A superpower you didn’t know you had | Megha Tiwari | TEDxAbbotsford

at some point in our lives we have all

at some point in our lives we have all wished we had a superpower and I’m here

wished we had a superpower and I’m here

wished we had a superpower and I’m here to tell you today that all of us do have

to tell you today that all of us do have

to tell you today that all of us do have one I used mine when I was really young

one I used mine when I was really young

one I used mine when I was really young but it was not until 20 years later that

but it was not until 20 years later that

but it was not until 20 years later that I realized the power I possessed when I

I realized the power I possessed when I

I realized the power I possessed when I was six years old I did not know that

was six years old I did not know that

was six years old I did not know that all children my age could not go to

all children my age could not go to

all children my age could not go to school I was in grade one and my school

school I was in grade one and my school

school I was in grade one and my school asked all students to raise money for

asked all students to raise money for

asked all students to raise money for the Health Care Society of India I did

the Health Care Society of India I did

the Health Care Society of India I did not understand what that meant so I ran

not understand what that meant so I ran

not understand what that meant so I ran to my mom after school and I asked her

to my mom after school and I asked her

to my mom after school and I asked her to explain what I was supposed to do and

to explain what I was supposed to do and

to explain what I was supposed to do and she told that all children are not

she told that all children are not

she told that all children are not fortunate to even have parents and some

fortunate to even have parents and some

fortunate to even have parents and some families cannot afford to send their

families cannot afford to send their

families cannot afford to send their children to school so nonprofits like

children to school so nonprofits like

children to school so nonprofits like health care help make that possible this

health care help make that possible this

health care help make that possible this harsh reality deeply affected me and I

harsh reality deeply affected me and I

harsh reality deeply affected me and I remember thinking what is it that I can

remember thinking what is it that I can

remember thinking what is it that I can do to help them so I took charge for the

do to help them so I took charge for the

do to help them so I took charge for the next 10 days every day after school I

next 10 days every day after school I

next 10 days every day after school I went door-to-door in my condo building

went door-to-door in my condo building

went door-to-door in my condo building asking each one of my neighbors to give

asking each one of my neighbors to give

asking each one of my neighbors to give 10 rupees which is about 20 cents to my

10 rupees which is about 20 cents to my

10 rupees which is about 20 cents to my fundraiser and I employed every little

fundraiser and I employed every little

fundraiser and I employed every little tactic that my young brain knew at that

tactic that my young brain knew at that

tactic that my young brain knew at that time like convincing my sister to give

time like convincing my sister to give

time like convincing my sister to give all of her pocket money to me or bribing

all of her pocket money to me or bribing

all of her pocket money to me or bribing your friend with playdates if she could

your friend with playdates if she could

your friend with playdates if she could get money from her mom I think the

get money from her mom I think the

get money from her mom I think the hardest one was proving to a neighbor

hardest one was proving to a neighbor

hardest one was proving to a neighbor that this nonprofit was in fact real and

that this nonprofit was in fact real and

that this nonprofit was in fact real and registered and it was difficult in the

registered and it was difficult in the

registered and it was difficult in the time of no internet in the end I had a

time of no internet in the end I had a

time of no internet in the end I had a successful fundraiser and I got an award

successful fundraiser and I got an award

successful fundraiser and I got an award for raising the most funds in my school

for raising the most funds in my school

for raising the most funds in my school but that’s not the important part the

but that’s not the important part the

but that’s not the important part the important part is how my small act to

important part is how my small act to

important part is how my small act to achieve my goal changed the lives of

achieve my goal changed the lives of

achieve my goal changed the lives of those around me particularly my parents

those around me particularly my parents

those around me particularly my parents because they were able to connect with

because they were able to connect with

because they were able to connect with me and teach me the core value of

me and teach me the core value of

me and teach me the core value of helping others a value which has stayed

helping others a value which has stayed

helping others a value which has stayed at the center of my character over the

at the center of my character over the

at the center of my character over the years this also allowed my teachers to

years this also allowed my teachers to

years this also allowed my teachers to teach all the students how to work

teach all the students how to work

teach all the students how to work towards a goal and how to be tenacious

towards a goal and how to be tenacious

towards a goal and how to be tenacious my friend obviously found

my friend obviously found

my friend obviously found playmate and my building residents were

playmate and my building residents were

playmate and my building residents were able to understand some of the realities

able to understand some of the realities

able to understand some of the realities that existed in the society they lived

that existed in the society they lived

that existed in the society they lived in but most importantly the lives of the

in but most importantly the lives of the

in but most importantly the lives of the children that was served as a result of

children that was served as a result of

children that was served as a result of all these experiences changed forever

all these experiences changed forever

all these experiences changed forever because they received the lifelong and

because they received the lifelong and

because they received the lifelong and the priceless gift of Education and I

the priceless gift of Education and I

the priceless gift of Education and I believe many of us may be living our

believe many of us may be living our

believe many of us may be living our lives like the six-year-old me not

lives like the six-year-old me not

lives like the six-year-old me not realizing the super power we possess to

realizing the super power we possess to

realizing the super power we possess to influence and change lives throughout my

influence and change lives throughout my

influence and change lives throughout my life’s journey there have been certain

life’s journey there have been certain

life’s journey there have been certain moments that have helped me uncover this

moments that have helped me uncover this

moments that have helped me uncover this power that we all possess and I would

power that we all possess and I would

power that we all possess and I would like to share four of these experiences

like to share four of these experiences

like to share four of these experiences with you because I think they also shed

with you because I think they also shed

with you because I think they also shed light on some of the reasons we fail to

light on some of the reasons we fail to

light on some of the reasons we fail to understand our potential first I want to

understand our potential first I want to

understand our potential first I want to share my experience from theory three

share my experience from theory three

share my experience from theory three years ago when I decided to travel alone

years ago when I decided to travel alone

years ago when I decided to travel alone by myself for the first time to live in

by myself for the first time to live in

by myself for the first time to live in volunteer in a girl’s orphanage in Peru

volunteer in a girl’s orphanage in Peru

volunteer in a girl’s orphanage in Peru I did a bake sale for raising money to

I did a bake sale for raising money to

I did a bake sale for raising money to buy them school uniform and I remember

buy them school uniform and I remember

buy them school uniform and I remember going with the mindset that you know I’m

going with the mindset that you know I’m

going with the mindset that you know I’m doing this and I’m going to make an

doing this and I’m going to make an

doing this and I’m going to make an impact in these children’s lives but

impact in these children’s lives but

impact in these children’s lives but when I arrived I saw these children live

when I arrived I saw these children live

when I arrived I saw these children live like one big happy family they did not

like one big happy family they did not

like one big happy family they did not need me my uniforms or the chocolates I

need me my uniforms or the chocolates I

need me my uniforms or the chocolates I got them to make them more happier than

got them to make them more happier than

got them to make them more happier than they already were every morning I saw

they already were every morning I saw

they already were every morning I saw them join their little hands to pray to

them join their little hands to pray to

them join their little hands to pray to God thanking him for everything they had

God thanking him for everything they had

God thanking him for everything they had food water shelter each other and me I

food water shelter each other and me I

food water shelter each other and me I was a new addition in their list and so

was a new addition in their list and so

was a new addition in their list and so it’s very nice for me to think that I

it’s very nice for me to think that I

it’s very nice for me to think that I did anything for them because the impact

did anything for them because the impact

did anything for them because the impact each and every child has on me is living

each and every child has on me is living

each and every child has on me is living with me every single day these children

with me every single day these children

with me every single day these children taught me the true meaning of compassion

taught me the true meaning of compassion

taught me the true meaning of compassion and a finding joy in what we already

and a finding joy in what we already

and a finding joy in what we already have

have

have so the lesson from this is very simple

so the lesson from this is very simple

so the lesson from this is very simple giving is not a one-way transaction when

giving is not a one-way transaction when

giving is not a one-way transaction when we give our time or resources it affects

we give our time or resources it affects

we give our time or resources it affects us as much as the person receiving it

us as much as the person receiving it

us as much as the person receiving it second I want to talk about my

second I want to talk about my

second I want to talk about my experience from last year when I moved

experience from last year when I moved

experience from last year when I moved to Vancouver from the Microsoft

to Vancouver from the Microsoft

to Vancouver from the Microsoft headquarters in Redmond there I used to

headquarters in Redmond there I used to

headquarters in Redmond there I used to be part of well-established community

be part of well-established community

be part of well-established community and outreach programs and I started

and outreach programs and I started

and outreach programs and I started missing that when I moved here so I went

missing that when I moved here so I went

missing that when I moved here so I went to the director of our newly formed

to the director of our newly formed

to the director of our newly formed office here in Vancouver and I asked him

office here in Vancouver and I asked him

office here in Vancouver and I asked him hey what’s up what’s in the pipeline

hey what’s up what’s in the pipeline

hey what’s up what’s in the pipeline here and he was quite intrigued by my

here and he was quite intrigued by my

here and he was quite intrigued by my passion and asked me to start the women

passion and asked me to start the women

passion and asked me to start the women of Microsoft Vancouver group and trust

of Microsoft Vancouver group and trust

of Microsoft Vancouver group and trust me this is something I wanted for a long

me this is something I wanted for a long

me this is something I wanted for a long time yet when he asked me I hesitated

time yet when he asked me I hesitated

time yet when he asked me I hesitated because up until that point I was living

because up until that point I was living

because up until that point I was living my life thinking I’m going to do certain

my life thinking I’m going to do certain

my life thinking I’m going to do certain things when I’m at a certain age or when

things when I’m at a certain age or when

things when I’m at a certain age or when I have certain years of experience but

I have certain years of experience but

I have certain years of experience but he smiled and said you don’t have to

he smiled and said you don’t have to

he smiled and said you don’t have to wait to be at a certain position to

wait to be at a certain position to

wait to be at a certain position to start making a difference and that one

start making a difference and that one

start making a difference and that one line left me speechless and it changed

line left me speechless and it changed

line left me speechless and it changed the course of all my actions since that

the course of all my actions since that

the course of all my actions since that day and so I would like to encourage all

day and so I would like to encourage all

day and so I would like to encourage all of you to not think that we need to be

of you to not think that we need to be

of you to not think that we need to be at the ranks of Oprah Ghandi Steve Jobs

at the ranks of Oprah Ghandi Steve Jobs

at the ranks of Oprah Ghandi Steve Jobs to start making an impact

to start making an impact

to start making an impact we are already empowered to do so by

we are already empowered to do so by

we are already empowered to do so by being ourselves and channeling our

being ourselves and channeling our

being ourselves and channeling our passions in the right direction

another misconception that I used to

another misconception that I used to have was thinking that we make our

have was thinking that we make our

have was thinking that we make our decisions based on our own thinking and

decisions based on our own thinking and

decisions based on our own thinking and rationale only like nothing else really

rationale only like nothing else really

rationale only like nothing else really affects us we make our own decisions

affects us we make our own decisions

affects us we make our own decisions like I used to think I chose to go to

like I used to think I chose to go to

like I used to think I chose to go to Purdue University for my undergraduate

Purdue University for my undergraduate

Purdue University for my undergraduate studies because I did all my

studies because I did all my

studies because I did all my calculations it was a top school and I

calculations it was a top school and I

calculations it was a top school and I was making that choice it was my

was making that choice it was my

was making that choice it was my decision in reality my dad’s photographs

decision in reality my dad’s photographs

decision in reality my dad’s photographs of his time at Purdue did affect me as a

of his time at Purdue did affect me as a

of his time at Purdue did affect me as a child

child

child where before I found out that Neil

where before I found out that Neil

where before I found out that Neil Armstrong was alumni of the program I

Armstrong was alumni of the program I

Armstrong was alumni of the program I was applying to so even if we may think

was applying to so even if we may think

was applying to so even if we may think that whatever we are doing may not

that whatever we are doing may not

that whatever we are doing may not affect someone it way it may be very

affect someone it way it may be very

affect someone it way it may be very well influencing their decisions Jonah

well influencing their decisions Jonah

well influencing their decisions Jonah Berger who’s a social expert and a

Berger who’s a social expert and a

Berger who’s a social expert and a professor at University of Pennsylvania

professor at University of Pennsylvania

professor at University of Pennsylvania in his book invisible influence shows

in his book invisible influence shows

in his book invisible influence shows that our opinions are deeply shaped by

that our opinions are deeply shaped by

that our opinions are deeply shaped by other people’s behaviors people who are

other people’s behaviors people who are

other people’s behaviors people who are not even connected to us and not just in

not even connected to us and not just in

not even connected to us and not just in the big decisions even in the small ones

lastly I want to share my experience

lastly I want to share my experience growing up in New Delhi India me and my

growing up in New Delhi India me and my

growing up in New Delhi India me and my sister had a beautiful childhood and our

sister had a beautiful childhood and our

sister had a beautiful childhood and our parents taught us that if we put our

parents taught us that if we put our

parents taught us that if we put our mind towards something we could achieve

mind towards something we could achieve

mind towards something we could achieve it if we really wanted something there

it if we really wanted something there

it if we really wanted something there was nothing that was stopping us they

was nothing that was stopping us they

was nothing that was stopping us they taught us to dream and they told us that

taught us to dream and they told us that

taught us to dream and they told us that the world was full of opportunities so I

the world was full of opportunities so I

the world was full of opportunities so I took that dream and I arrived in the

took that dream and I arrived in the

took that dream and I arrived in the United States to study engineering but I

United States to study engineering but I

United States to study engineering but I was surprised because not a lot of girls

was surprised because not a lot of girls

was surprised because not a lot of girls seem to have the same dream as me and I

seem to have the same dream as me and I

seem to have the same dream as me and I wanted to find out what were the reasons

wanted to find out what were the reasons

wanted to find out what were the reasons for girls not choosing science and

for girls not choosing science and

for girls not choosing science and engineering as their majors and once I

engineering as their majors and once I

engineering as their majors and once I did find those reasons like my young

did find those reasons like my young

did find those reasons like my young self I wanted to change that so I

self I wanted to change that so I

self I wanted to change that so I started reaching out to local high

started reaching out to local high

started reaching out to local high schools mentoring girls bringing them

schools mentoring girls bringing them

schools mentoring girls bringing them into my classroom and really showing

into my classroom and really showing

into my classroom and really showing them a glimpse of the future and the

them a glimpse of the future and the

them a glimpse of the future and the most important part from all of this is

most important part from all of this is

most important part from all of this is noticing that my parents were just

noticing that my parents were just

noticing that my parents were just raising two daughters to the best of

raising two daughters to the best of

raising two daughters to the best of their capabilities but little did they

their capabilities but little did they

their capabilities but little did they know that they were influencing

know that they were influencing

know that they were influencing daughters all over the world so even men

daughters all over the world so even men

daughters all over the world so even men influence is invisible like I’ve shared

influence is invisible like I’ve shared

influence is invisible like I’ve shared in these examples it is so strong that

in these examples it is so strong that

in these examples it is so strong that it can travel thousands of miles and

it can travel thousands of miles and

it can travel thousands of miles and affects countless hearts what is going

affects countless hearts what is going

affects countless hearts what is going to happen if we start mindfully

to happen if we start mindfully

to happen if we start mindfully utilizing this power are some things

utilizing this power are some things

utilizing this power are some things I have three pointers first this can

I have three pointers first this can

I have three pointers first this can actually make us happier

actually make us happier

actually make us happier our emotions turn out are contagious to

our emotions turn out are contagious to

our emotions turn out are contagious to be precise if you are lonely people

be precise if you are lonely people

be precise if you are lonely people directly connected to you are 52 percent

directly connected to you are 52 percent

directly connected to you are 52 percent more likely to be lonely but if you’re

more likely to be lonely but if you’re

more likely to be lonely but if you’re happy you’re close friends are 15

happy you’re close friends are 15

happy you’re close friends are 15 percent more likely to be happy your

percent more likely to be happy your

percent more likely to be happy your friends friends are 10 percent more

friends friends are 10 percent more

friends friends are 10 percent more likely to be happy and your friends

likely to be happy and your friends

likely to be happy and your friends friends friends are 6 percent more

friends friends are 6 percent more

friends friends are 6 percent more likely to be happy it’s called the

likely to be happy it’s called the

likely to be happy it’s called the happiness effect which travels through 3

happiness effect which travels through 3

happiness effect which travels through 3 degrees of influence Gustav Limbaugh a

degrees of influence Gustav Limbaugh a

degrees of influence Gustav Limbaugh a French psychologist years ago showed

French psychologist years ago showed

French psychologist years ago showed this in his social contagion theory as

this in his social contagion theory as

this in his social contagion theory as well that as human beings we are

well that as human beings we are

well that as human beings we are actually wired to mimic emotions of

actually wired to mimic emotions of

actually wired to mimic emotions of those around us and that’s the reason

those around us and that’s the reason

those around us and that’s the reason people in a certain group behave a

people in a certain group behave a

people in a certain group behave a certain way or a leaders mode affects

certain way or a leaders mode affects

certain way or a leaders mode affects people working around him or as simply

people working around him or as simply

people working around him or as simply as me smiling at you is going to make

as me smiling at you is going to make

as me smiling at you is going to make you smile back at me this can also help

you smile back at me this can also help

you smile back at me this can also help us reach our goals which is the second

us reach our goals which is the second

us reach our goals which is the second benefit of it

benefit of it

benefit of it research by three psychologists hang

research by three psychologists hang

research by three psychologists hang cards Peter Goldman son and Ron haseen

cards Peter Goldman son and Ron haseen

cards Peter Goldman son and Ron haseen shows that just by watching or reading

shows that just by watching or reading

shows that just by watching or reading someone strive towards a goal can make

someone strive towards a goal can make

someone strive towards a goal can make you drop that goal as well

you drop that goal as well

you drop that goal as well in one study for example they showed

in one study for example they showed

in one study for example they showed that people who read a story about

that people who read a story about

that people who read a story about someone trying to make more money were

someone trying to make more money were

someone trying to make more money were more likely to put an effort in trying

more likely to put an effort in trying

more likely to put an effort in trying to make more money than people who read

to make more money than people who read

to make more money than people who read a story which was not related to making

a story which was not related to making

a story which was not related to making money third this can also make us better

money third this can also make us better

money third this can also make us better decision-makers and our cities richer

decision-makers and our cities richer

decision-makers and our cities richer which is very interesting if your

which is very interesting if your

which is very interesting if your pattern of interaction is diverse and

pattern of interaction is diverse and

pattern of interaction is diverse and inclusive you and everyone in your

inclusive you and everyone in your

inclusive you and everyone in your community end up making better decisions

community end up making better decisions

community end up making better decisions and cities with people who are

and cities with people who are

and cities with people who are continuously reaching out in their

continuously reaching out in their

continuously reaching out in their social networks who are doing social

social networks who are doing social

social networks who are doing social exploration end up with higher GDP so

exploration end up with higher GDP so

exploration end up with higher GDP so that’s my case going forward I suggest

that’s my case going forward I suggest

that’s my case going forward I suggest we all do three very simple things first

we all do three very simple things first

we all do three very simple things first we need to understand that we all have

we need to understand that we all have

we need to understand that we all have the super power

the super power

the super power influence and change lives it’s like

influence and change lives it’s like

influence and change lives it’s like we’re all a candle we all have the same

we’re all a candle we all have the same

we’re all a candle we all have the same ability to light another candle we just

ability to light another candle we just

ability to light another candle we just need to know that we can second we need

need to know that we can second we need

need to know that we can second we need to understand what our uniqueness is and

to understand what our uniqueness is and

to understand what our uniqueness is and strengths are what is it that people say

strengths are what is it that people say

strengths are what is it that people say that we are good at and once we know

that we are good at and once we know

that we are good at and once we know that we have to use it we have to echo

that we have to use it we have to echo

that we have to use it we have to echo it out in everything we do

it out in everything we do

it out in everything we do third we need to watch for our influence

third we need to watch for our influence

third we need to watch for our influence traveling through others see how when

traveling through others see how when

traveling through others see how when you say something or do something how

you say something or do something how

you say something or do something how does it affect people around you does it

does it affect people around you does it

does it affect people around you does it to have a ripple effect and once you

to have a ripple effect and once you

to have a ripple effect and once you start noticing these things it’s going

start noticing these things it’s going

start noticing these things it’s going to inspire you to do more of it I will

to inspire you to do more of it I will

to inspire you to do more of it I will end with a very profound quote by Scott

end with a very profound quote by Scott

end with a very profound quote by Scott Adams you don’t have to be a person of

Adams you don’t have to be a person of

Adams you don’t have to be a person of influence to be influential in fact the

influence to be influential in fact the

influence to be influential in fact the most influential people in my life are

most influential people in my life are

most influential people in my life are not even aware of the things they have

not even aware of the things they have

not even aware of the things they have taught me our influence is our

taught me our influence is our

taught me our influence is our superpower and each and every one of you

superpower and each and every one of you

superpower and each and every one of you have it I hope when you go home today

have it I hope when you go home today

have it I hope when you go home today you think how you will use yours to

you think how you will use yours to

you think how you will use yours to change the world thank you