Believe your way to success and happiness | Johannes Wolf | TEDxFS

hi everyone I’m a little excited to be

hi everyone I’m a little excited to be here and I can see some sparks of

here and I can see some sparks of

here and I can see some sparks of excitement in your faces as well that’s

excitement in your faces as well that’s

excitement in your faces as well that’s not quite lowering the pressure though

not quite lowering the pressure though

not quite lowering the pressure though so when I received the invitation to do

so when I received the invitation to do

so when I received the invitation to do the TEDx talk my first thought was wow

the TEDx talk my first thought was wow

the TEDx talk my first thought was wow how cool is that I always admired the

how cool is that I always admired the

how cool is that I always admired the speakers who could get up on stage and

speakers who could get up on stage and

speakers who could get up on stage and deliver an intellectually challenging

deliver an intellectually challenging

deliver an intellectually challenging topic in an entertaining way so as my

topic in an entertaining way so as my

topic in an entertaining way so as my flattered brain slowly made space for a

flattered brain slowly made space for a

flattered brain slowly made space for a second thought my mind went uh-oh

second thought my mind went uh-oh

second thought my mind went uh-oh because that was the moment I realized

because that was the moment I realized

because that was the moment I realized that that flattering speaker would need

that that flattering speaker would need

that that flattering speaker would need to be me and what idea was spreading can

to be me and what idea was spreading can

to be me and what idea was spreading can a miserable student in his mid-20s

a miserable student in his mid-20s

a miserable student in his mid-20s possibly share so that led me to a third

possibly share so that led me to a third

possibly share so that led me to a third thought which was you’re gonna embarrass

thought which was you’re gonna embarrass

thought which was you’re gonna embarrass yourself you’re gonna embarrass yourself

yourself you’re gonna embarrass yourself

yourself you’re gonna embarrass yourself in front of a lot of people and there’s

in front of a lot of people and there’s

in front of a lot of people and there’s likely going to be footage of that in

likely going to be footage of that in

likely going to be footage of that in the Internet that sounds like the

the Internet that sounds like the

the Internet that sounds like the straight way to the American presidency

straight way to the American presidency

straight way to the American presidency so let’s let’s get this started

so let’s let’s get this started

so let’s let’s get this started I’m a medical student and a doctoral

I’m a medical student and a doctoral

I’m a medical student and a doctoral candidate a doctoral candidate that

candidate a doctoral candidate that

candidate a doctoral candidate that sounds like when you go to kindergarten

sounds like when you go to kindergarten

sounds like when you go to kindergarten you see the big kids play high on top of

you see the big kids play high on top of

you see the big kids play high on top of a climbing frame only you’re not that

a climbing frame only you’re not that

a climbing frame only you’re not that kid you’re the one sitting down there as

kid you’re the one sitting down there as

kid you’re the one sitting down there as a doctoral candidate eating the sand

a doctoral candidate eating the sand

a doctoral candidate eating the sand that falls from the big kids shoes and

that falls from the big kids shoes and

that falls from the big kids shoes and out of that situation try to create a

out of that situation try to create a

out of that situation try to create a scientific paper so the area of science

scientific paper so the area of science

scientific paper so the area of science that I’m interested in is human

that I’m interested in is human

that I’m interested in is human cognition basically our thought process

cognition basically our thought process

cognition basically our thought process and specifically the thought models we

and specifically the thought models we

and specifically the thought models we develop around illness which are called

develop around illness which are called

develop around illness which are called illness perceptions in my research we

illness perceptions in my research we

illness perceptions in my research we investigated to what extent illness

investigated to what extent illness

investigated to what extent illness perceptions influenced handicapped as an

perceptions influenced handicapped as an

perceptions influenced handicapped as an outcome in patients with vertigo and

outcome in patients with vertigo and

outcome in patients with vertigo and dizziness vertigo and dizziness

dizziness vertigo and dizziness

dizziness vertigo and dizziness meaning the feeling that everything

meaning the feeling that everything

meaning the feeling that everything around you is turning or shaking so as

around you is turning or shaking so as

around you is turning or shaking so as we in

we in

we in gated this association we controlled for

gated this association we controlled for

gated this association we controlled for the severity of symptoms anxiety and

the severity of symptoms anxiety and

the severity of symptoms anxiety and depression your first thought might be

depression your first thought might be

depression your first thought might be well of course a person is more

well of course a person is more

well of course a person is more handicapped the more severe their

handicapped the more severe their

handicapped the more severe their symptoms are sounds logical secondly you

symptoms are sounds logical secondly you

symptoms are sounds logical secondly you might also know that anxiety is a state

might also know that anxiety is a state

might also know that anxiety is a state where people don’t feel well they feel

where people don’t feel well they feel

where people don’t feel well they feel shaky so it makes sense that people with

shaky so it makes sense that people with

shaky so it makes sense that people with anxiety are more handicapped and lastly

anxiety are more handicapped and lastly

anxiety are more handicapped and lastly you might know that depression is a

you might know that depression is a

you might know that depression is a state where people have absolutely no

state where people have absolutely no

state where people have absolutely no motivation to feel good or work for a

motivation to feel good or work for a

motivation to feel good or work for a positive outcome so it makes sense that

positive outcome so it makes sense that

positive outcome so it makes sense that depressive people are more handicapped

depressive people are more handicapped

depressive people are more handicapped than happy ones interestingly though

than happy ones interestingly though

than happy ones interestingly though what we found is that symptom severity

what we found is that symptom severity

what we found is that symptom severity anxiety and depression only explained 40

anxiety and depression only explained 40

anxiety and depression only explained 40 percent of the variance in handicap

percent of the variance in handicap

percent of the variance in handicap forty-two percent of the variance in

forty-two percent of the variance in

forty-two percent of the variance in handicap were explained by illness

handicap were explained by illness

handicap were explained by illness perceptions mostly by perceived

perceptions mostly by perceived

perceptions mostly by perceived consequences perceive consequences

consequences perceive consequences

consequences perceive consequences meaning the patient’s concept of how the

meaning the patient’s concept of how the

meaning the patient’s concept of how the illness affects their life physically

illness affects their life physically

illness affects their life physically socially and so forth so to sum this up

socially and so forth so to sum this up

socially and so forth so to sum this up what we found is that illness

what we found is that illness

what we found is that illness perceptions better explained handicap

perceptions better explained handicap

perceptions better explained handicap then did the severity of symptoms

then did the severity of symptoms

then did the severity of symptoms anxiety and depression together these

anxiety and depression together these

anxiety and depression together these results are also reflected in daily

results are also reflected in daily

results are also reflected in daily patient care I remember being at the

patient care I remember being at the

patient care I remember being at the outpatient clinic assisting an expert

outpatient clinic assisting an expert

outpatient clinic assisting an expert neurologist to see patients one patient

neurologist to see patients one patient

neurologist to see patients one patient came in barely able to walk she had to

came in barely able to walk she had to

came in barely able to walk she had to use walking sticks and was still heavily

use walking sticks and was still heavily

use walking sticks and was still heavily handicapped she was known to the

handicapped she was known to the

handicapped she was known to the neurologist for having benign paroxysmal

neurologist for having benign paroxysmal

neurologist for having benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and don’t worry were

positional vertigo and don’t worry were

positional vertigo and don’t worry were not gonna go into detail on this the

not gonna go into detail on this the

not gonna go into detail on this the only thing I would like you to know is

only thing I would like you to know is

only thing I would like you to know is that the cause for this illness lies in

that the cause for this illness lies in

that the cause for this illness lies in the inner ear in the vestibular organ

the inner ear in the vestibular organ

the inner ear in the vestibular organ where balance is measured in this organ

where balance is measured in this organ

where balance is measured in this organ there are little crystal stones that

there are little crystal stones that

there are little crystal stones that help to measure head position and

help to measure head position and

help to measure head position and movement so in our patients some of

movement so in our patients some of

movement so in our patients some of these little stones had fallen out of

these little stones had fallen out of

these little stones had fallen out of position rolling around disturbing her

position rolling around disturbing her

position rolling around disturbing her balance measurement so what do you think

balance measurement so what do you think

balance measurement so what do you think she had in her ear the Rolling Stones

she had in her ear the Rolling Stones

she had in her ear the Rolling Stones the Rolling Stones can be repositioned

the Rolling Stones can be repositioned

the Rolling Stones can be repositioned by a maneuver which we performed

by a maneuver which we performed

by a maneuver which we performed however the patient still couldn’t walk

however the patient still couldn’t walk

however the patient still couldn’t walk even though the stones should have been

even though the stones should have been

even though the stones should have been back in position she couldn’t get no

back in position she couldn’t get no

back in position she couldn’t get no satisfaction so the cost could have been

satisfaction so the cost could have been

satisfaction so the cost could have been that she had developed such strong

that she had developed such strong

that she had developed such strong beliefs she couldn’t walk that she

beliefs she couldn’t walk that she

beliefs she couldn’t walk that she actually couldn’t walk so what we did is

actually couldn’t walk so what we did is

actually couldn’t walk so what we did is we encouraged her to try and walk

we encouraged her to try and walk

we encouraged her to try and walk without her sticks with our support she

without her sticks with our support she

without her sticks with our support she could next we tried and motivated her to

could next we tried and motivated her to

could next we tried and motivated her to walk without our support and to take her

walk without our support and to take her

walk without our support and to take her attention away from the negative beliefs

attention away from the negative beliefs

attention away from the negative beliefs the neurologist

the neurologist

the neurologist drew numbers on the patient’s back and

drew numbers on the patient’s back and

drew numbers on the patient’s back and asked the patient to guess these numbers

asked the patient to guess these numbers

asked the patient to guess these numbers the patient started walking slowly

the patient started walking slowly

the patient started walking slowly steadily guessing the numbers and

steadily guessing the numbers and

steadily guessing the numbers and step-by-step went more upright straight

step-by-step went more upright straight

step-by-step went more upright straight without shaking how can this be possible

without shaking how can this be possible

without shaking how can this be possible the answer is simple by distracting the

the answer is simple by distracting the

the answer is simple by distracting the patient from her negative beliefs with

patient from her negative beliefs with

patient from her negative beliefs with the humble trick of drawing numbers on

the humble trick of drawing numbers on

the humble trick of drawing numbers on her back the patient could walk so why

her back the patient could walk so why

her back the patient could walk so why would you care what happens inside the

would you care what happens inside the

would you care what happens inside the minds of dizzy patients we like to look

minds of dizzy patients we like to look

minds of dizzy patients we like to look at the outside we like to fly to the

at the outside we like to fly to the

at the outside we like to fly to the moon dream about living on Mars we like

moon dream about living on Mars we like

moon dream about living on Mars we like to go big but what happens when you look

to go big but what happens when you look

to go big but what happens when you look at the inside what do you know about

at the inside what do you know about

at the inside what do you know about yourself you most likely know your

yourself you most likely know your

yourself you most likely know your weight you might also know your height

weight you might also know your height

weight you might also know your height because that’s important on tindr but

because that’s important on tindr but

because that’s important on tindr but what do you know about your perceptions

what do you know about your perceptions

what do you know about your perceptions about your cognitions about your beliefs

about your cognitions about your beliefs

about your cognitions about your beliefs sometimes I feel like we know more about

sometimes I feel like we know more about

sometimes I feel like we know more about Lucy which is a 10 quintillion carat

Lucy which is a 10 quintillion carat

Lucy which is a 10 quintillion carat diamond planet 38 trillion centimeters

diamond planet 38 trillion centimeters

diamond planet 38 trillion centimeters away from Earth then we know about the

away from Earth then we know about the

away from Earth then we know about the 15 centimeters between our ears and just

15 centimeters between our ears and just

15 centimeters between our ears and just imagine if a person who has an illness

imagine if a person who has an illness

imagine if a person who has an illness making them feel constantly shaky and

making them feel constantly shaky and

making them feel constantly shaky and unstable can walk by being distracted

unstable can walk by being distracted

unstable can walk by being distracted from her negative beliefs then what can

from her negative beliefs then what can

from her negative beliefs then what can young healthy and talented individuals

young healthy and talented individuals

young healthy and talented individuals like you do when changing beliefs

research suggests that you can perform

research suggests that you can perform better at your jobs you can have better

better at your jobs you can have better

better at your jobs you can have better relations and you can lead a happier

relations and you can lead a happier

relations and you can lead a happier life so yes

life so yes

life so yes believes matter to healthy persons as

believes matter to healthy persons as

believes matter to healthy persons as well it is as simple as how you perceive

well it is as simple as how you perceive

well it is as simple as how you perceive the situation you are in rory sutherland

the situation you are in rory sutherland

the situation you are in rory sutherland once compared two groups pensioners and

once compared two groups pensioners and

once compared two groups pensioners and young unemployed on the first side they

young unemployed on the first side they

young unemployed on the first side they don’t seem to have a lot in common

don’t seem to have a lot in common

don’t seem to have a lot in common and indeed penned in your show to be

and indeed penned in your show to be

and indeed penned in your show to be much happier however at a closer look

much happier however at a closer look

much happier however at a closer look both find themselves in quite a similar

both find themselves in quite a similar

both find themselves in quite a similar situation both have too much time at

situation both have too much time at

situation both have too much time at their hand no idea what to do with it

their hand no idea what to do with it

their hand no idea what to do with it and no money so Generation Y our

and no money so Generation Y our

and no money so Generation Y our generation we figured out an amazing

generation we figured out an amazing

generation we figured out an amazing trick for that situation we call too

trick for that situation we call too

trick for that situation we call too much time absolutely no idea what to do

much time absolutely no idea what to do

much time absolutely no idea what to do with our lives and no money gap here it

with our lives and no money gap here it

with our lives and no money gap here it sounds great and it feels great but more

sounds great and it feels great but more

sounds great and it feels great but more importantly what this tells us is that

importantly what this tells us is that

importantly what this tells us is that believes about certain situations can be

believes about certain situations can be

believes about certain situations can be changed by playing simple tricks and

changed by playing simple tricks and

changed by playing simple tricks and what I want to do with you now is I want

what I want to do with you now is I want

what I want to do with you now is I want to introduce you into two concepts that

to introduce you into two concepts that

to introduce you into two concepts that can help us to change our perceptions

can help us to change our perceptions

can help us to change our perceptions first don’t forget the positive most of

first don’t forget the positive most of

first don’t forget the positive most of the people focus on the negative the

the people focus on the negative the

the people focus on the negative the experience just as our patient from

experience just as our patient from

experience just as our patient from before focusing on the negative

before focusing on the negative

before focusing on the negative consequences of her illness she might

consequences of her illness she might

consequences of her illness she might have taken herself the ability to walk

have taken herself the ability to walk

have taken herself the ability to walk especially in academia we are trained

especially in academia we are trained

especially in academia we are trained for negative bias if you come to a

for negative bias if you come to a

for negative bias if you come to a doctor with one health problem we’ll

doctor with one health problem we’ll

doctor with one health problem we’ll find 10 more for you you come with a

find 10 more for you you come with a

find 10 more for you you come with a cuff we’ll make sure you leave knowing

cuff we’ll make sure you leave knowing

cuff we’ll make sure you leave knowing that you also have diabetes a high blood

that you also have diabetes a high blood

that you also have diabetes a high blood pressure and mobile Schlotter

pressure and mobile Schlotter

pressure and mobile Schlotter because we want you to come back for

because we want you to come back for

because we want you to come back for another appointment in the next quarter

another appointment in the next quarter

another appointment in the next quarter that’s our business model however in

that’s our business model however in

that’s our business model however in everyday life it’s not the negative that

everyday life it’s not the negative that

everyday life it’s not the negative that increases productivity and for sure it’s

increases productivity and for sure it’s

increases productivity and for sure it’s not the negative that increases

not the negative that increases

not the negative that increases happiness

happiness

happiness Seligman Adele did a study where they

Seligman Adele did a study where they

Seligman Adele did a study where they evaluated behaviors that they thought

evaluated behaviors that they thought

evaluated behaviors that they thought led to a happier life and what they

led to a happier life and what they

led to a happier life and what they found is that writing down three

found is that writing down three

found is that writing down three positive things every day for a week

positive things every day for a week

positive things every day for a week will make you significantly happier even

will make you significantly happier even

will make you significantly happier even after six months now that’s what I call

after six months now that’s what I call

after six months now that’s what I call effective therapy on a side note if you

effective therapy on a side note if you

effective therapy on a side note if you want to boost your happiness even more

want to boost your happiness even more

want to boost your happiness even more you express your gratitude to

you express your gratitude to

you express your gratitude to deserves it and I don’t mean the

deserves it and I don’t mean the

deserves it and I don’t mean the gratitude you expressed when typing

gratitude you expressed when typing

gratitude you expressed when typing thank you so much for that message at

thank you so much for that message at

thank you so much for that message at the beginning of an email answer

the beginning of an email answer

the beginning of an email answer I mean you truly and personally express

I mean you truly and personally express

I mean you truly and personally express your gratitude because research suggests

your gratitude because research suggests

your gratitude because research suggests that this makes you even happier and

that this makes you even happier and

that this makes you even happier and because sadly enough it’s usually the

because sadly enough it’s usually the

because sadly enough it’s usually the ones we love the most we show the least

ones we love the most we show the least

ones we love the most we show the least gratitude second mind the mind and it’s

gratitude second mind the mind and it’s

gratitude second mind the mind and it’s connection to the body we are used to

connection to the body we are used to

connection to the body we are used to the idea that our gestures support and

the idea that our gestures support and

the idea that our gestures support and reflect our speech and thoughts but a

reflect our speech and thoughts but a

reflect our speech and thoughts but a growing number of studies suggests that

growing number of studies suggests that

growing number of studies suggests that there is also an inward influence of our

there is also an inward influence of our

there is also an inward influence of our body position and movement on our

body position and movement on our

body position and movement on our cognitions this concept is called

cognitions this concept is called

cognitions this concept is called embodied cognition so just as our mind

embodied cognition so just as our mind

embodied cognition so just as our mind can trick our bodies into not walking

can trick our bodies into not walking

can trick our bodies into not walking our bodies can also trick our minds and

our bodies can also trick our minds and

our bodies can also trick our minds and you might have experienced this

you might have experienced this

you might have experienced this yourselves you might have set up

yourselves you might have set up

yourselves you might have set up straight when facing a difficult task or

straight when facing a difficult task or

straight when facing a difficult task or you might have experienced a boost of

you might have experienced a boost of

you might have experienced a boost of thoughts as you went for a walk Brunell

thoughts as you went for a walk Brunell

thoughts as you went for a walk Brunell petyon Wagner did an experiment where

petyon Wagner did an experiment where

petyon Wagner did an experiment where they had one group of college students

they had one group of college students

they had one group of college students write down three positive character

write down three positive character

write down three positive character traits and the other group of students

traits and the other group of students

traits and the other group of students three negative traits in each group half

three negative traits in each group half

three negative traits in each group half of the students said bent down with a

of the students said bent down with a

of the students said bent down with a curved spine and the other group said

curved spine and the other group said

curved spine and the other group said straight up chest out as they noted the

straight up chest out as they noted the

straight up chest out as they noted the answers and you might already guess what

answers and you might already guess what

answers and you might already guess what they found not only did the ones in the

they found not only did the ones in the

they found not only did the ones in the straighter posture show more positive

straighter posture show more positive

straighter posture show more positive believed they were also more confident

believed they were also more confident

believed they were also more confident about what they had written down so if

about what they had written down so if

about what they had written down so if we take this idea in general as it it

we take this idea in general as it it

we take this idea in general as it it suggests that certain body positions and

suggests that certain body positions and

suggests that certain body positions and movements can make us more positive in

movements can make us more positive in

movements can make us more positive in our beliefs and more confident about our

our beliefs and more confident about our

our beliefs and more confident about our ideas now I know that everybody’s

ideas now I know that everybody’s

ideas now I know that everybody’s different which is why I would suggest

different which is why I would suggest

different which is why I would suggest that you do your own research maybe

that you do your own research maybe

that you do your own research maybe instead of sitting with a curved spine

instead of sitting with a curved spine

instead of sitting with a curved spine as you wait for your next job interview

as you wait for your next job interview

as you wait for your next job interview you sit straight up chest out or you

you sit straight up chest out or you

you sit straight up chest out or you even get up and walk a little I’d be

even get up and walk a little I’d be

even get up and walk a little I’d be curious how that job of interview felt

curious how that job of interview felt

curious how that job of interview felt finally

finally

finally these were two very simple maybe even

these were two very simple maybe even

these were two very simple maybe even obvious ways to change our cognitions no

obvious ways to change our cognitions no

obvious ways to change our cognitions no rocket science but you and I know that

rocket science but you and I know that

rocket science but you and I know that sometimes it’s the little things that

sometimes it’s the little things that

sometimes it’s the little things that mattered just as much I’m not standing

mattered just as much I’m not standing

mattered just as much I’m not standing here because I built a successful

here because I built a successful

here because I built a successful enterprise not because I developed

enterprise not because I developed

enterprise not because I developed Hyperloop I’m not standing here because

Hyperloop I’m not standing here because

Hyperloop I’m not standing here because I achieved anything big but because I

I achieved anything big but because I

I achieved anything big but because I strongly believe that if we think more

strongly believe that if we think more

strongly believe that if we think more positively are more confident about our

positively are more confident about our

positively are more confident about our ideas and show gratitude to the people

ideas and show gratitude to the people

ideas and show gratitude to the people who deserve it we all can achieve

who deserve it we all can achieve

who deserve it we all can achieve something big and that is an idea worth

something big and that is an idea worth

something big and that is an idea worth spreading thank you

spreading thank you

spreading thank you [Applause]