eat that last piece of chocolate cake you know one day

piece of chocolate cake you know one day

piece of chocolate cake you know one day I’m gonna stand up to that crabby boss I

I’m gonna stand up to that crabby boss I

I’m gonna stand up to that crabby boss I look good on paper I should feel great I

look good on paper I should feel great I

look good on paper I should feel great I just know there’s more you know it

just know there’s more you know it

just know there’s more you know it because you feel it you lie awake at

because you feel it you lie awake at

because you feel it you lie awake at night you talk about your dreams with

night you talk about your dreams with

night you talk about your dreams with your partner and your friends but more

your partner and your friends but more

your partner and your friends but more often than not you continue to do those

often than not you continue to do those

often than not you continue to do those same behaviors that keep you from making

same behaviors that keep you from making

same behaviors that keep you from making the change you ask yourself how can I

the change you ask yourself how can I

the change you ask yourself how can I make it happen

make it happen

make it happen research shows the odds against you

research shows the odds against you

research shows the odds against you making a change in your life nine to one

making a change in your life nine to one

making a change in your life nine to one nine to one even if you’re facing a

nine to one even if you’re facing a

nine to one even if you’re facing a life-threatening illness but let me show

life-threatening illness but let me show

life-threatening illness but let me show you how to beat those odds you can live

you how to beat those odds you can live

you how to beat those odds you can live the life you desire it’s right there in

the life you desire it’s right there in

the life you desire it’s right there in front of you but in order to achieve it

front of you but in order to achieve it

front of you but in order to achieve it you must first see it then believe it

you must first see it then believe it

you must first see it then believe it and then you must graciously ask and

and then you must graciously ask and

and then you must graciously ask and train your brain to help you execute

train your brain to help you execute

train your brain to help you execute your vision so how do we see our vision

your vision so how do we see our vision

your vision so how do we see our vision through a picture a picture can create

through a picture a picture can create

through a picture a picture can create movements a picture

movements a picture

movements a picture can unite nations a picture can pull at

can unite nations a picture can pull at

can unite nations a picture can pull at your heart and fill you with a deep

your heart and fill you with a deep

your heart and fill you with a deep desire to do something at Roche

desire to do something at Roche

desire to do something at Roche pharmaceutical the president asked us to

pharmaceutical the president asked us to

pharmaceutical the president asked us to create a picture of his vision prior to

create a picture of his vision prior to

create a picture of his vision prior to having one less than 40% of the

having one less than 40% of the

having one less than 40% of the employees understood the company’s

employees understood the company’s

employees understood the company’s vision and strategy after seeing this

vision and strategy after seeing this

vision and strategy after seeing this picture 96 percent understood it and 84

picture 96 percent understood it and 84

picture 96 percent understood it and 84 percent understood how what they did

percent understood how what they did

percent understood how what they did every day aligned to that picture so how

every day aligned to that picture so how

every day aligned to that picture so how can you use a picture to get what you

can you use a picture to get what you

can you use a picture to get what you want by simply drawing one you don’t

want by simply drawing one you don’t

want by simply drawing one you don’t have to be an artist or know how to draw

have to be an artist or know how to draw

have to be an artist or know how to draw as naive as your drawings might be when

as naive as your drawings might be when

as naive as your drawings might be when you draw where you are your current

you draw where you are your current

you draw where you are your current state and where you want to be your

state and where you want to be your

state and where you want to be your desired new reality suddenly you have a

desired new reality suddenly you have a

desired new reality suddenly you have a roadmap for change so what is your

roadmap for change so what is your

roadmap for change so what is your current state well let’s say you’re Joe

current state well let’s say you’re Joe

current state well let’s say you’re Joe Joe has a good job Joe has a lovely wife

Joe has a good job Joe has a lovely wife

Joe has a good job Joe has a lovely wife Amy Joe makes good money but like many

Amy Joe makes good money but like many

Amy Joe makes good money but like many of us Joe wants more from life and he’d

of us Joe wants more from life and he’d

of us Joe wants more from life and he’d like to get rid of a couple of things

like to get rid of a couple of things

like to get rid of a couple of things maybe that intense workload maybe that

maybe that intense workload maybe that

maybe that intense workload maybe that negative boss maybe Joe has a higher

negative boss maybe Joe has a higher

negative boss maybe Joe has a higher purpose he’s just not sure how to get

purpose he’s just not sure how to get

purpose he’s just not sure how to get there so now Joe’s current state is

there so now Joe’s current state is

there so now Joe’s current state is visual we remember things better when

visual we remember things better when

visual we remember things better when they’re attached to a picture 65% better

they’re attached to a picture 65% better

they’re attached to a picture 65% better to be exact so now let’s imagine that

to be exact so now let’s imagine that

to be exact so now let’s imagine that Joe wants to change something in his

Joe wants to change something in his

Joe wants to change something in his current state he wants to build that

current state he wants to build that

current state he wants to build that desired new reality that he dreams about

desired new reality that he dreams about

desired new reality that he dreams about you know

you know

you know for Joe to freely dream he must first

trick his brain because the left side of

trick his brain because the left side of your brain as you know houses the critic

your brain as you know houses the critic

your brain as you know houses the critic who is forever trying to keep you safe

who is forever trying to keep you safe

who is forever trying to keep you safe from harm make sure you don’t do

from harm make sure you don’t do

from harm make sure you don’t do anything dangerous or stupid so let’s

anything dangerous or stupid so let’s

anything dangerous or stupid so let’s have Joe tell the critic and he’s just

have Joe tell the critic and he’s just

have Joe tell the critic and he’s just gonna use his imagination using your

gonna use his imagination using your

gonna use his imagination using your imagination

imagination

imagination activates the right side of your brain

activates the right side of your brain

activates the right side of your brain which makes you creative and filled with

which makes you creative and filled with

which makes you creative and filled with possibility

possibility

possibility so now let’s dream Joe’s new life in the

so now let’s dream Joe’s new life in the

so now let’s dream Joe’s new life in the best case scenario one year from today

best case scenario one year from today

best case scenario one year from today what is Joe’s life like Hey

what is Joe’s life like Hey

what is Joe’s life like Hey Joe has a new job right Joe has a new

Joe has a new job right Joe has a new

Joe has a new job right Joe has a new boss himself Joe has a couple of great

boss himself Joe has a couple of great

boss himself Joe has a couple of great collaborators and Joe is just bursting

collaborators and Joe is just bursting

collaborators and Joe is just bursting with creativity and ideas and all of

with creativity and ideas and all of

with creativity and ideas and all of those things we dream about connections

those things we dream about connections

those things we dream about connections and purpose and freedom and love now I’m

and purpose and freedom and love now I’m

and purpose and freedom and love now I’m drawing this picture as a favor to Joe

drawing this picture as a favor to Joe

drawing this picture as a favor to Joe today but in real life

today but in real life

today but in real life he’d have to draw his own picture

he’d have to draw his own picture

he’d have to draw his own picture because he can’t afford me actually

because he can’t afford me actually

because he can’t afford me actually because you get the most power when you

because you get the most power when you

because you get the most power when you paint your own picture so now Joe has

paint your own picture so now Joe has

paint your own picture so now Joe has this drawing so now he’s got to soak it

this drawing so now he’s got to soak it

this drawing so now he’s got to soak it in he has to fill it with color he has

in he has to fill it with color he has

in he has to fill it with color he has to fill it with emotion he has to get

to fill it with emotion he has to get

to fill it with emotion he has to get inside of it as if he’s on the inside

inside of it as if he’s on the inside

inside of it as if he’s on the inside looking out your brain actually emits

looking out your brain actually emits

looking out your brain actually emits serotonin and oxytocin when you draw and

serotonin and oxytocin when you draw and

serotonin and oxytocin when you draw and dream so you feel happy

capable creative you feel cool so now we

capable creative you feel cool so now we have Joe’s current state and Joe’s

have Joe’s current state and Joe’s

have Joe’s current state and Joe’s desired new reality so how can Joe get

desired new reality so how can Joe get

desired new reality so how can Joe get from here to there in just three bold

from here to there in just three bold

from here to there in just three bold steps three bold steps if I knew how to

steps three bold steps if I knew how to

steps three bold steps if I knew how to get from here to there in three bold

get from here to there in three bold

get from here to there in three bold steps I would have done it 25 years ago

steps I would have done it 25 years ago

steps I would have done it 25 years ago when I had a mullet here’s where the

when I had a mullet here’s where the

when I had a mullet here’s where the magic begins your brain knows you

magic begins your brain knows you

magic begins your brain knows you it’s cataloged everything you’ve ever

it’s cataloged everything you’ve ever

it’s cataloged everything you’ve ever seen heard experienced real or imagined

seen heard experienced real or imagined

seen heard experienced real or imagined you just have to ask it to put the

you just have to ask it to put the

you just have to ask it to put the pieces together for you it’s as simple

pieces together for you it’s as simple

pieces together for you it’s as simple as that we live in a three-dimensional

as that we live in a three-dimensional

as that we live in a three-dimensional world but the light falls on the retina

world but the light falls on the retina

world but the light falls on the retina in a two-dimensional fashion and the

in a two-dimensional fashion and the

in a two-dimensional fashion and the brain it has to cope with it

brain it has to cope with it

brain it has to cope with it so how does it deal with this extra

so how does it deal with this extra

so how does it deal with this extra dimension it guesses it guesses and just

dimension it guesses it guesses and just

dimension it guesses it guesses and just as it can guess where your cup of coffee

as it can guess where your cup of coffee

as it can guess where your cup of coffee is when it goes to pick it up it can

is when it goes to pick it up it can

is when it goes to pick it up it can correctly guess what the three bold

correctly guess what the three bold

correctly guess what the three bold steps are that you should take all you

steps are that you should take all you

steps are that you should take all you have to do is look at your picture and

have to do is look at your picture and

have to do is look at your picture and then close your eyes this allows the

then close your eyes this allows the

then close your eyes this allows the brain to to recycle what it sees and

brain to to recycle what it sees and

brain to to recycle what it sees and reconstruct it add to it everything

reconstruct it add to it everything

reconstruct it add to it everything you’ve ever seen hurt experienced or

you’ve ever seen hurt experienced or

you’ve ever seen hurt experienced or fantasized about and then it will serve

fantasized about and then it will serve

fantasized about and then it will serve you up with the best possible solution

you up with the best possible solution

you up with the best possible solution if you just relax and you ask it now

if you just relax and you ask it now

if you just relax and you ask it now what’s the boldest thing I could do to

what’s the boldest thing I could do to

what’s the boldest thing I could do to get from here to there boom immediately

get from here to there boom immediately

get from here to there boom immediately it will tell you see it believe it act

it will tell you see it believe it act

it will tell you see it believe it act on it

on it

on it now the danger is if any of those three

now the danger is if any of those three

now the danger is if any of those three bold steps are too scary

bold steps are too scary

bold steps are too scary this instinctual rational side of your

this instinctual rational side of your

this instinctual rational side of your brain is going to try to talk you out of

brain is going to try to talk you out of

brain is going to try to talk you out of this no no I don’t want to do that

this no no I don’t want to do that

this no no I don’t want to do that oh that desk it’s not too small my legs

oh that desk it’s not too small my legs

oh that desk it’s not too small my legs aren’t cramped under there Oh

aren’t cramped under there Oh

aren’t cramped under there Oh 20,000 a year oh that’s a decent salary

20,000 a year oh that’s a decent salary

20,000 a year oh that’s a decent salary oh that boss he’s not that mean to me

oh that boss he’s not that mean to me

oh that boss he’s not that mean to me you know what I’m just gonna stay right

you know what I’m just gonna stay right

you know what I’m just gonna stay right here I feel really comfortable here so

here I feel really comfortable here so

here I feel really comfortable here so how can you get yourself to do the

how can you get yourself to do the

how can you get yourself to do the boldest thing by drawing the most

boldest thing by drawing the most

boldest thing by drawing the most compelling picture so when you look here

compelling picture so when you look here

compelling picture so when you look here you’re in pain it hurts when you’re here

you’re in pain it hurts when you’re here

you’re in pain it hurts when you’re here you’re ecstatic it’s fantastic you’re

you’re ecstatic it’s fantastic you’re

you’re ecstatic it’s fantastic you’re already living inside that connected and

already living inside that connected and

already living inside that connected and free life you drew so every day you get

free life you drew so every day you get

free life you drew so every day you get up you soak in your picture you step

up you soak in your picture you step

up you soak in your picture you step into the possibility and this is the

into the possibility and this is the

into the possibility and this is the most important part you act on it you do

most important part you act on it you do

most important part you act on it you do one small thing you call up that friend

one small thing you call up that friend

one small thing you call up that friend you know who started her own business

you know who started her own business

you know who started her own business you ask her how did you do it you ask

you ask her how did you do it you ask

you ask her how did you do it you ask Amy will you support me in my vision you

Amy will you support me in my vision you

Amy will you support me in my vision you go to your boss and you ask him for a

go to your boss and you ask him for a

go to your boss and you ask him for a raise and you become that one person out

raise and you become that one person out

raise and you become that one person out of ten to make change happen now I put

of ten to make change happen now I put

of ten to make change happen now I put this template on your chair so that you

this template on your chair so that you

this template on your chair so that you could do for yourself what I just did

could do for yourself what I just did

could do for yourself what I just did for Joe you’ve seen some fantastic ideas

for Joe you’ve seen some fantastic ideas

for Joe you’ve seen some fantastic ideas today that have inspired your dream I

today that have inspired your dream I

today that have inspired your dream I dare you to draw that dream into that

dare you to draw that dream into that

dare you to draw that dream into that template I double dare you to choose a

template I double dare you to choose a

template I double dare you to choose a symbol in your drawing that represents

symbol in your drawing that represents

symbol in your drawing that represents that desired new reality take a picture

that desired new reality take a picture

that desired new reality take a picture of it with your phone and send it to us

of it with your phone and send it to us

of it with your phone and send it to us at TEDx Rainier Maya Angelou said a

at TEDx Rainier Maya Angelou said a

at TEDx Rainier Maya Angelou said a solitary fantasy can transform a million

solitary fantasy can transform a million

solitary fantasy can transform a million realities just three bold steps can

realities just three bold steps can

realities just three bold steps can transform one reality yours

transform one reality yours

transform one reality yours thank you

thank you

thank you you

”

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