Find your purpose in your passion | Kristianne Reindorf | TEDxAccraWomen

so tonight we are all here for you

so tonight we are all here for you you’re not here for us we’re here for

you’re not here for us we’re here for

you’re not here for us we’re here for you and I want to begin by asking you to

you and I want to begin by asking you to

you and I want to begin by asking you to very important questions you may have

very important questions you may have

very important questions you may have already thought of these before this

already thought of these before this

already thought of these before this might be the first time the first is who

might be the first time the first is who

might be the first time the first is who are you who are you and the second is

are you who are you and the second is

are you who are you and the second is why are you here who are you I’ve asked

why are you here who are you I’ve asked

why are you here who are you I’ve asked this question to a number of different

this question to a number of different

this question to a number of different people in my life and I’ve had

people in my life and I’ve had

people in my life and I’ve had everything from you know the person’s

everything from you know the person’s

everything from you know the person’s name to interest to a job but you are

name to interest to a job but you are

name to interest to a job but you are far more than any one thing that you

far more than any one thing that you

far more than any one thing that you define yourself by i can tell you today

define yourself by i can tell you today

define yourself by i can tell you today the very little that I know about you

the very little that I know about you

the very little that I know about you and that is that you are absolutely

and that is that you are absolutely

and that is that you are absolutely unique you may already know this it’s a

unique you may already know this it’s a

unique you may already know this it’s a well-publicized statistic that every

well-publicized statistic that every

well-publicized statistic that every human being even twins even identical

human being even twins even identical

human being even twins even identical twins are different so there is no other

twins are different so there is no other

twins are different so there is no other human being on earth identical to you

human being on earth identical to you

human being on earth identical to you and so many studies have been done on

and so many studies have been done on

and so many studies have been done on the odds of you being born with your

the odds of you being born with your

the odds of you being born with your particular DNA to your particular

particular DNA to your particular

particular DNA to your particular parents at the particular time that you

parents at the particular time that you

parents at the particular time that you were and the odds vary from anything to

were and the odds vary from anything to

were and the odds vary from anything to one in several billion to one in several

one in several billion to one in several

one in several billion to one in several trillion so if I may I’d like to give

trillion so if I may I’d like to give

trillion so if I may I’d like to give you my opinion that you are not an

you my opinion that you are not an

you my opinion that you are not an accident and if you are not an accident

accident and if you are not an accident

accident and if you are not an accident then there must be a reason why you’re

then there must be a reason why you’re

then there must be a reason why you’re here so why are you here so I’m going to

here so why are you here so I’m going to

here so why are you here so I’m going to use this to take you on a little journey

use this to take you on a little journey

use this to take you on a little journey through time because you see I think to

through time because you see I think to

through time because you see I think to answer the question why you were here

answer the question why you were here

answer the question why you were here you need to know where you were going

you need to know where you were going

you need to know where you were going because change happens all the time so

because change happens all the time so

because change happens all the time so here is not the same now as it was when

here is not the same now as it was when

here is not the same now as it was when I said it a couple of seconds ago every

I said it a couple of seconds ago every

I said it a couple of seconds ago every moment from the minute that it’s

moment from the minute that it’s

moment from the minute that it’s registered passes away and a new one

registered passes away and a new one

registered passes away and a new one takes its place there’s a song that came

takes its place there’s a song that came

takes its place there’s a song that came out a few years ago once I was seven

out a few years ago once I was seven

out a few years ago once I was seven years old I’m not going to sing it for

years old I’m not going to sing it for

years old I’m not going to sing it for copyright reasons but somewhere down the

copyright reasons but somewhere down the

copyright reasons but somewhere down the line it then go soon I’ll be 60 years

line it then go soon I’ll be 60 years

line it then go soon I’ll be 60 years old and that song always struck me for

old and that song always struck me for

old and that song always struck me for the simple reason that in a few minutes

the simple reason that in a few minutes

the simple reason that in a few minutes you go from seven to 60 and sometimes

you go from seven to 60 and sometimes

you go from seven to 60 and sometimes life can feel that way it really really

life can feel that way it really really

life can feel that way it really really can because time is characterized by

can because time is characterized by

can because time is characterized by movement and direction the question is

movement and direction the question is

movement and direction the question is your life being equally characterized by

your life being equally characterized by

your life being equally characterized by movement a you in control of the

movement a you in control of the

movement a you in control of the direction do you know where you’re going

direction do you know where you’re going

direction do you know where you’re going so indulge me for a moment I would like

so indulge me for a moment I would like

so indulge me for a moment I would like you to imagine your life as a road a

you to imagine your life as a road a

you to imagine your life as a road a road that is stretched out in front of

road that is stretched out in front of

road that is stretched out in front of you and you are in a car but there is a

you and you are in a car but there is a

you and you are in a car but there is a twist you see this isn’t just an

twist you see this isn’t just an

twist you see this isn’t just an ordinary car this is a time machine and

ordinary car this is a time machine and

ordinary car this is a time machine and we’re going to use this time machine to

we’re going to use this time machine to

we’re going to use this time machine to explore the timeline of your life and if

explore the timeline of your life and if

explore the timeline of your life and if I were to ask most people where would

I were to ask most people where would

I were to ask most people where would you go first well let me not generalize

you go first well let me not generalize

you go first well let me not generalize for everyone if I were to ask myself

for everyone if I were to ask myself

for everyone if I were to ask myself where would I go first I’d probably say

where would I go first I’d probably say

where would I go first I’d probably say oh I’ll go back to you know when I was

oh I’ll go back to you know when I was

oh I’ll go back to you know when I was this age and this happened and I would

this age and this happened and I would

this age and this happened and I would you know beat this person up or I would

you know beat this person up or I would

you know beat this person up or I would change that thing that big failure that

change that thing that big failure that

change that thing that big failure that I have never gotten over and I don’t

I have never gotten over and I don’t

I have never gotten over and I don’t blame you I mean today we’re all telling

blame you I mean today we’re all telling

blame you I mean today we’re all telling you stories of where we’ve come from and

you stories of where we’ve come from and

you stories of where we’ve come from and where we’re going to and some of these

where we’re going to and some of these

where we’re going to and some of these stories have been really really

stories have been really really

stories have been really really inspirational and amazing the fact is

inspirational and amazing the fact is

inspirational and amazing the fact is that your story can help you on the

that your story can help you on the

that your story can help you on the journey towards your future but the

journey towards your future but the

journey towards your future but the danger with the past is that it is all

danger with the past is that it is all

danger with the past is that it is all too easy to get stuck especially when

too easy to get stuck especially when

too easy to get stuck especially when you have a strong emotional pull towards

you have a strong emotional pull towards

you have a strong emotional pull towards something and trauma in particular can

something and trauma in particular can

something and trauma in particular can do that to you

do that to you

do that to you it can get you stuck in a particular

it can get you stuck in a particular

it can get you stuck in a particular moment most people have had to go

moment most people have had to go

moment most people have had to go through some tragedy or another in their

through some tragedy or another in their

through some tragedy or another in their life some hardship or another because

life some hardship or another because

life some hardship or another because life isn’t easy and nobody ever claimed

life isn’t easy and nobody ever claimed

life isn’t easy and nobody ever claimed that it would be but the point is not to

that it would be but the point is not to

that it would be but the point is not to get stuck there so when you’re in your

get stuck there so when you’re in your

get stuck there so when you’re in your car think about whether you’re facing

car think about whether you’re facing

car think about whether you’re facing backwards and therefore kind of

backwards and therefore kind of

backwards and therefore kind of travelling through your life in Reverse

travelling through your life in Reverse

travelling through your life in Reverse or whether you’re facing forward because

or whether you’re facing forward because

or whether you’re facing forward because you see your emotions and your mind your

you see your emotions and your mind your

you see your emotions and your mind your mindset can be a time machine that is

mindset can be a time machine that is

mindset can be a time machine that is keeping you trapped in your past but

keeping you trapped in your past but

keeping you trapped in your past but time is still moving forward time is

time is still moving forward time is

time is still moving forward time is still moving forward whether you are or

still moving forward whether you are or

still moving forward whether you are or not so today instead I’d like us to

not so today instead I’d like us to

not so today instead I’d like us to focus on our futures I want you to think

focus on our futures I want you to think

focus on our futures I want you to think about that thing that excites you that

about that thing that excites you that

about that thing that excites you that you’re passionate about that wakes you

you’re passionate about that wakes you

you’re passionate about that wakes you up in the morning the thing that you

up in the morning the thing that you

up in the morning the thing that you know that you’d be really really really

know that you’d be really really really

know that you’d be really really really good at if you had the opportunity to

good at if you had the opportunity to

good at if you had the opportunity to really really explore and expand it and

really really explore and expand it and

really really explore and expand it and I want you to project yourself in your

I want you to project yourself in your

I want you to project yourself in your time machine to a future where you can

time machine to a future where you can

time machine to a future where you can see it before you and just take a moment

see it before you and just take a moment

see it before you and just take a moment to visualize that what do you see what

to visualize that what do you see what

to visualize that what do you see what do you hear what do you feel what is all

do you hear what do you feel what is all

do you hear what do you feel what is all around you because the more real it is

around you because the more real it is

around you because the more real it is for you the more it will inform the

for you the more it will inform the

for you the more it will inform the direction of your life that ability to

direction of your life that ability to

direction of your life that ability to visualize to create mental images is so

visualize to create mental images is so

visualize to create mental images is so special and so unique to us and the

special and so unique to us and the

special and so unique to us and the extent to which you can visualize and

extent to which you can visualize and

extent to which you can visualize and imagine is the extent to which you can

imagine is the extent to which you can

imagine is the extent to which you can actually drive forward towards that

actually drive forward towards that

actually drive forward towards that future because the more you can see it

future because the more you can see it

future because the more you can see it the more real it is to you the more

the more real it is to you the more

the more real it is to you the more effort and passion you can put into it

effort and passion you can put into it

effort and passion you can put into it so actually just take a moment just take

so actually just take a moment just take

so actually just take a moment just take a moment and see it before you and make

a moment and see it before you and make

a moment and see it before you and make it really really worthwhile because

it really really worthwhile because

it really really worthwhile because nobody said it was going to be easy it

nobody said it was going to be easy it

nobody said it was going to be easy it isn’t easy to strive towards a dream

isn’t easy to strive towards a dream

isn’t easy to strive towards a dream there will be challenges we’ve just

there will be challenges we’ve just

there will be challenges we’ve just heard that there will be many detractors

heard that there will be many detractors

heard that there will be many detractors along the way there really will be it

along the way there really will be it

along the way there really will be it takes courage change takes courage

takes courage change takes courage

takes courage change takes courage because you see if you continue doing

because you see if you continue doing

because you see if you continue doing things the way you’re doing them

things the way you’re doing them

things the way you’re doing them today the likelihood is that you’re not

today the likelihood is that you’re not

today the likelihood is that you’re not going to get to your future Einstein

going to get to your future Einstein

going to get to your future Einstein said insanity is doing the same thing

said insanity is doing the same thing

said insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting

over and over again and expecting

over and over again and expecting different results most of us need to

different results most of us need to

different results most of us need to embrace change to fully go into our

embrace change to fully go into our

embrace change to fully go into our futures so you need to have courage you

futures so you need to have courage you

futures so you need to have courage you need to have perseverance you need to

need to have perseverance you need to

need to have perseverance you need to have persistence you need to be able to

have persistence you need to be able to

have persistence you need to be able to fail and get up and try again and the

fail and get up and try again and the

fail and get up and try again and the fact is that if that future that you’re

fact is that if that future that you’re

fact is that if that future that you’re imagining that you’re seeing that you’re

imagining that you’re seeing that you’re

imagining that you’re seeing that you’re striving towards isn’t what you really

striving towards isn’t what you really

striving towards isn’t what you really really really want how are you going to

really really want how are you going to

really really want how are you going to be sustained through that so let’s go

be sustained through that so let’s go

be sustained through that so let’s go back for a moment to who you are don’t

back for a moment to who you are don’t

back for a moment to who you are don’t define yourself by what you’ve been told

define yourself by what you’ve been told

define yourself by what you’ve been told you can and can’t do those just put

you can and can’t do those just put

you can and can’t do those just put limits on yourself don’t define yourself

limits on yourself don’t define yourself

limits on yourself don’t define yourself by anyone role yes you may be a mother

by anyone role yes you may be a mother

by anyone role yes you may be a mother you may be a sister you may be a

you may be a sister you may be a

you may be a sister you may be a daughter to include the men you may be a

daughter to include the men you may be a

daughter to include the men you may be a father a brother a son you may be a CEO

father a brother a son you may be a CEO

father a brother a son you may be a CEO and md those are all titles those are

and md those are all titles those are

and md those are all titles those are all positions those are all important

all positions those are all important

all positions those are all important but those are not the limit to who you

but those are not the limit to who you

but those are not the limit to who you are rather focus on your passions focus

are rather focus on your passions focus

are rather focus on your passions focus on what really really motivates you

on what really really motivates you

on what really really motivates you because in that you will find your

because in that you will find your

because in that you will find your purpose and your purpose not only gives

purpose and your purpose not only gives

purpose and your purpose not only gives direction as you move on this road

direction as you move on this road

direction as you move on this road towards life it also helps you to set a

towards life it also helps you to set a

towards life it also helps you to set a target and a goal we already said that

target and a goal we already said that

target and a goal we already said that you were unique and you are not an

you were unique and you are not an

you were unique and you are not an accident could it be that there is

accident could it be that there is

accident could it be that there is something that you can bring to this

something that you can bring to this

something that you can bring to this world that no one else can and if that

world that no one else can and if that

world that no one else can and if that is the case then if you don’t bring it

is the case then if you don’t bring it

is the case then if you don’t bring it who is going to and what a loss that

who is going to and what a loss that

who is going to and what a loss that would be to this world for that to not

would be to this world for that to not

would be to this world for that to not come into fruition so I’d like to leave

come into fruition so I’d like to leave

come into fruition so I’d like to leave you today with those simple thoughts

you today with those simple thoughts

you today with those simple thoughts that you are unique you are not an

that you are unique you are not an

that you are unique you are not an accident your passions are important use

accident your passions are important use

accident your passions are important use them to drive towards your purpose live

them to drive towards your purpose live

them to drive towards your purpose live your life in a meaningful way and strive

your life in a meaningful way and strive

your life in a meaningful way and strive to make an impact that you will be proud

to make an impact that you will be proud

to make an impact that you will be proud of so that when you look

of so that when you look

of so that when you look back on your time and how you spent it

back on your time and how you spent it

back on your time and how you spent it you can do so with pride and know that

you can do so with pride and know that

you can do so with pride and know that yes you live the life that you were put

yes you live the life that you were put

yes you live the life that you were put on earth here to live

[Music]

[Music] you