a year so back I was in an acting class I was on stage with my scene partner and
I was on stage with my scene partner and
I was on stage with my scene partner and we were acting out an improv scene we
we were acting out an improv scene we
we were acting out an improv scene we were playing those guards that keep
were playing those guards that keep
were playing those guards that keep watch over the statues at the White
watch over the statues at the White
watch over the statues at the White House the problem with the scene was
House the problem with the scene was
House the problem with the scene was that we were both vying to get the most
that we were both vying to get the most
that we were both vying to get the most control to dictate where the scene was
control to dictate where the scene was
control to dictate where the scene was going and it just ended up in this
going and it just ended up in this
going and it just ended up in this ultimate back-and-forth exchange that
ultimate back-and-forth exchange that
ultimate back-and-forth exchange that was really awkward and painful and it
was really awkward and painful and it
was really awkward and painful and it all political scene nowhere and I
all political scene nowhere and I
all political scene nowhere and I remember our teacher at one point just
remember our teacher at one point just
remember our teacher at one point just called out someone be the loser and so I
called out someone be the loser and so I
called out someone be the loser and so I did and with that I had the power the
did and with that I had the power the
did and with that I had the power the scene was in my control for the past
scene was in my control for the past
scene was in my control for the past three years of high school I’ve
three years of high school I’ve
three years of high school I’ve struggled with depression and a clinical
struggled with depression and a clinical
struggled with depression and a clinical anxiety disorder added to the already
anxiety disorder added to the already
anxiety disorder added to the already rapidly fluctuating and confusing
rapidly fluctuating and confusing
rapidly fluctuating and confusing unpredictability that is teenage growth
unpredictability that is teenage growth
unpredictability that is teenage growth I can tell you that the past three years
I can tell you that the past three years
I can tell you that the past three years have been nothing short of difficult
have been nothing short of difficult
have been nothing short of difficult draining and often times hopeless but in
draining and often times hopeless but in
draining and often times hopeless but in the next few minutes I have I want to
the next few minutes I have I want to
the next few minutes I have I want to show you how it is that I came to the
show you how it is that I came to the
show you how it is that I came to the realization that I wouldn’t change these
realization that I wouldn’t change these
realization that I wouldn’t change these past three years for anything because
past three years for anything because
past three years for anything because learning to take power as the loser is
learning to take power as the loser is
learning to take power as the loser is the best life lesson that I believe
the best life lesson that I believe
the best life lesson that I believe anyone can learn so tuck your pride in
anyone can learn so tuck your pride in
anyone can learn so tuck your pride in preconceptions away as I follow you
preconceptions away as I follow you
preconceptions away as I follow you through how it is that I came to that
through how it is that I came to that
through how it is that I came to that conclusion but the first thing I learned
conclusion but the first thing I learned
conclusion but the first thing I learned in all of this a thing that I hated to
in all of this a thing that I hated to
in all of this a thing that I hated to learn as the very stubborn person that I
learn as the very stubborn person that I
learn as the very stubborn person that I am is that none of this nothing I show
am is that none of this nothing I show
am is that none of this nothing I show you will work in general if you are
you will work in general if you are
you will work in general if you are defensive our first reaction when called
defensive our first reaction when called
defensive our first reaction when called out either by ourselves or by others are
out either by ourselves or by others are
out either by ourselves or by others are simply by the situation is to be
simply by the situation is to be
simply by the situation is to be defensive but that defensiveness acts as
defensive but that defensiveness acts as
defensive but that defensiveness acts as a wall it prevents growth and
a wall it prevents growth and
a wall it prevents growth and constructiveness for both parties but
constructiveness for both parties but
constructiveness for both parties but namely for you defensiveness boils down
namely for you defensiveness boils down
namely for you defensiveness boils down to a lack of humility and honesty for
to a lack of humility and honesty for
to a lack of humility and honesty for any personal growth or even just
any personal growth or even just
any personal growth or even just acceptance to occur it is imperative
acceptance to occur it is imperative
acceptance to occur it is imperative that you are honest and reasonable with
that you are honest and reasonable with
that you are honest and reasonable with yourself we can be defensive towards
yourself we can be defensive towards
yourself we can be defensive towards their own thoughts and preconceptions
their own thoughts and preconceptions
their own thoughts and preconceptions about ourselves not just words from
about ourselves not just words from
about ourselves not just words from others and it’ll often take forms that
others and it’ll often take forms that
others and it’ll often take forms that you’re not even fully aware of it’ll
you’re not even fully aware of it’ll
you’re not even fully aware of it’ll take the form of just not wanting to
take the form of just not wanting to
take the form of just not wanting to accept accept that if you get out of bed
accept accept that if you get out of bed
accept accept that if you get out of bed you’ll have a lot of work to do except
you’ll have a lot of work to do except
you’ll have a lot of work to do except that you’re not sure where to start
that you’re not sure where to start
that you’re not sure where to start except that maybe you haven’t been doing
except that maybe you haven’t been doing
except that maybe you haven’t been doing your best
your best
your best all along and we frame those all as bad
all along and we frame those all as bad
all along and we frame those all as bad things as things we don’t want to think
things as things we don’t want to think
things as things we don’t want to think about so we don’t our defensive nough
about so we don’t our defensive nough
about so we don’t our defensive nough serves as denial getting to a point
serves as denial getting to a point
serves as denial getting to a point where you can admit to yourself that
where you can admit to yourself that
where you can admit to yourself that you’re stuck or that you didn’t do your
you’re stuck or that you didn’t do your
you’re stuck or that you didn’t do your best or that you need help is one of the
best or that you need help is one of the
best or that you need help is one of the most relieving feelings you can have
most relieving feelings you can have
most relieving feelings you can have because it’s people especially teens
because it’s people especially teens
because it’s people especially teens nowadays we set such unreasonable
nowadays we set such unreasonable
nowadays we set such unreasonable expectations for ourselves and we put so
expectations for ourselves and we put so
expectations for ourselves and we put so much weight on perfection we forget how
much weight on perfection we forget how
much weight on perfection we forget how much the progress part really matters we
much the progress part really matters we
much the progress part really matters we forget that we’re human and that we’re
forget that we’re human and that we’re
forget that we’re human and that we’re not even fully shaped humans but humans
not even fully shaped humans but humans
not even fully shaped humans but humans still experiencing and still learning
still experiencing and still learning
still experiencing and still learning and still failing and we forget that
and still failing and we forget that
and still failing and we forget that that’s okay an area in need of growth a
that’s okay an area in need of growth a
that’s okay an area in need of growth a personal weakness is not a defect it is
personal weakness is not a defect it is
personal weakness is not a defect it is not pathetic
not pathetic
not pathetic it’s the starting line and wherever you
it’s the starting line and wherever you
it’s the starting line and wherever you go from there can only be forward but
go from there can only be forward but
go from there can only be forward but you have to be willing to step up and
you have to be willing to step up and
you have to be willing to step up and start and to do that you have to be
start and to do that you have to be
start and to do that you have to be honest with yourself now I know that
honest with yourself now I know that
honest with yourself now I know that you’ve learned is that in order to walk
you’ve learned is that in order to walk
you’ve learned is that in order to walk you’ve got to put one foot in front of
you’ve got to put one foot in front of
you’ve got to put one foot in front of the other and it’s an overall forward
the other and it’s an overall forward
the other and it’s an overall forward projecting process however I’ve
projecting process however I’ve
projecting process however I’ve discovered that the most successful and
discovered that the most successful and
discovered that the most successful and effective movement forward in the long
effective movement forward in the long
effective movement forward in the long run often starts with taking a step back
step negative one of achieving personal
step negative one of achieving personal growth or really any goal that you set
growth or really any goal that you set
growth or really any goal that you set for yourself I believe is stepping back
for yourself I believe is stepping back
for yourself I believe is stepping back it’s important to ask yourself where it
it’s important to ask yourself where it
it’s important to ask yourself where it was that you were before what about your
was that you were before what about your
was that you were before what about your situation hasn’t been working that you
situation hasn’t been working that you
situation hasn’t been working that you want to change and moreover why what
want to change and moreover why what
want to change and moreover why what constructive impact will provide your
constructive impact will provide your
constructive impact will provide your overall quality of life that intrinsic
overall quality of life that intrinsic
overall quality of life that intrinsic motivation is imperative to hold on to
motivation is imperative to hold on to
motivation is imperative to hold on to as it’s going to be what drives you
as it’s going to be what drives you
as it’s going to be what drives you throughout the rest of the entire
throughout the rest of the entire
throughout the rest of the entire process step 0 the baseline the now
process step 0 the baseline the now
process step 0 the baseline the now pause and recognize where you are now at
pause and recognize where you are now at
pause and recognize where you are now at this point you’ve managed to shape your
this point you’ve managed to shape your
this point you’ve managed to shape your mindset enough to recognize that there’s
mindset enough to recognize that there’s
mindset enough to recognize that there’s room to move forward and that’s
room to move forward and that’s
room to move forward and that’s important here is where you begin to
important here is where you begin to
important here is where you begin to identify what’s going to be a value for
identify what’s going to be a value for
identify what’s going to be a value for you going forward where you’ve got a
you going forward where you’ve got a
you going forward where you’ve got a feel of the reality of the situation
feel of the reality of the situation
feel of the reality of the situation what’s reasonable to expect going
what’s reasonable to expect going
what’s reasonable to expect going forward step 1 ask yourself where
forward step 1 ask yourself where
forward step 1 ask yourself where exactly you want to be in the future
exactly you want to be in the future
exactly you want to be in the future this is where you get down to the detail
this is where you get down to the detail
this is where you get down to the detail breaking things down is essential to
breaking things down is essential to
breaking things down is essential to making goals approachable so what what
making goals approachable so what what
making goals approachable so what what are your objectives
are your objectives
are your objectives how can you prioritize them with
how can you prioritize them with
how can you prioritize them with specific support will you need to get
specific support will you need to get
specific support will you need to get there what obstacles can get in your way
there what obstacles can get in your way
there what obstacles can get in your way more overly moreover how can you
more overly moreover how can you
more overly moreover how can you proactively prevent them all the while
proactively prevent them all the while
proactively prevent them all the while keeping in mind the why of the objective
keeping in mind the why of the objective
keeping in mind the why of the objective why have you set out on this journey in
why have you set out on this journey in
why have you set out on this journey in the first place step 2
the first place step 2
the first place step 2 reflecting as you go not just at the end
reflecting as you go not just at the end
reflecting as you go not just at the end be appreciative at every step of the way
be appreciative at every step of the way
be appreciative at every step of the way somehow you got from being stuck at
somehow you got from being stuck at
somehow you got from being stuck at wherever it was that you were at the
wherever it was that you were at the
wherever it was that you were at the beginning and you move forward you made
beginning and you move forward you made
beginning and you move forward you made progress and it’s so important to
progress and it’s so important to
progress and it’s so important to recognize that within yourself any
recognize that within yourself any
recognize that within yourself any amount of progress if you get angry with
amount of progress if you get angry with
amount of progress if you get angry with yourself for not being a step further
yourself for not being a step further
yourself for not being a step further where you initially expected to be
where you initially expected to be
where you initially expected to be you’re simply building up the amount of
you’re simply building up the amount of
you’re simply building up the amount of weight on yourself and it’ll keep you
weight on yourself and it’ll keep you
weight on yourself and it’ll keep you from going forward because every moment
from going forward because every moment
from going forward because every moment you’re working really hard to get to the
you’re working really hard to get to the
you’re working really hard to get to the next step all you’ll be thinking about
next step all you’ll be thinking about
next step all you’ll be thinking about is how you should have been a step
is how you should have been a step
is how you should have been a step further and that’s not a very productive
further and that’s not a very productive
further and that’s not a very productive mindset part of appreciating where you
mindset part of appreciating where you
mindset part of appreciating where you are being grateful for the present
are being grateful for the present
are being grateful for the present should be a daily mindset one thing I
should be a daily mindset one thing I
should be a daily mindset one thing I found to be really successful in my own
found to be really successful in my own
found to be really successful in my own life is to work in 30 minutes a day of
life is to work in 30 minutes a day of
life is to work in 30 minutes a day of simple happy time do whatever it is that
simple happy time do whatever it is that
simple happy time do whatever it is that makes you happy it without the guilt
makes you happy it without the guilt
makes you happy it without the guilt that you have other stuff you should be
that you have other stuff you should be
that you have other stuff you should be doing in these 30 minutes there’s
doing in these 30 minutes there’s
doing in these 30 minutes there’s nothing you should be doing but what
nothing you should be doing but what
nothing you should be doing but what makes you happy with someone who has
makes you happy with someone who has
makes you happy with someone who has anxiety that’s one of the biggest gifts
anxiety that’s one of the biggest gifts
anxiety that’s one of the biggest gifts you can give yourself is 30 minutes
you can give yourself is 30 minutes
you can give yourself is 30 minutes without any shoulds because for someone
without any shoulds because for someone
without any shoulds because for someone who has anxiety your life is one big
who has anxiety your life is one big
who has anxiety your life is one big should I should be doing this I should
should I should be doing this I should
should I should be doing this I should not be doing this
not be doing this
not be doing this I should be this now to some of you this
I should be this now to some of you this
I should be this now to some of you this way of approaching growth and
way of approaching growth and
way of approaching growth and accomplishing your goals might seem like
accomplishing your goals might seem like
accomplishing your goals might seem like overkill but when you’re sitting in bed
overkill but when you’re sitting in bed
overkill but when you’re sitting in bed or watching TV because you don’t want to
or watching TV because you don’t want to
or watching TV because you don’t want to confront your responsibilities breaking
confront your responsibilities breaking
confront your responsibilities breaking them down like this helps once you’re
them down like this helps once you’re
them down like this helps once you’re huge overbearing burden is broken down
huge overbearing burden is broken down
huge overbearing burden is broken down into tangible pieces all of a sudden
into tangible pieces all of a sudden
into tangible pieces all of a sudden things seem a lot easier it also helps
things seem a lot easier it also helps
things seem a lot easier it also helps you remember why you’re going to so much
you remember why you’re going to so much
you remember why you’re going to so much trouble why did you start this project
trouble why did you start this project
trouble why did you start this project or take this harder class and not why
or take this harder class and not why
or take this harder class and not why needs to be what drives you and if that
needs to be what drives you and if that
needs to be what drives you and if that why isn’t there
why isn’t there
why isn’t there well then maybe your time is better
well then maybe your time is better
well then maybe your time is better spent somewhere else and this brings me
spent somewhere else and this brings me
spent somewhere else and this brings me to my next point the differences in
to my next point the differences in
to my next point the differences in mindset that one can have when
mindset that one can have when
mindset that one can have when approaching a plan B one can either view
approaching a plan B one can either view
approaching a plan B one can either view a plan B as a fallback plan or fall
a plan B as a fallback plan or fall
a plan B as a fallback plan or fall through plan depending on their mindset
through plan depending on their mindset
through plan depending on their mindset going in a fall black a fallback plan
going in a fall black a fallback plan
going in a fall black a fallback plan means creating a thought a plan B with a
means creating a thought a plan B with a
means creating a thought a plan B with a mindset but if your success doesn’t work
mindset but if your success doesn’t work
mindset but if your success doesn’t work out you’ve failed and have to fall back
out you’ve failed and have to fall back
out you’ve failed and have to fall back on something without having made
on something without having made
on something without having made progress a fall through plan is or
progress a fall through plan is or
progress a fall through plan is or formed mindset of approaching your plan
formed mindset of approaching your plan
formed mindset of approaching your plan B but if your first plan your plan a
B but if your first plan your plan a
B but if your first plan your plan a didn’t work out you phone through to
didn’t work out you phone through to
didn’t work out you phone through to something new and you’ve still learned
something new and you’ve still learned
something new and you’ve still learned from it and ended up further along your
from it and ended up further along your
from it and ended up further along your path than when you started
path than when you started
path than when you started when you view your potential Plan B with
when you view your potential Plan B with
when you view your potential Plan B with a mindset aligned with the fallback plan
a mindset aligned with the fallback plan
a mindset aligned with the fallback plan and often translates to not putting your
and often translates to not putting your
and often translates to not putting your all in in the first place with Plan A
all in in the first place with Plan A
all in in the first place with Plan A because if that doesn’t work out you’ll
because if that doesn’t work out you’ll
because if that doesn’t work out you’ll believe that you have failed it’s taken
believe that you have failed it’s taken
believe that you have failed it’s taken me a very long time to realize that
me a very long time to realize that
me a very long time to realize that failing after putting my all into
failing after putting my all into
failing after putting my all into something is in fact better than failing
something is in fact better than failing
something is in fact better than failing after having because I didn’t try my
after having because I didn’t try my
after having because I didn’t try my hardest because if you don’t try your
hardest because if you don’t try your
hardest because if you don’t try your hardest you’ll never even know what
hardest you’ll never even know what
hardest you’ll never even know what you’re capable of and furthermore this
you’re capable of and furthermore this
you’re capable of and furthermore this is ultimately why I don’t believe in
is ultimately why I don’t believe in
is ultimately why I don’t believe in regrets not because I don’t have things
regrets not because I don’t have things
regrets not because I don’t have things in my life to regret per se but because
in my life to regret per se but because
in my life to regret per se but because I try to envision every mistake
I try to envision every mistake
I try to envision every mistake embarrassment moment of pain as a
embarrassment moment of pain as a
embarrassment moment of pain as a learning experience as an indicator of
learning experience as an indicator of
learning experience as an indicator of okay here’s my starting line wherever I
okay here’s my starting line wherever I
okay here’s my starting line wherever I go from here can only be forward I don’t
go from here can only be forward I don’t
go from here can only be forward I don’t believe everything happens for a reason
believe everything happens for a reason
believe everything happens for a reason although in moments of weakness I like
although in moments of weakness I like
although in moments of weakness I like to convince myself of it but I do
to convince myself of it but I do
to convince myself of it but I do believe that we absolutely have
believe that we absolutely have
believe that we absolutely have something to learn from every single
something to learn from every single
something to learn from every single thing that happens and with everything
thing that happens and with everything
thing that happens and with everything that happens we have the opportunity to
that happens we have the opportunity to
that happens we have the opportunity to decide to grow as people and that’s the
decide to grow as people and that’s the
decide to grow as people and that’s the only reason I need so all in all my
only reason I need so all in all my
only reason I need so all in all my theory unsuccessfully reaching your
theory unsuccessfully reaching your
theory unsuccessfully reaching your goals requires the following you have to
goals requires the following you have to
goals requires the following you have to start with passion or purpose there has
start with passion or purpose there has
start with passion or purpose there has to be that reason why passion or purpose
to be that reason why passion or purpose
to be that reason why passion or purpose is the driving force behind everything
is the driving force behind everything
is the driving force behind everything then you need motivation that initial
then you need motivation that initial
then you need motivation that initial drive to shock you into getting up
drive to shock you into getting up
drive to shock you into getting up getting started and doing
getting started and doing
getting started and doing and the ultimate and longer-lasting
and the ultimate and longer-lasting
and the ultimate and longer-lasting determination to sustain me the plans
determination to sustain me the plans
determination to sustain me the plans steps negative one to two to fall with
steps negative one to two to fall with
steps negative one to two to fall with Rio into shape and guide that passion
Rio into shape and guide that passion
Rio into shape and guide that passion and every step of the way you have to
and every step of the way you have to
and every step of the way you have to reflect and appreciate where you’ve
reflect and appreciate where you’ve
reflect and appreciate where you’ve gotten appreciation is the distance not
gotten appreciation is the distance not
gotten appreciation is the distance not the displacement when it comes to your
the displacement when it comes to your
the displacement when it comes to your journey and that you should appreciate
journey and that you should appreciate
journey and that you should appreciate your whole journey even the parts where
your whole journey even the parts where
your whole journey even the parts where you feel you’re going backwards because
you feel you’re going backwards because
you feel you’re going backwards because if you learn from those times then
if you learn from those times then
if you learn from those times then you’re still moving forward failure is
you’re still moving forward failure is
you’re still moving forward failure is what shapes us it’s what gives us that
what shapes us it’s what gives us that
what shapes us it’s what gives us that starting point so now I’m going to point
starting point so now I’m going to point
starting point so now I’m going to point out to you where in the process
out to you where in the process
out to you where in the process depression and anxiety play a role the
depression and anxiety play a role the
depression and anxiety play a role the passion part is still entirely intact
passion part is still entirely intact
passion part is still entirely intact but depression fully eliminates the
but depression fully eliminates the
but depression fully eliminates the motivation section and anxiety puts the
motivation section and anxiety puts the
motivation section and anxiety puts the determination section and an unhealthy
determination section and an unhealthy
determination section and an unhealthy overdrive if it’s not channeled properly
overdrive if it’s not channeled properly
overdrive if it’s not channeled properly it’s like taking adderall when you don’t
it’s like taking adderall when you don’t
it’s like taking adderall when you don’t have ADHD what pushes you through the
have ADHD what pushes you through the
have ADHD what pushes you through the goal process is that happy motivation to
goal process is that happy motivation to
goal process is that happy motivation to follow your passions as it should be
follow your passions as it should be
follow your passions as it should be it’s all the lingering questions of what
it’s all the lingering questions of what
it’s all the lingering questions of what if what if I don’t finish what if I
if what if I don’t finish what if I
if what if I don’t finish what if I don’t do it right what if this dictates
don’t do it right what if this dictates
don’t do it right what if this dictates my whole future what if there’s
my whole future what if there’s
my whole future what if there’s something wrong with me if you know that
something wrong with me if you know that
something wrong with me if you know that all these questions are going to weigh
all these questions are going to weigh
all these questions are going to weigh on you the second you start tackling
on you the second you start tackling
on you the second you start tackling your goals you can imagine why anxiety
your goals you can imagine why anxiety
your goals you can imagine why anxiety also plays into diminishing the
also plays into diminishing the
also plays into diminishing the motivation aspect as well having a
motivation aspect as well having a
motivation aspect as well having a passion with no way to pursue it is to
passion with no way to pursue it is to
passion with no way to pursue it is to pursue it is endlessly frustrating but a
pursue it is endlessly frustrating but a
pursue it is endlessly frustrating but a huge key to unlocking the motivation and
huge key to unlocking the motivation and
huge key to unlocking the motivation and determination section is the
determination section is the
determination section is the appreciation section accepting that
appreciation section accepting that
appreciation section accepting that where you are is okay and then even just
where you are is okay and then even just
where you are is okay and then even just one step forward is a step in the right
one step forward is a step in the right
one step forward is a step in the right direction
direction
direction it’s about progress not perfection it’s
it’s about progress not perfection it’s
it’s about progress not perfection it’s about trying to be just one step further
about trying to be just one step further
about trying to be just one step further than where you were yesterday because
than where you were yesterday because
than where you were yesterday because that’s progress
that’s progress
that’s progress no one should feel powerless when it
no one should feel powerless when it
no one should feel powerless when it comes to their own life or pursuing
comes to their own life or pursuing
comes to their own life or pursuing their own passions I wholeheartedly
their own passions I wholeheartedly
their own passions I wholeheartedly believe that anyone can accomplish what
believe that anyone can accomplish what
believe that anyone can accomplish what they set out for themselves if they
they set out for themselves if they
they set out for themselves if they approach it with tact and with heart any
approach it with tact and with heart any
approach it with tact and with heart any pursuit no matter how big or how small
pursuit no matter how big or how small
pursuit no matter how big or how small will always start with just one step and
will always start with just one step and
will always start with just one step and I implore you to it
I implore you to it
I implore you to it spearmint with what happens with with
spearmint with what happens with with
spearmint with what happens with with when that first step is backwards
when that first step is backwards
when that first step is backwards enabling you to reflect collect yourself
enabling you to reflect collect yourself
enabling you to reflect collect yourself and plan ahead because you can move
and plan ahead because you can move
and plan ahead because you can move forward by taking a step back and
forward by taking a step back and
forward by taking a step back and oftentimes it’s the most effective way
oftentimes it’s the most effective way
oftentimes it’s the most effective way to do so thank you
to do so thank you
to do so thank you [Applause]
”
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