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The hidden power of pain | Xenia Tchoumi | TEDxHSG


in my life experience and journey I had

in my life experience and journey I had the pleasure of meeting a lot of

the pleasure of meeting a lot of

the pleasure of meeting a lot of successful people and I was always very

successful people and I was always very

successful people and I was always very very curious to know the common

very curious to know the common

very curious to know the common denominator factor that propelled their

denominator factor that propelled their

denominator factor that propelled their ascent they all came from very different

ascent they all came from very different

ascent they all came from very different backgrounds and some of them have to

backgrounds and some of them have to

backgrounds and some of them have to make it from extremely unfavorable

make it from extremely unfavorable

make it from extremely unfavorable conditions yet they all managed to

conditions yet they all managed to

conditions yet they all managed to change their lives then I looked at my

change their lives then I looked at my

change their lives then I looked at my own journey the ups and the downs of my

own journey the ups and the downs of my

own journey the ups and the downs of my career the constant will to make it and

career the constant will to make it and

career the constant will to make it and the hunger for more and I had to come to

the hunger for more and I had to come to

the hunger for more and I had to come to terms with the fact that the actual

terms with the fact that the actual

terms with the fact that the actual reason for success was something I

reason for success was something I

reason for success was something I wouldn’t have really welcomed into my

wouldn’t have really welcomed into my

wouldn’t have really welcomed into my life success came from the experience of

life success came from the experience of

life success came from the experience of pain maybe it was a childish need for

pain maybe it was a childish need for

pain maybe it was a childish need for more recognition and love from my

more recognition and love from my

more recognition and love from my parents or a way to make them happier

parents or a way to make them happier

parents or a way to make them happier when times got tough or maybe it was

when times got tough or maybe it was

when times got tough or maybe it was simply a survival instinct kicking in

simply a survival instinct kicking in

simply a survival instinct kicking in when money got tight the actual reason

when money got tight the actual reason

when money got tight the actual reason is not that important what matters is

is not that important what matters is

is not that important what matters is that it propelled my growth and it made

that it propelled my growth and it made

that it propelled my growth and it made me think quicker plan more efficiently

me think quicker plan more efficiently

me think quicker plan more efficiently and be faster before starting to work as

and be faster before starting to work as

and be faster before starting to work as a personality at age 18 I used to work

a personality at age 18 I used to work

a personality at age 18 I used to work at events as a hostess and my boss would

at events as a hostess and my boss would

at events as a hostess and my boss would always give me the worst shifts and the

always give me the worst shifts and the

always give me the worst shifts and the worst jobs for example I had to

worst jobs for example I had to

worst jobs for example I had to distribute flyers at a casino until 3

distribute flyers at a casino until 3

distribute flyers at a casino until 3 a.m. in the morning dressed in a fluffy

a.m. in the morning dressed in a fluffy

a.m. in the morning dressed in a fluffy pig suit I was obviously not happy with

pig suit I was obviously not happy with

pig suit I was obviously not happy with the experience so I thought how can I

the experience so I thought how can I

the experience so I thought how can I make my boss value me more and I went

make my boss value me more and I went

make my boss value me more and I went and did miss Switzerland I became a

and did miss Switzerland I became a

and did miss Switzerland I became a candidate and that night the night of

candidate and that night the night of

candidate and that night the night of the election has completely changed my

the election has completely changed my

the election has completely changed my life

life

life needless to say I have never worn that

needless to say I have never worn that

needless to say I have never worn that big suit again

big suit again

big suit again later on a career adviser

later on a career adviser

later on a career adviser my university told me what never ever

my university told me what never ever

my university told me what never ever even dream about getting a job in

even dream about getting a job in

even dream about getting a job in finance in London because what makes you

finance in London because what makes you

finance in London because what makes you think you are better

think you are better

think you are better the oldest international competition so

the oldest international competition so

the oldest international competition so I put my CV in order booked a flight and

I put my CV in order booked a flight and

I put my CV in order booked a flight and went to dozens of interviews until I

went to dozens of interviews until I

went to dozens of interviews until I landed three experiences in major

landed three experiences in major

landed three experiences in major financial institutions in the city I

financial institutions in the city I

financial institutions in the city I then left to start my own business and

then left to start my own business and

then left to start my own business and lastly it was a failed book deal in the

lastly it was a failed book deal in the

lastly it was a failed book deal in the u.s. that pushed me to become completely

u.s. that pushed me to become completely

u.s. that pushed me to become completely independent and to start my own journey

independent and to start my own journey

independent and to start my own journey as a digital entrepreneur and an

as a digital entrepreneur and an

as a digital entrepreneur and an influencer successful people often times

influencer successful people often times

influencer successful people often times literally work their pain away

literally work their pain away

literally work their pain away subconsciously and whereas most

subconsciously and whereas most

subconsciously and whereas most spiritual girls would state that the

spiritual girls would state that the

spiritual girls would state that the only way to get rid of pain is to

only way to get rid of pain is to

only way to get rid of pain is to completely feel it and stay in it for as

completely feel it and stay in it for as

completely feel it and stay in it for as long as necessary I think it’s a great

long as necessary I think it’s a great

long as necessary I think it’s a great motor and way to propel success and

motor and way to propel success and

motor and way to propel success and growth once I told to one of my friends

growth once I told to one of my friends

growth once I told to one of my friends a good friend of mine who happens to be

a good friend of mine who happens to be

a good friend of mine who happens to be a neuroscientist my idea about the link

a neuroscientist my idea about the link

a neuroscientist my idea about the link between pain and success the first thing

between pain and success the first thing

between pain and success the first thing he did was to scream yes you’re

he did was to scream yes you’re

he did was to scream yes you’re absolutely right – my pleasure

absolutely right – my pleasure

absolutely right – my pleasure and then he pointed to some piece of

and then he pointed to some piece of

and then he pointed to some piece of research who he thought would be

research who he thought would be

research who he thought would be extremely relevant to the case we are

extremely relevant to the case we are

extremely relevant to the case we are talking about post-traumatic growth and

talking about post-traumatic growth and

talking about post-traumatic growth and yes for those of you who have never

yes for those of you who have never

yes for those of you who have never heard about it the word is growth and

heard about it the word is growth and

heard about it the word is growth and not disorder

not disorder

not disorder the scientists Richard Tedeschi with his

the scientists Richard Tedeschi with his

the scientists Richard Tedeschi with his team has determined that growth after a

team has determined that growth after a

team has determined that growth after a traumatic event or a life crisis is far

traumatic event or a life crisis is far

traumatic event or a life crisis is far more common than PTSD contrary to

more common than PTSD contrary to

more common than PTSD contrary to popular belief ancient writings and

popular belief ancient writings and

popular belief ancient writings and religions often state that people have

religions often state that people have

religions often state that people have to overcome hardships interim in order

to overcome hardships interim in order

to overcome hardships interim in order to grow

to grow

to grow and leading by example Jesus sacrificed

and leading by example Jesus sacrificed

and leading by example Jesus sacrificed himself Moses ascended the mountain and

himself Moses ascended the mountain and

himself Moses ascended the mountain and the Buddha left his palace leading

the Buddha left his palace leading

the Buddha left his palace leading researchers on post-traumatic growth

researchers on post-traumatic growth

researchers on post-traumatic growth have determined that people who go

have determined that people who go

have determined that people who go through a life crisis oftentimes start

through a life crisis oftentimes start

through a life crisis oftentimes start to think about what happened in order to

to think about what happened in order to

to think about what happened in order to make sense of these events and this

make sense of these events and this

make sense of these events and this positive rumination is what actually

positive rumination is what actually

positive rumination is what actually propels growth before understanding the

propels growth before understanding the

propels growth before understanding the power of pain I used to always try to be

power of pain I used to always try to be

power of pain I used to always try to be the big girl the strong woman I would

the big girl the strong woman I would

the big girl the strong woman I would smile in front of a problem try not to

smile in front of a problem try not to

smile in front of a problem try not to feel the pain and push it completely

feel the pain and push it completely

feel the pain and push it completely away when I was 12 years old my father

away when I was 12 years old my father

away when I was 12 years old my father started traveling a lot for work first

started traveling a lot for work first

started traveling a lot for work first for months at a time and then for years

for months at a time and then for years

for months at a time and then for years I was always a daddy’s girl I saw saw

I was always a daddy’s girl I saw saw

I was always a daddy’s girl I saw saw him as a hero and he was my role model

him as a hero and he was my role model

him as a hero and he was my role model so I would call him and he would not

so I would call him and he would not

so I would call him and he would not pick up the phone or his number would be

pick up the phone or his number would be

pick up the phone or his number would be completely deactivated and whereas now I

completely deactivated and whereas now I

completely deactivated and whereas now I know that he had his own problems to

know that he had his own problems to

know that he had his own problems to solve at the time it was more than

solve at the time it was more than

solve at the time it was more than heartbreaking for me I felt abandoned I

heartbreaking for me I felt abandoned I

heartbreaking for me I felt abandoned I felt that my dad didn’t love me anymore

felt that my dad didn’t love me anymore

felt that my dad didn’t love me anymore it was such deep pain that I thought

it was such deep pain that I thought

it was such deep pain that I thought that he didn’t want me he wasn’t

that he didn’t want me he wasn’t

that he didn’t want me he wasn’t interested in speaking with me and I

interested in speaking with me and I

interested in speaking with me and I went completely numb for years I

went completely numb for years I

went completely numb for years I wouldn’t even feel anything yet now

wouldn’t even feel anything yet now

wouldn’t even feel anything yet now looking back I realized he had never

looking back I realized he had never

looking back I realized he had never stopped loving me he just had to solve

stopped loving me he just had to solve

stopped loving me he just had to solve his own issues but all of these steps

his own issues but all of these steps

his own issues but all of these steps I’ve taken from that moment onwards to

I’ve taken from that moment onwards to

I’ve taken from that moment onwards to grow to become a better person to build

grow to become a better person to build

grow to become a better person to build a career were rooted annan into an

a career were rooted annan into an

a career were rooted annan into an initial pain and I wanted to prove to my

initial pain and I wanted to prove to my

initial pain and I wanted to prove to my father that I was still worthy of his

father that I was still worthy of his

father that I was still worthy of his love so yes this unpleasant experience

love so yes this unpleasant experience

love so yes this unpleasant experience have made me grow and become a better

have made me grow and become a better

have made me grow and become a better version of myself now with more

version of myself now with more

version of myself now with more awareness and research I’ve learned to

awareness and research I’ve learned to

awareness and research I’ve learned to embrace pain

embrace pain

embrace pain to welcome it fool into my life and to

to welcome it fool into my life and to

to welcome it fool into my life and to use it to my advantage and I have carved

use it to my advantage and I have carved

use it to my advantage and I have carved the recipe for myself and you in three

the recipe for myself and you in three

the recipe for myself and you in three simple steps

simple steps

simple steps so step one is acceptance you need to

so step one is acceptance you need to

so step one is acceptance you need to fully accept this unpleasant feeling or

fully accept this unpleasant feeling or

fully accept this unpleasant feeling or strong pain feel it fully even if you

strong pain feel it fully even if you

strong pain feel it fully even if you need to cry cry feel terrible but just

need to cry cry feel terrible but just

need to cry cry feel terrible but just one thing don’t punish yourself give

one thing don’t punish yourself give

one thing don’t punish yourself give this pain time but give it also a time

this pain time but give it also a time

this pain time but give it also a time limit you need to hit an emotional tres

limit you need to hit an emotional tres

limit you need to hit an emotional tres role then I usually say to myself I’ll

role then I usually say to myself I’ll

role then I usually say to myself I’ll give it one day one hour a week if it’s

give it one day one hour a week if it’s

give it one day one hour a week if it’s really bad even months but once it’s

really bad even months but once it’s

really bad even months but once it’s over it’s time for phase two phase two

over it’s time for phase two phase two

over it’s time for phase two phase two is writing you two first to construct

is writing you two first to construct

is writing you two first to construct the problem think about it ruminate on

the problem think about it ruminate on

the problem think about it ruminate on it and then you take a piece of paper

it and then you take a piece of paper

it and then you take a piece of paper because writing by hand is much better

because writing by hand is much better

because writing by hand is much better for analytical thinking you divide this

for analytical thinking you divide this

for analytical thinking you divide this this piece of paper in three sections

this piece of paper in three sections

this piece of paper in three sections and on the left side you will write what

and on the left side you will write what

and on the left side you will write what is causing you pain in the middle you

is causing you pain in the middle you

is causing you pain in the middle you will write what you learned from this

will write what you learned from this

will write what you learned from this pain and on the right side you will

pain and on the right side you will

pain and on the right side you will write how can you use this pain to

write how can you use this pain to

write how can you use this pain to progress and move out of it and forward

progress and move out of it and forward

progress and move out of it and forward the right side is the most important one

the right side is the most important one

the right side is the most important one because it’s going to be your plan

because it’s going to be your plan

because it’s going to be your plan moving forward once your plan is ready

moving forward once your plan is ready

moving forward once your plan is ready it’s time for Phase three and it’s to

it’s time for Phase three and it’s to

it’s time for Phase three and it’s to take the leap you gotta take action

take the leap you gotta take action

take the leap you gotta take action follow that plan and no hesitation is

follow that plan and no hesitation is

follow that plan and no hesitation is allowed are you going through a divorce

allowed are you going through a divorce

allowed are you going through a divorce are you going through a problem babbling

are you going through a problem babbling

are you going through a problem babbling a health issue you’re struggling to pay

a health issue you’re struggling to pay

a health issue you’re struggling to pay your bills or you having problems for

your bills or you having problems for

your bills or you having problems for your family or confidence issues well I

your family or confidence issues well I

your family or confidence issues well I have some news this is amazing this is

have some news this is amazing this is

have some news this is amazing this is great use it to your own advantage to

great use it to your own advantage to

great use it to your own advantage to start something completely new in your

start something completely new in your

start something completely new in your life sometimes we found out

life sometimes we found out

life sometimes we found out of cornered and we cannot find a

of cornered and we cannot find a

of cornered and we cannot find a conventional way to get out and out of

conventional way to get out and out of

conventional way to get out and out of necessity and survival we would might

necessity and survival we would might

necessity and survival we would might make up a completely new innovative way

make up a completely new innovative way

make up a completely new innovative way to get out and this is how novelty and

to get out and this is how novelty and

to get out and this is how novelty and progress is born life should not be

progress is born life should not be

progress is born life should not be about passively supporting and feeling

about passively supporting and feeling

about passively supporting and feeling pain life should be about thriving use

pain life should be about thriving use

pain life should be about thriving use pain as a powerful fuel to go to the

pain as a powerful fuel to go to the

pain as a powerful fuel to go to the next level thank you

”

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