hi everyone well it’s really such an honor to be here today especially with
honor to be here today especially with
honor to be here today especially with such an amazing group of speakers
such an amazing group of speakers
such an amazing group of speakers especially Maharishi for someone so
especially Maharishi for someone so
especially Maharishi for someone so young to be spreading such wisdom at
young to be spreading such wisdom at
young to be spreading such wisdom at that age it’s really very inspiring so
that age it’s really very inspiring so
that age it’s really very inspiring so before we begin I actually want to start
before we begin I actually want to start
before we begin I actually want to start off with the question how many of you in
off with the question how many of you in
off with the question how many of you in the audience feel like you have an idea
the audience feel like you have an idea
the audience feel like you have an idea that can truly benefit society okay how
that can truly benefit society okay how
that can truly benefit society okay how many of you have shared this idea with
many of you have shared this idea with
many of you have shared this idea with others all right so for those that
others all right so for those that
others all right so for those that didn’t raise their hand there second
didn’t raise their hand there second
didn’t raise their hand there second time I hope after this talk that might
time I hope after this talk that might
time I hope after this talk that might change so we’re here to tell you about
change so we’re here to tell you about
change so we’re here to tell you about an idea that we shared one that we
an idea that we shared one that we
an idea that we shared one that we believed was truly needed in society one
believed was truly needed in society one
believed was truly needed in society one that we thought would really benefit the
that we thought would really benefit the
that we thought would really benefit the people around us would feed our own
people around us would feed our own
people around us would feed our own desire for connection and change the way
desire for connection and change the way
desire for connection and change the way people interact with each other we’re
people interact with each other we’re
people interact with each other we’re here to tell you about how we sought to
here to tell you about how we sought to
here to tell you about how we sought to make deep conversations the norm okay so
make deep conversations the norm okay so
make deep conversations the norm okay so it was just another night out in Abu
it was just another night out in Abu
it was just another night out in Abu Dhabi with our friends but something
Dhabi with our friends but something
Dhabi with our friends but something felt off
felt off
felt off it wasn’t the people we had known them
it wasn’t the people we had known them
it wasn’t the people we had known them for a very long time it wasn’t the place
for a very long time it wasn’t the place
for a very long time it wasn’t the place we were struggling to feel connected
we were struggling to feel connected
we were struggling to feel connected we weren’t feeling engaged at all where
we weren’t feeling engaged at all where
we weren’t feeling engaged at all where our friendships really based upon which
our friendships really based upon which
our friendships really based upon which celebrity is making the headline this
celebrity is making the headline this
celebrity is making the headline this week or where we’re going out next
week or where we’re going out next
week or where we’re going out next weekend or who were crushing on the same
weekend or who were crushing on the same
weekend or who were crushing on the same conversations just another day so we
conversations just another day so we
conversations just another day so we thought were we this whole time settling
thought were we this whole time settling
thought were we this whole time settling for conversations so insignificant so
for conversations so insignificant so
for conversations so insignificant so small talk is everywhere and we can’t
small talk is everywhere and we can’t
small talk is everywhere and we can’t escape it so we wanted to end it first
escape it so we wanted to end it first
escape it so we wanted to end it first we joked about starting a campaign to
we joked about starting a campaign to
we joked about starting a campaign to end small talk running around the
end small talk running around the
end small talk running around the streets of Abu Dhabi yelling and small
streets of Abu Dhabi yelling and small
streets of Abu Dhabi yelling and small talk but you know that joke ended just
talk but you know that joke ended just
talk but you know that joke ended just as quickly as it started we thought we
as quickly as it started we thought we
as quickly as it started we thought we had to be more tactical in our approach
had to be more tactical in our approach
had to be more tactical in our approach and we asked the questions were like
and we asked the questions were like
and we asked the questions were like was it that we’re losing our own sense
was it that we’re losing our own sense
was it that we’re losing our own sense of connection because of the
of connection because of the
of connection because of the overwhelming digital presence or are we
overwhelming digital presence or are we
overwhelming digital presence or are we just afraid to feel vulnerable so we we
just afraid to feel vulnerable so we we
just afraid to feel vulnerable so we we thought okay we had an idea we have
thought okay we had an idea we have
thought okay we had an idea we have resources available to us they had a
resources available to us they had a
resources available to us they had a space to use we had the questions asked
space to use we had the questions asked
space to use we had the questions asked we thought there wouldn’t be any harm
we thought there wouldn’t be any harm
we thought there wouldn’t be any harm and trying it out so we did so how does
and trying it out so we did so how does
and trying it out so we did so how does it work we started off with setting up a
it work we started off with setting up a
it work we started off with setting up a Facebook event page inviting the public
Facebook event page inviting the public
Facebook event page inviting the public to come and have better conversations
to come and have better conversations
to come and have better conversations with strangers we compiled and
with strangers we compiled and
with strangers we compiled and researched over 200 conversation
researched over 200 conversation
researched over 200 conversation starters and hung them around the room
starters and hung them around the room
starters and hung them around the room then people were invited to come in and
then people were invited to come in and
then people were invited to come in and instead of their nametag they would
instead of their nametag they would
instead of their nametag they would write a description of himself in one
write a description of himself in one
write a description of himself in one hashtag instead this was usually the
hashtag instead this was usually the
hashtag instead this was usually the hardest part for people a Self
hardest part for people a Self
hardest part for people a Self Realization acts like experiment in
Realization acts like experiment in
Realization acts like experiment in itself and then they choose a topic that
itself and then they choose a topic that
itself and then they choose a topic that interests them from the ones that are
interests them from the ones that are
interests them from the ones that are hung around and they start forming mini
hung around and they start forming mini
hung around and they start forming mini groups where everyone starts having deep
groups where everyone starts having deep
groups where everyone starts having deep and meaningful conversation and
and meaningful conversation and
and meaningful conversation and throughout the venue we put basically a
throughout the venue we put basically a
throughout the venue we put basically a safe space where there’s no judgement No
safe space where there’s no judgement No
safe space where there’s no judgement No Labels doesn’t matter where are you from
Labels doesn’t matter where are you from
Labels doesn’t matter where are you from what should you but you all have one
what should you but you all have one
what should you but you all have one thing that you can share good
thing that you can share good
thing that you can share good conversation about topics such as human
conversation about topics such as human
conversation about topics such as human psychology philosophy we stay away from
psychology philosophy we stay away from
psychology philosophy we stay away from religion and politics though and
religion and politics though and
religion and politics though and basically passion happiness love
basically passion happiness love
basically passion happiness love everything that connects us so at the
everything that connects us so at the
everything that connects us so at the end we conclude it with a group
end we conclude it with a group
end we conclude it with a group discussion guided by a moderator and
discussion guided by a moderator and
discussion guided by a moderator and basically to sum it up and small talk is
basically to sum it up and small talk is
basically to sum it up and small talk is a space for strangers come together and
a space for strangers come together and
a space for strangers come together and connect on a deeper level from all walks
connect on a deeper level from all walks
connect on a deeper level from all walks of life so in order to gain a better
of life so in order to gain a better
of life so in order to gain a better understanding of what our community
understanding of what our community
understanding of what our community thought we actually pose a survey and
thought we actually pose a survey and
thought we actually pose a survey and the results were very interesting as you
the results were very interesting as you
the results were very interesting as you can see a lot of these answers
can see a lot of these answers
can see a lot of these answers here I will actually ask the one of the
here I will actually ask the one of the
here I will actually ask the one of the questions that we asked was what have
questions that we asked was what have
questions that we asked was what have you gained as a result of attending and
you gained as a result of attending and
you gained as a result of attending and an small talk session as you can see
an small talk session as you can see
an small talk session as you can see from the answers you know feel more
from the answers you know feel more
from the answers you know feel more inspired about life and more open to new
inspired about life and more open to new
inspired about life and more open to new ideas I learned more about myself all
ideas I learned more about myself all
ideas I learned more about myself all these are talents of growth that relate
these are talents of growth that relate
these are talents of growth that relate to our own development as human beings
to our own development as human beings
to our own development as human beings on this journey through life in
on this journey through life in
on this journey through life in particular 44% of the people who
particular 44% of the people who
particular 44% of the people who answered said that they were more
answered said that they were more
answered said that they were more accepting of others and more accepting
accepting of others and more accepting
accepting of others and more accepting of ideas or beliefs they don’t agree
of ideas or beliefs they don’t agree
of ideas or beliefs they don’t agree with which i think is actually how we
with which i think is actually how we
with which i think is actually how we brew more peaceful and tolerant
brew more peaceful and tolerant
brew more peaceful and tolerant societies and as we move forward into a
societies and as we move forward into a
societies and as we move forward into a more diverse type of global economy or a
more diverse type of global economy or a
more diverse type of global economy or a global of community these values are
global of community these values are
global of community these values are going to be inherent important for us to
going to be inherent important for us to
going to be inherent important for us to take with us and to make it all
take with us and to make it all
take with us and to make it all worthwhile after each event I mean we
worthwhile after each event I mean we
worthwhile after each event I mean we knew we had a yearning for deep and
knew we had a yearning for deep and
knew we had a yearning for deep and meaningful conversations and after each
meaningful conversations and after each
meaningful conversations and after each event we still get people coming up to
event we still get people coming up to
event we still get people coming up to us telling us that faith they feel more
us telling us that faith they feel more
us telling us that faith they feel more refreshed more accomplished more
refreshed more accomplished more
refreshed more accomplished more fulfilled just by having these types of
fulfilled just by having these types of
fulfilled just by having these types of interactions with others even I think
interactions with others even I think
interactions with others even I think what makes it the most rewarding for us
what makes it the most rewarding for us
what makes it the most rewarding for us is also to be able to see people from
is also to be able to see people from
is also to be able to see people from literally all walks of life all
literally all walks of life all
literally all walks of life all nationalities ages backgrounds you know
nationalities ages backgrounds you know
nationalities ages backgrounds you know extroverts introverts all coming
extroverts introverts all coming
extroverts introverts all coming together and sharing their relative
together and sharing their relative
together and sharing their relative humanity so putting aside all those
humanity so putting aside all those
humanity so putting aside all those labels all those misconceptions of what
labels all those misconceptions of what
labels all those misconceptions of what what people think they are and just
what people think they are and just
what people think they are and just coming together in one space and uniting
coming together in one space and uniting
coming together in one space and uniting basically so for the students out there
basically so for the students out there
basically so for the students out there it’s important to note that this
it’s important to note that this
it’s important to note that this realization that deep conversations are
realization that deep conversations are
realization that deep conversations are so valuable came later in life it was
so valuable came later in life it was
so valuable came later in life it was after we kind of stopped learning at
after we kind of stopped learning at
after we kind of stopped learning at school or university where we’re kind of
school or university where we’re kind of
school or university where we’re kind of trying to find a way to add meaning to
trying to find a way to add meaning to
trying to find a way to add meaning to our everyday encounters these types of
our everyday encounters these types of
our everyday encounters these types of conversations they’re they’re valuable
conversations they’re they’re valuable
conversations they’re they’re valuable because you learn more about yourself
because you learn more about yourself
because you learn more about yourself your ideas
your ideas
your ideas and your belief society teaches us to be
and your belief society teaches us to be
and your belief society teaches us to be superficial and sometimes our
superficial and sometimes our
superficial and sometimes our conversations are just extensions of
conversations are just extensions of
conversations are just extensions of that so there’s a fear that’s built
that so there’s a fear that’s built
that so there’s a fear that’s built around engaging in deeper conversations
around engaging in deeper conversations
around engaging in deeper conversations of fear to get out of the comfort zone
of fear to get out of the comfort zone
of fear to get out of the comfort zone or to think differently than you usually
or to think differently than you usually
or to think differently than you usually do so don’t settle
do so don’t settle
do so don’t settle you know don’t follow the norm you can
you know don’t follow the norm you can
you know don’t follow the norm you can change the status quo and basically you
change the status quo and basically you
change the status quo and basically you can set the standard for interactions
can set the standard for interactions
can set the standard for interactions you have with each other so have
you have with each other so have
you have with each other so have conversations that matter to you stay
conversations that matter to you stay
conversations that matter to you stay curious about life around you challenge
curious about life around you challenge
curious about life around you challenge the stigmas and remember that you all
the stigmas and remember that you all
the stigmas and remember that you all have the power to bring ideas into life
have the power to bring ideas into life
have the power to bring ideas into life okay so this is probably the most
okay so this is probably the most
okay so this is probably the most important question as it relates to the
important question as it relates to the
important question as it relates to the current theme of this event but also to
current theme of this event but also to
current theme of this event but also to what we try to do at every end small
what we try to do at every end small
what we try to do at every end small talk ask the questions that matter at a
talk ask the questions that matter at a
talk ask the questions that matter at a time of great uncertainty where no one
time of great uncertainty where no one
time of great uncertainty where no one can tell you what the future looks like
can tell you what the future looks like
can tell you what the future looks like where you’re constantly being bombarded
where you’re constantly being bombarded
where you’re constantly being bombarded by expectations of who or what you
by expectations of who or what you
by expectations of who or what you should be where you just don’t know what
should be where you just don’t know what
should be where you just don’t know what to believe in or who to believe it
to believe in or who to believe it
to believe in or who to believe it anymore what’s your next move where do
anymore what’s your next move where do
anymore what’s your next move where do you go from here well do you actually
you go from here well do you actually
you go from here well do you actually move in in fear do you move with the
move in in fear do you move with the
move in in fear do you move with the masses or do you move in faith faith
masses or do you move in faith faith
masses or do you move in faith faith that maybe together we can create a
that maybe together we can create a
that maybe together we can create a future that envelops the highest values
future that envelops the highest values
future that envelops the highest values we hold true as human beings those of
we hold true as human beings those of
we hold true as human beings those of compassion of love of genuinity where we
compassion of love of genuinity where we
compassion of love of genuinity where we can create communities that thrive on
can create communities that thrive on
can create communities that thrive on loving and and thrive on love and having
loving and and thrive on love and having
loving and and thrive on love and having deep soul connections with each other so
deep soul connections with each other so
deep soul connections with each other so if there’s so this is the choice that
if there’s so this is the choice that
if there’s so this is the choice that you have to make and no one’s gonna make
you have to make and no one’s gonna make
you have to make and no one’s gonna make that choice for you
that choice for you
that choice for you so if you were to leave you with one
so if you were to leave you with one
so if you were to leave you with one last point it’s to urge you to move
last point it’s to urge you to move
last point it’s to urge you to move toward in love with the towards the
toward in love with the towards the
toward in love with the towards the ideas that you hold true and that will
ideas that you hold true and that will
ideas that you hold true and that will bring out the best in yourself and bring
bring out the best in yourself and bring
bring out the best in yourself and bring out the best in society thank you
out the best in society thank you
out the best in society thank you sorry about the video
sorry about the video
sorry about the video [Applause]
”
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