
[Music] that guy seemed like he was in a bit of
that guy seemed like he was in a bit of
that guy seemed like he was in a bit of a hurry hmm time I would want to talk to
a hurry hmm time I would want to talk to
a hurry hmm time I would want to talk to you about time it’s an extraordinary
you about time it’s an extraordinary
you about time it’s an extraordinary thing far more extraordinary than we can
thing far more extraordinary than we can
thing far more extraordinary than we can really ever imagine but let me start at
really ever imagine but let me start at
really ever imagine but let me start at the beginning
the beginning
the beginning 23 years ago I had an extraordinary
23 years ago I had an extraordinary
23 years ago I had an extraordinary moment of insight that completely
moment of insight that completely
moment of insight that completely changed my life I’d like to share it
changed my life I’d like to share it
changed my life I’d like to share it with you what I suddenly understood was
with you what I suddenly understood was
with you what I suddenly understood was why and how we seem to be so very
why and how we seem to be so very
why and how we seem to be so very different from each other and how it is
different from each other and how it is
different from each other and how it is that these differences are at the root
that these differences are at the root
that these differences are at the root of so many of our misunderstandings
of so many of our misunderstandings
of so many of our misunderstandings these differences are reflected in how
these differences are reflected in how
these differences are reflected in how we communicate with each other in the
we communicate with each other in the
we communicate with each other in the words that we use they are a part of our
words that we use they are a part of our
words that we use they are a part of our choices that we make our preferences
choices that we make our preferences
choices that we make our preferences there are the root of how we work and
there are the root of how we work and
there are the root of how we work and how we engage with people I don’t know
how we engage with people I don’t know
how we engage with people I don’t know about you but when I was growing up I
about you but when I was growing up I
about you but when I was growing up I was always being told to use my head to
was always being told to use my head to
was always being told to use my head to think before I spoke now you might think
think before I spoke now you might think
think before I spoke now you might think I’m about to start talking about
I’m about to start talking about
I’m about to start talking about personality I’m not what I’d like to do
personality I’m not what I’d like to do
personality I’m not what I’d like to do is to share with you how it is that I
is to share with you how it is that I
is to share with you how it is that I believe that we think because these are
believe that we think because these are
believe that we think because these are thinking that is at the root of our
thinking that is at the root of our
thinking that is at the root of our differences not our personalities our
differences not our personalities our
differences not our personalities our personalities now behaviors are the
personalities now behaviors are the
personalities now behaviors are the products of our thinking decart wrote I
products of our thinking decart wrote I
products of our thinking decart wrote I think therefore I am
personality is like this shiny gift
personality is like this shiny gift wrapping that we wrap around and it
wrapping that we wrap around and it
wrapping that we wrap around and it hides the true gift our thinking now I
hides the true gift our thinking now I
hides the true gift our thinking now I don’t know about you but I keep
don’t know about you but I keep
don’t know about you but I keep wondering how it is that we can send a
wondering how it is that we can send a
wondering how it is that we can send a spacecraft with extraordinary accuracy
spacecraft with extraordinary accuracy
spacecraft with extraordinary accuracy eight billion kilometres to Saturn and
eight billion kilometres to Saturn and
eight billion kilometres to Saturn and we can dive to the deepest depths of our
we can dive to the deepest depths of our
we can dive to the deepest depths of our oceans
oceans
oceans and yet we still do not understand how
and yet we still do not understand how
and yet we still do not understand how it is that we are different from each
it is that we are different from each
it is that we are different from each other and how it is that we can use
other and how it is that we can use
other and how it is that we can use these differences to be a more effective
these differences to be a more effective
these differences to be a more effective in the world to collaborate more
in the world to collaborate more
in the world to collaborate more effectively in my mid-20s like so many
effectively in my mid-20s like so many
effectively in my mid-20s like so many young people do I started reading books
young people do I started reading books
young people do I started reading books on psychology I was trying to understand
on psychology I was trying to understand
on psychology I was trying to understand myself and I quickly learned that we are
myself and I quickly learned that we are
myself and I quickly learned that we are taught in the West to understand
taught in the West to understand
taught in the West to understand ourselves other people and our world
ourselves other people and our world
ourselves other people and our world around us by the differences between
around us by the differences between
around us by the differences between things in fact the science of
things in fact the science of
things in fact the science of personality in the science of psychology
personality in the science of psychology
personality in the science of psychology is for the most part a study of
is for the most part a study of
is for the most part a study of individual differences and how each of
individual differences and how each of
individual differences and how each of us is different from some so-called
us is different from some so-called
us is different from some so-called established norm but I would put it to
established norm but I would put it to
established norm but I would put it to you that with this point of view that
you that with this point of view that
you that with this point of view that we’ve developed without some overarching
we’ve developed without some overarching
we’ve developed without some overarching principle some framework that gives us
principle some framework that gives us
principle some framework that gives us some sense of how we belong without a
some sense of how we belong without a
some sense of how we belong without a theory that actually unifies us where we
theory that actually unifies us where we
theory that actually unifies us where we can understand what these differences
can understand what these differences
can understand what these differences are about and how it is that we can use
are about and how it is that we can use
are about and how it is that we can use them to help each other that we are left
them to help each other that we are left
them to help each other that we are left well alone we’re left feeling different
well alone we’re left feeling different
well alone we’re left feeling different we’re left in a place where we’re I
we’re left in a place where we’re I
we’re left in a place where we’re I selected from each other in our thoughts
my insight was that all of these
my insight was that all of these different points of view
different points of view
different points of view all of these differences that we
all of these differences that we
all of these differences that we supposedly have are all actually aspects
supposedly have are all actually aspects
supposedly have are all actually aspects of one thing and that is time past
of one thing and that is time past
of one thing and that is time past present and future one unifying
present and future one unifying
present and future one unifying phenomena that gives rise to all of our
phenomena that gives rise to all of our
phenomena that gives rise to all of our thinking and within which actually we
thinking and within which actually we
thinking and within which actually we all play
this idea this insight was not new
this idea this insight was not new I found out in fact it is actually at
I found out in fact it is actually at
I found out in fact it is actually at the root of some of the greatest
the root of some of the greatest
the root of some of the greatest teachings in both the Western and
teachings in both the Western and
teachings in both the Western and Eastern cultures I probably picked it up
Eastern cultures I probably picked it up
Eastern cultures I probably picked it up somewhere along the way but at the
somewhere along the way but at the
somewhere along the way but at the moment that I got this 23 years ago I
moment that I got this 23 years ago I
moment that I got this 23 years ago I grasped absolutely the significance and
grasped absolutely the significance and
grasped absolutely the significance and the implications of what this truly
the implications of what this truly
the implications of what this truly meant so this is my take on that
meant so this is my take on that
meant so this is my take on that ancient wisdom maybe it’s a version for
ancient wisdom maybe it’s a version for
ancient wisdom maybe it’s a version for our modern times each of our brains is
our modern times each of our brains is
our modern times each of our brains is wired differently but all of them all of
wired differently but all of them all of
wired differently but all of them all of them are motivated by three simple
them are motivated by three simple
them are motivated by three simple priorities certainty probability and
priorities certainty probability and
priorities certainty probability and possibility certainty is what we get
possibility certainty is what we get
possibility certainty is what we get from the past it is the only thing that
from the past it is the only thing that
from the past it is the only thing that we can be certain of we have shared
we can be certain of we have shared
we can be certain of we have shared experiences we learn we look we measure
experiences we learn we look we measure
experiences we learn we look we measure we establish ideas it is from the past
we establish ideas it is from the past
we establish ideas it is from the past that we create some sense of security of
that we create some sense of security of
that we create some sense of security of what is and how it works without that
what is and how it works without that
what is and how it works without that security we would be lost we would be
security we would be lost we would be
security we would be lost we would be literally locked in fear like animals
literally locked in fear like animals
literally locked in fear like animals constantly awake and we have possibility
constantly awake and we have possibility
constantly awake and we have possibility that comes to us from the future
that comes to us from the future
that comes to us from the future the very word possible seems infinite
the very word possible seems infinite
the very word possible seems infinite and it’s to the future we look for our
and it’s to the future we look for our
and it’s to the future we look for our solutions to problems we look here to
solutions to problems we look here to
solutions to problems we look here to get new ideas and to combine all one’s
get new ideas and to combine all one’s
get new ideas and to combine all one’s to create new solutions it’s from the
to create new solutions it’s from the
to create new solutions it’s from the future that we get hope hope to try hope
future that we get hope hope to try hope
future that we get hope hope to try hope to overcome what is to become something
to overcome what is to become something
to overcome what is to become something better in the future
better in the future
better in the future and it is the present where we take
and it is the present where we take
and it is the present where we take action it is the only place that we can
action it is the only place that we can
action it is the only place that we can actually have an effect on our lives and
actually have an effect on our lives and
actually have an effect on our lives and in this present we plan for the future
in this present we plan for the future
in this present we plan for the future we structure we organize we create
we structure we organize we create
we structure we organize we create processes rules norms regulations all of
processes rules norms regulations all of
processes rules norms regulations all of these servers to create community
these servers to create community
these servers to create community harmony stability balance because
harmony stability balance because
harmony stability balance because without stability there is nothing that
without stability there is nothing that
without stability there is nothing that we can do we are lost
we can do we are lost
we can do we are lost just as we are lost without certainty
just as we are lost without certainty
just as we are lost without certainty and we are lost without hope now what is
and we are lost without hope now what is
and we are lost without hope now what is amazing is that every single person in
amazing is that every single person in
amazing is that every single person in the world uses past present and future
the world uses past present and future
the world uses past present and future certainty probability and possibility in
certainty probability and possibility in
certainty probability and possibility in their force we blend these three
their force we blend these three
their force we blend these three different perspectives of time in order
different perspectives of time in order
different perspectives of time in order to create our perceptions some people
to create our perceptions some people
to create our perceptions some people have an equal measure of all three some
have an equal measure of all three some
have an equal measure of all three some people blend two and have less of the
people blend two and have less of the
people blend two and have less of the third and others still have only one of
third and others still have only one of
third and others still have only one of these in dominance and the other two
these in dominance and the other two
these in dominance and the other two much less now I am a future thinker I
much less now I am a future thinker I
much less now I am a future thinker I use a lot of future thinking in my
use a lot of future thinking in my
use a lot of future thinking in my thinking I don’t have a lot of access to
thinking I don’t have a lot of access to
thinking I don’t have a lot of access to the present or past dimensions so when I
the present or past dimensions so when I
the present or past dimensions so when I had my insight and I wanted to do
had my insight and I wanted to do
had my insight and I wanted to do something with it
something with it
something with it I knew I had to turn to past thinking
I knew I had to turn to past thinking
I knew I had to turn to past thinking the scientists the experts the
the scientists the experts the
the scientists the experts the psychologist to help them help me
psychologist to help them help me
psychologist to help them help me understand what it is I had found out it
understand what it is I had found out it
understand what it is I had found out it wasn’t easy
wasn’t easy
wasn’t easy from my perspective they took my great
from my perspective they took my great
from my perspective they took my great big shiny beautiful insight and they
big shiny beautiful insight and they
big shiny beautiful insight and they reduced it down to a series of
reduced it down to a series of
reduced it down to a series of experiments they took it to pieces and
experiments they took it to pieces and
experiments they took it to pieces and not only did they take it to pieces but
not only did they take it to pieces but
not only did they take it to pieces but they wanted to fit it in to their
they wanted to fit it in to their
they wanted to fit it in to their existing taxonomy x’ their existing
existing taxonomy x’ their existing
existing taxonomy x’ their existing structures their existing language it
structures their existing language it
structures their existing language it was horrible
was horrible
was horrible and then I dealt with the present think
and then I dealt with the present think
and then I dealt with the present think is because in order to actually make
is because in order to actually make
is because in order to actually make this work I actually had to go to them
this work I actually had to go to them
this work I actually had to go to them and say how can I apply it and once
and say how can I apply it and once
and say how can I apply it and once again this wasn’t easy because what they
again this wasn’t easy because what they
again this wasn’t easy because what they did is they took this idea of mine and
did is they took this idea of mine and
did is they took this idea of mine and all they wanted to do was to apply it to
all they wanted to do was to apply it to
all they wanted to do was to apply it to one specific or another specific problem
one specific or another specific problem
one specific or another specific problem it felt so a lien and yet over time
it felt so a lien and yet over time
it felt so a lien and yet over time using this very insight we managed to
using this very insight we managed to
using this very insight we managed to learn how to work together we managed to
learn how to work together we managed to
learn how to work together we managed to learn how to deeply respect each other’s
learn how to deeply respect each other’s
learn how to deeply respect each other’s differences right here on this stage
differences right here on this stage
differences right here on this stage we’ve been hearing amazing ideas and I
we’ve been hearing amazing ideas and I
we’ve been hearing amazing ideas and I put it to you that if we could
put it to you that if we could
put it to you that if we could understand our differences we can
understand our differences we can
understand our differences we can understand how we think then we could
understand how we think then we could
understand how we think then we could actually change the way that we work in
actually change the way that we work in
actually change the way that we work in the world we could actually change the
the world we could actually change the
the world we could actually change the way we take these ideas from the Ted
way we take these ideas from the Ted
way we take these ideas from the Ted talks around the world and we could do
talks around the world and we could do
talks around the world and we could do something more material more
something more material more
something more material more collaborative with them I’m reminded of
collaborative with them I’m reminded of
collaborative with them I’m reminded of an old saying it’s a very powerful
an old saying it’s a very powerful
an old saying it’s a very powerful saying that’s been used many times
saying that’s been used many times
saying that’s been used many times before most recently was in Margaret
before most recently was in Margaret
before most recently was in Margaret Thatcher’s memoir film Iron Lady but in
Thatcher’s memoir film Iron Lady but in
Thatcher’s memoir film Iron Lady but in that particular case it was used as an
that particular case it was used as an
that particular case it was used as an admonishment a warning and I don’t think
admonishment a warning and I don’t think
admonishment a warning and I don’t think that was the original intention this
that was the original intention this
that was the original intention this originally came from about two and a
originally came from about two and a
originally came from about two and a half thousand years ago it’s the oldest
half thousand years ago it’s the oldest
half thousand years ago it’s the oldest reference I can find from Gautama Buddha
reference I can find from Gautama Buddha
reference I can find from Gautama Buddha and I’m going to paraphrase it because I
and I’m going to paraphrase it because I
and I’m going to paraphrase it because I want to hold that original intention
want to hold that original intention
want to hold that original intention watch your thoughts for your thoughts
watch your thoughts for your thoughts
watch your thoughts for your thoughts will become your words and what she’ll
will become your words and what she’ll
will become your words and what she’ll worse because they will shape your
worse because they will shape your
worse because they will shape your actual behavior and what’s your behavior
actual behavior and what’s your behavior
actual behavior and what’s your behavior because that behavior will become your
because that behavior will become your
because that behavior will become your character and then observe that
character and then observe that
character and then observe that character because it is creating your
character because it is creating your
character because it is creating your destiny if we could adjust agree on this
destiny if we could adjust agree on this
destiny if we could adjust agree on this one thing that it is to our thinking
one thing that it is to our thinking
one thing that it is to our thinking that we must look to better understand
that we must look to better understand
that we must look to better understand ourselves in each other we would be so
ourselves in each other we would be so
ourselves in each other we would be so much more understanding so much more
much more understanding so much more
much more understanding so much more compassionate so much more collaborative
compassionate so much more collaborative
compassionate so much more collaborative in the world I believe that everybody
in the world I believe that everybody
in the world I believe that everybody here has value to bring and it is
here has value to bring and it is
here has value to bring and it is through our thinking that we do that
through our thinking that we do that
through our thinking that we do that thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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