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Courage to Thrive | Stephen Trudeau | TEDxCamarillo


[Music]

[Music] California land of sunshine seas oceans

California land of sunshine seas oceans

California land of sunshine seas oceans Hollywood Beverly Hills those beautiful

Hollywood Beverly Hills those beautiful

Hollywood Beverly Hills those beautiful people in their sports cars you know the

people in their sports cars you know the

people in their sports cars you know the convertibles driving down the highway

convertibles driving down the highway

convertibles driving down the highway they’re thriving they’re living

they’re thriving they’re living

they’re thriving they’re living wonderful lives they’re lucky I wasn’t

wonderful lives they’re lucky I wasn’t

wonderful lives they’re lucky I wasn’t so lucky

so lucky

so lucky I didn’t grow up on that side of that

I didn’t grow up on that side of that

I didn’t grow up on that side of that hill I grew up in a little different

hill I grew up in a little different

hill I grew up in a little different neighborhood it’s a little tough where I

neighborhood it’s a little tough where I

neighborhood it’s a little tough where I grew up got bullied a lot we would grew

grew up got bullied a lot we would grew

grew up got bullied a lot we would grew up in poverty I started using drugs at

up in poverty I started using drugs at

up in poverty I started using drugs at 11 years old

11 years old

11 years old that’s how tough it was over there abuse

that’s how tough it was over there abuse

that’s how tough it was over there abuse neglect and then my little brother

neglect and then my little brother

neglect and then my little brother committed suicide and I thought you just

committed suicide and I thought you just

committed suicide and I thought you just can’t get any more unlucky than that

can’t get any more unlucky than that

can’t get any more unlucky than that I’ve broken it you know there’s no

I’ve broken it you know there’s no

I’ve broken it you know there’s no chance for me so I gave up and I just

chance for me so I gave up and I just

chance for me so I gave up and I just kind of invested myself in drug use

kind of invested myself in drug use

kind of invested myself in drug use figured well funs gonna be broken I

figured well funs gonna be broken I

figured well funs gonna be broken I might as well really be broken steel my

might as well really be broken steel my

might as well really be broken steel my little moments of pleasure wherever I

little moments of pleasure wherever I

little moments of pleasure wherever I could see that’s a victim mentality you

could see that’s a victim mentality you

could see that’s a victim mentality you get into that victim mentality and you

get into that victim mentality and you

get into that victim mentality and you start doing bad things to yourself just

start doing bad things to yourself just

start doing bad things to yourself just to get by just to survive just to get to

to get by just to survive just to get to

to get by just to survive just to get to the next day it culminated at about age

the next day it culminated at about age

the next day it culminated at about age 22 and I woke up one morning looking at

22 and I woke up one morning looking at

22 and I woke up one morning looking at my hands and I could swear that I did

my hands and I could swear that I did

my hands and I could swear that I did enough drugs that I was dissolving the

enough drugs that I was dissolving the

enough drugs that I was dissolving the molecular bonds that held me together

molecular bonds that held me together

molecular bonds that held me together I was disintegrating right before my

I was disintegrating right before my

I was disintegrating right before my very eyes now you can call that in fetta

very eyes now you can call that in fetta

very eyes now you can call that in fetta mean induced psychosis if you like but

mean induced psychosis if you like but

mean induced psychosis if you like but to me it was very real and I thought if

to me it was very real and I thought if

to me it was very real and I thought if I did one more bad thing if I did one

I did one more bad thing if I did one

I did one more bad thing if I did one more drug that’s it I’m over the edge

more drug that’s it I’m over the edge

more drug that’s it I’m over the edge I’m gonna die and I got scared but it’s

I’m gonna die and I got scared but it’s

I’m gonna die and I got scared but it’s not the kind of scared where you’re like

not the kind of scared where you’re like

not the kind of scared where you’re like really afraid afraid it was more like I

really afraid afraid it was more like I

really afraid afraid it was more like I want to live but how how to live see

want to live but how how to live see

want to live but how how to live see when you’re a victim when you’ve been

when you’re a victim when you’ve been

when you’re a victim when you’ve been hurt and you adopt that mentality you

hurt and you adopt that mentality you

hurt and you adopt that mentality you get stuck I mean really stuck

get stuck I mean really stuck

get stuck I mean really stuck get stuck in that feedback loop of doing

get stuck in that feedback loop of doing

get stuck in that feedback loop of doing the things the maladaptive behaviors

the things the maladaptive behaviors

the things the maladaptive behaviors that allow you to kind of survive but

that allow you to kind of survive but

that allow you to kind of survive but they leave you vulnerable for the next

they leave you vulnerable for the next

they leave you vulnerable for the next attack that leave you vulnerable to

attack that leave you vulnerable to

attack that leave you vulnerable to being injured hurt and victimized in

being injured hurt and victimized in

being injured hurt and victimized in distress again which requires more

distress again which requires more

distress again which requires more maladaptive behaviors for example using

maladaptive behaviors for example using

maladaptive behaviors for example using drugs to make your emotional pain go

drugs to make your emotional pain go

drugs to make your emotional pain go away leads to more problems like being

away leads to more problems like being

away leads to more problems like being arrested and being kicked out of your

arrested and being kicked out of your

arrested and being kicked out of your house and all those other fun things so

house and all those other fun things so

house and all those other fun things so the goal though is to get out of that

the goal though is to get out of that

the goal though is to get out of that mentality into the other side into

mentality into the other side into

mentality into the other side into thriving how do we do that most

thriving how do we do that most

thriving how do we do that most psychologists have a theory that they

psychologists have a theory that they

psychologists have a theory that they follow a theoretical orientation if you

follow a theoretical orientation if you

follow a theoretical orientation if you will and I’m not much of a follower I’m

will and I’m not much of a follower I’m

will and I’m not much of a follower I’m not much of a conformist and I thought

not much of a conformist and I thought

not much of a conformist and I thought to myself what if I came up with a

to myself what if I came up with a

to myself what if I came up with a theory what if I came up with an idea of

theory what if I came up with an idea of

theory what if I came up with an idea of how to live this imaginary thriving life

how to live this imaginary thriving life

how to live this imaginary thriving life to get out of that victim mentality how

to get out of that victim mentality how

to get out of that victim mentality how could I do that and I thought to myself

could I do that and I thought to myself

could I do that and I thought to myself you know what all the theories out there

you know what all the theories out there

you know what all the theories out there describe how people are broken they

describe how people are broken they

describe how people are broken they describe how people are in dysfunction

describe how people are in dysfunction

describe how people are in dysfunction and I thought well why not describe

and I thought well why not describe

and I thought well why not describe somebody who’s already healthy and maybe

somebody who’s already healthy and maybe

somebody who’s already healthy and maybe do what they do pick that imaginary

do what they do pick that imaginary

do what they do pick that imaginary healthy person and try to be kind of

healthy person and try to be kind of

healthy person and try to be kind of like them so I fought long and hard

like them so I fought long and hard

like them so I fought long and hard about it I crunched the numbers in my

about it I crunched the numbers in my

about it I crunched the numbers in my head and all the different concepts and

head and all the different concepts and

head and all the different concepts and ideas and I came up with this a thriving

ideas and I came up with this a thriving

ideas and I came up with this a thriving person a healthy person knows their core

person a healthy person knows their core

person a healthy person knows their core self they know themselves deeply at

self they know themselves deeply at

self they know themselves deeply at their very core they adapt to the

their very core they adapt to the

their very core they adapt to the ever-changing needs of their environment

ever-changing needs of their environment

ever-changing needs of their environment through skills and courage and they

through skills and courage and they

through skills and courage and they believe they can shape their future

believe they can shape their future

believe they can shape their future imagine that hope

what are we gonna do how are we gonna do

what are we gonna do how are we gonna do it how are we gonna apply that principle

Henry David Thoreau described a massive

Henry David Thoreau described a massive men leading lives of quiet desperation

men leading lives of quiet desperation

men leading lives of quiet desperation how true that was a hundred years ago

how true that was a hundred years ago

how true that was a hundred years ago and how true that is today most people

and how true that is today most people

and how true that is today most people living lives of quiet desperation

living lives of quiet desperation

living lives of quiet desperation something’s got to give something’s got

something’s got to give something’s got

something’s got to give something’s got to change I was running the LA Marathon

to change I was running the LA Marathon

to change I was running the LA Marathon in 2013 I was pretty proud of myself I’d

in 2013 I was pretty proud of myself I’d

in 2013 I was pretty proud of myself I’d kind of turned my life around a bit and

kind of turned my life around a bit and

kind of turned my life around a bit and I met this woman there wonderful woman

I met this woman there wonderful woman

I met this woman there wonderful woman had a pink shirt on and she was telling

had a pink shirt on and she was telling

had a pink shirt on and she was telling me how she was running this race in

me how she was running this race in

me how she was running this race in honor of the fact that she was now

honor of the fact that she was now

honor of the fact that she was now cancer-free for five years she was a

cancer-free for five years she was a

cancer-free for five years she was a breast cancer survivor she was very

breast cancer survivor she was very

breast cancer survivor she was very happy about that I’m a breast cancer

happy about that I’m a breast cancer

happy about that I’m a breast cancer survivor

survivor

survivor mm-hmm well that’s pretty interesting

mm-hmm well that’s pretty interesting

mm-hmm well that’s pretty interesting but you’re running a race you’re raising

but you’re running a race you’re raising

but you’re running a race you’re raising awareness you’re raising money for

awareness you’re raising money for

awareness you’re raising money for breast cancer research you’re helping

breast cancer research you’re helping

breast cancer research you’re helping other people I see the smile on your

other people I see the smile on your

other people I see the smile on your face you know what you’re not a survivor

face you know what you’re not a survivor

face you know what you’re not a survivor it should just whoa I said you’re a

it should just whoa I said you’re a

it should just whoa I said you’re a thriver and she took ownership of that I

thriver and she took ownership of that I

thriver and she took ownership of that I was pretty cool right

was pretty cool right

was pretty cool right thrivers are the kind of people that

thrivers are the kind of people that

thrivers are the kind of people that appear to others as if their personal

appear to others as if their personal

appear to others as if their personal goal is to harvest as much joy as

goal is to harvest as much joy as

goal is to harvest as much joy as possible from life wouldn’t you like to

possible from life wouldn’t you like to

possible from life wouldn’t you like to do that sounds interesting isn’t it so

do that sounds interesting isn’t it so

do that sounds interesting isn’t it so we go back to that moment or I’m sitting

we go back to that moment or I’m sitting

we go back to that moment or I’m sitting in my bedroom staring at my hands and

in my bedroom staring at my hands and

in my bedroom staring at my hands and I’m thinking something has to change

I’m thinking something has to change

I’m thinking something has to change something has got to change but I didn’t

something has got to change but I didn’t

something has got to change but I didn’t want to just live life not taking my

want to just live life not taking my

want to just live life not taking my self-soothing strategy that was

self-soothing strategy that was

self-soothing strategy that was maladaptive of choice because I felt

maladaptive of choice because I felt

maladaptive of choice because I felt like the universe was going to continue

like the universe was going to continue

like the universe was going to continue to hammer me and I wouldn’t have any

to hammer me and I wouldn’t have any

to hammer me and I wouldn’t have any protection I wouldn’t have any soothing

protection I wouldn’t have any soothing

protection I wouldn’t have any soothing so what I decided was is that I didn’t

so what I decided was is that I didn’t

so what I decided was is that I didn’t want to live a life that could handle

want to live a life that could handle

want to live a life that could handle that how was I gonna do it well to start

that how was I gonna do it well to start

that how was I gonna do it well to start with stop poisoning yourself that’s a

with stop poisoning yourself that’s a

with stop poisoning yourself that’s a good one quit riding your motorcycle

good one quit riding your motorcycle

good one quit riding your motorcycle like a maniac that was a good one quit

like a maniac that was a good one quit

like a maniac that was a good one quit hanging around with some of the people

hanging around with some of the people

hanging around with some of the people you’re hanging around with that’s pretty

you’re hanging around with that’s pretty

you’re hanging around with that’s pretty good and maybe just maybe you might be

good and maybe just maybe you might be

good and maybe just maybe you might be able to start

able to start

able to start living a life where you’re not suffering

living a life where you’re not suffering

living a life where you’re not suffering your own pain your own consequences your

your own pain your own consequences your

your own pain your own consequences your own side-effects of your own choices I

own side-effects of your own choices I

own side-effects of your own choices I felt pretty good it lasted about two

felt pretty good it lasted about two

felt pretty good it lasted about two months Steve would you like some drugs

months Steve would you like some drugs

months Steve would you like some drugs hell yes but no no no I can’t I’ve

hell yes but no no no I can’t I’ve

hell yes but no no no I can’t I’ve already made a promise to myself No

already made a promise to myself No

already made a promise to myself No thank you very much it’s tough to

thank you very much it’s tough to

thank you very much it’s tough to white-knuckle it to just barely get by

white-knuckle it to just barely get by

white-knuckle it to just barely get by and then a thought came to me a time

and then a thought came to me a time

and then a thought came to me a time where I was thriving when I was a child

where I was thriving when I was a child

where I was thriving when I was a child and I remember my little brother and I

and I remember my little brother and I

and I remember my little brother and I used to watch Bruce Lee movies on TV and

used to watch Bruce Lee movies on TV and

used to watch Bruce Lee movies on TV and then we would go out in the backyard

then we would go out in the backyard

then we would go out in the backyard later and we would practice our moves

later and we would practice our moves

later and we would practice our moves horrible but we thought if I knew some

horrible but we thought if I knew some

horrible but we thought if I knew some kung fu maybe I wouldn’t get bullied

kung fu maybe I wouldn’t get bullied

kung fu maybe I wouldn’t get bullied maybe I wouldn’t get picked on by the

maybe I wouldn’t get picked on by the

maybe I wouldn’t get picked on by the bullies in the neighborhood we wouldn’t

bullies in the neighborhood we wouldn’t

bullies in the neighborhood we wouldn’t be afraid of being picked on never

be afraid of being picked on never

be afraid of being picked on never happened but now here I am thinking what

happened but now here I am thinking what

happened but now here I am thinking what am I gonna do now okay I’m gonna be

am I gonna do now okay I’m gonna be

am I gonna do now okay I’m gonna be sober and I’m gonna get my life together

sober and I’m gonna get my life together

sober and I’m gonna get my life together I think but I need something more so I

I think but I need something more so I

I think but I need something more so I went out and in my brother’s honor I

went out and in my brother’s honor I

went out and in my brother’s honor I looked around at different dojos martial

looked around at different dojos martial

looked around at different dojos martial arts studios and I found one this one

arts studios and I found one this one

arts studios and I found one this one particular one it spoke to me I started

particular one it spoke to me I started

particular one it spoke to me I started working out with these guys and I made

working out with these guys and I made

working out with these guys and I made new friends people who were

new friends people who were

new friends people who were forward-thinking and they taught me

forward-thinking and they taught me

forward-thinking and they taught me about focus and meditation and

about focus and meditation and

about focus and meditation and dedication and I set myself that goal of

dedication and I set myself that goal of

dedication and I set myself that goal of getting the black belt and I achieved it

getting the black belt and I achieved it

getting the black belt and I achieved it and it felt so good

and it felt so good

and it felt so good ah it’s working my new plan is working

ah it’s working my new plan is working

ah it’s working my new plan is working what else could I have the courage to do

what else could I have the courage to do

what else could I have the courage to do and at 26 years old I had the audacity

and at 26 years old I had the audacity

and at 26 years old I had the audacity to go sign up for college me the guy

to go sign up for college me the guy

to go sign up for college me the guy that got kicked out of high school god

that got kicked out of high school god

that got kicked out of high school god it was voted most likely to be dead by

it was voted most likely to be dead by

it was voted most likely to be dead by 25 or in jail I walked into the college

25 or in jail I walked into the college

25 or in jail I walked into the college and I opened up the doors excuse me may

and I opened up the doors excuse me may

and I opened up the doors excuse me may I come in

I come in

I come in is it okay my loud in here they said oh

is it okay my loud in here they said oh

is it okay my loud in here they said oh yeah come on in come on in and I found

yeah come on in come on in and I found

yeah come on in come on in and I found out that when you study something that

out that when you study something that

out that when you study something that you love that you’re actually interested

you love that you’re actually interested

you love that you’re actually interested in

in

in it’s amazing how easy the work is I

it’s amazing how easy the work is I

it’s amazing how easy the work is I didn’t care about the grades I cared

didn’t care about the grades I cared

didn’t care about the grades I cared about the knowledge I was absorbing when

about the knowledge I was absorbing when

about the knowledge I was absorbing when I was studying human anatomy I didn’t

I was studying human anatomy I didn’t

I was studying human anatomy I didn’t want to know 70% of the bones I wanted

want to know 70% of the bones I wanted

want to know 70% of the bones I wanted to know all of the bones

to know all of the bones

to know all of the bones would you like to go to a doctor who

would you like to go to a doctor who

would you like to go to a doctor who only got a C on his bones test and the

only got a C on his bones test and the

only got a C on his bones test and the grades came and I wound up graduating

grades came and I wound up graduating

grades came and I wound up graduating magna laude me

magna laude me

magna laude me holy smokes how did I do that I got into

holy smokes how did I do that I got into

holy smokes how did I do that I got into graduate school graduate school was

graduate school graduate school was

graduate school graduate school was wonderful learned even more and now I’m

wonderful learned even more and now I’m

wonderful learned even more and now I’m becoming a psychologist and I thought

becoming a psychologist and I thought

becoming a psychologist and I thought what kind of psychologist am I going to

what kind of psychologist am I going to

what kind of psychologist am I going to become I don’t want to become the

become I don’t want to become the

become I don’t want to become the picture of a psychologist at caricature

picture of a psychologist at caricature

picture of a psychologist at caricature you know the guy with the tweed jacket

you know the guy with the tweed jacket

you know the guy with the tweed jacket with the little suede elbow patches on

with the little suede elbow patches on

with the little suede elbow patches on how does that make you feel didn’t want

how does that make you feel didn’t want

how does that make you feel didn’t want to be that guy wanted to be authentic to

to be that guy wanted to be authentic to

to be that guy wanted to be authentic to my true spirit the psyche on the bike

my true spirit the psyche on the bike

my true spirit the psyche on the bike it’s kind of an odd combination isn’t it

it’s kind of an odd combination isn’t it

it’s kind of an odd combination isn’t it a psychologist biker seems to work for

a psychologist biker seems to work for

a psychologist biker seems to work for me but I think the main thing that I

me but I think the main thing that I

me but I think the main thing that I really wanted I wanted to become the

really wanted I wanted to become the

really wanted I wanted to become the kind of psychologist that my brother

kind of psychologist that my brother

kind of psychologist that my brother could have talked to it’s important so

could have talked to it’s important so

could have talked to it’s important so what do I want you to do see I know my

what do I want you to do see I know my

what do I want you to do see I know my plan I’m very focused comfortable with

plan I’m very focused comfortable with

plan I’m very focused comfortable with my plan

my plan

my plan don’t ingest poison meditate exercise

don’t ingest poison meditate exercise

don’t ingest poison meditate exercise ride my motorcycle spend time with my

ride my motorcycle spend time with my

ride my motorcycle spend time with my wife and son I have a pretty good life I

wife and son I have a pretty good life I

wife and son I have a pretty good life I feel like I’m pretty much thriving but

feel like I’m pretty much thriving but

feel like I’m pretty much thriving but you can’t follow my program you’ve got

you can’t follow my program you’ve got

you can’t follow my program you’ve got to follow yours there’s no

to follow yours there’s no

to follow yours there’s no one-size-fits-all plan to thriving is

one-size-fits-all plan to thriving is

one-size-fits-all plan to thriving is there you have to do it you have to find

there you have to do it you have to find

there you have to do it you have to find that thing that gives you joy that makes

that thing that gives you joy that makes

that thing that gives you joy that makes your heart skip a beat or to the thing

your heart skip a beat or to the thing

your heart skip a beat or to the thing that you’re afraid to go do maybe you

that you’re afraid to go do maybe you

that you’re afraid to go do maybe you have to have the courage to thrive

thriving takes courage so what do I want

thriving takes courage so what do I want you to do I want you to find that thing

you to do I want you to find that thing

you to do I want you to find that thing that makes you happy that makes you want

that makes you happy that makes you want

that makes you happy that makes you want to thrive I want you to get out of that

to thrive I want you to get out of that

to thrive I want you to get out of that victim mentality or you’re thinking

victim mentality or you’re thinking

victim mentality or you’re thinking about oh I can just barely get by living

about oh I can just barely get by living

about oh I can just barely get by living that life of quiet desperation and truly

that life of quiet desperation and truly

that life of quiet desperation and truly start to live expand your world get out

start to live expand your world get out

start to live expand your world get out of your comfort zone

I’m gonna get on my bike and feel the

I’m gonna get on my bike and feel the wind in my hair the rumble of the engine

wind in my hair the rumble of the engine

wind in my hair the rumble of the engine underneath me the lean of the curves and

underneath me the lean of the curves and

underneath me the lean of the curves and I’ll be in my bliss

I’ll be in my bliss

I’ll be in my bliss what courageous act are you going to do

what courageous act are you going to do

what courageous act are you going to do that allows you to thrive thank you

that allows you to thrive thank you

that allows you to thrive thank you [Applause]

”

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