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Why so positive? | Eleni Kourou | TEDxSurreyUniversity


[Music]

[Music] some days ago as I was walking towards

some days ago as I was walking towards

some days ago as I was walking towards my seminar a girl whom I knew passed by

my seminar a girl whom I knew passed by

my seminar a girl whom I knew passed by and I smiled at her she gave me rather

and I smiled at her she gave me rather

and I smiled at her she gave me rather weird look and asked why are you smiling

weird look and asked why are you smiling

weird look and asked why are you smiling every single time I see you

every single time I see you

every single time I see you which probably stands for what’s wrong

which probably stands for what’s wrong

which probably stands for what’s wrong with you but in a more polite way

with you but in a more polite way

with you but in a more polite way this incident except for making me feel

this incident except for making me feel

this incident except for making me feel quite uncomfortable made me realize how

quite uncomfortable made me realize how

quite uncomfortable made me realize how bad the situation truly is have come to

bad the situation truly is have come to

bad the situation truly is have come to the point where we don’t ask the people

the point where we don’t ask the people

the point where we don’t ask the people who seem to be upset what’s wrong but

who seem to be upset what’s wrong but

who seem to be upset what’s wrong but the ones who seem to be happy have we

the ones who seem to be happy have we

the ones who seem to be happy have we come to the point where we’re not

come to the point where we’re not

come to the point where we’re not concerned about the people who are sad

concerned about the people who are sad

concerned about the people who are sad or unsatisfied but about the ones who

or unsatisfied but about the ones who

or unsatisfied but about the ones who seem to be pleased and happy things are

seem to be pleased and happy things are

seem to be pleased and happy things are so bad that people are surprised when

so bad that people are surprised when

so bad that people are surprised when what appears to be happy and the reason

what appears to be happy and the reason

what appears to be happy and the reason is because of how seldom people actually

is because of how seldom people actually

is because of how seldom people actually smile and verbally express joy and

smile and verbally express joy and

smile and verbally express joy and satisfaction why do you people

satisfaction why do you people

satisfaction why do you people experience so seldom and for such a

experience so seldom and for such a

experience so seldom and for such a small duration happy motions because

small duration happy motions because

small duration happy motions because they’re not being positive people

they’re not being positive people

they’re not being positive people usually silently object at this point

usually silently object at this point

usually silently object at this point thinking it’s easy for you to be

thinking it’s easy for you to be

thinking it’s easy for you to be positive you were probably born this way

positive you were probably born this way

positive you were probably born this way and I really want to take the chance to

and I really want to take the chance to

and I really want to take the chance to clarify this I have to admit I myself am

clarify this I have to admit I myself am

clarify this I have to admit I myself am a very positive person but I assure you

a very positive person but I assure you

a very positive person but I assure you my positivity has nothing to do with my

my positivity has nothing to do with my

my positivity has nothing to do with my genes I have no positive genes

genes I have no positive genes

genes I have no positive genes whatsoever and no one else has anything

whatsoever and no one else has anything

whatsoever and no one else has anything alike simply because positive genes do

alike simply because positive genes do

alike simply because positive genes do not exist positivity is not hereditary

not exist positivity is not hereditary

not exist positivity is not hereditary positivity is a choice now choosing to

positivity is a choice now choosing to

positivity is a choice now choosing to be positive it’s simple

be positive it’s simple

be positive it’s simple careful I didn’t say easy people always

careful I didn’t say easy people always

careful I didn’t say easy people always ask how can you be so positive and I

ask how can you be so positive and I

ask how can you be so positive and I always replied by asking them

always replied by asking them

always replied by asking them can you be so negative because I know

can you be so negative because I know

can you be so negative because I know that I will not survive even one day in

that I will not survive even one day in

that I will not survive even one day in today’s world which is full of

today’s world which is full of

today’s world which is full of difficulties without being positive

difficulties without being positive

difficulties without being positive that’s the reason why I simply don’t get

that’s the reason why I simply don’t get

that’s the reason why I simply don’t get how so many people are negative and

how so many people are negative and

how so many people are negative and pessimistic and still able to go on now

pessimistic and still able to go on now

pessimistic and still able to go on now I want to ask a personal question has

I want to ask a personal question has

I want to ask a personal question has any of you here experienced printer

any of you here experienced printer

any of you here experienced printer crashing do you want to raise your hand

crashing do you want to raise your hand

crashing do you want to raise your hand if you ever tried to print something and

if you ever tried to print something and

if you ever tried to print something and your printer failed you know you guys

your printer failed you know you guys

your printer failed you know you guys have good printers oh my god I want some

have good printers oh my god I want some

have good printers oh my god I want some recommendations after the talk come talk

recommendations after the talk come talk

recommendations after the talk come talk to me so you know what I’m talking about

to me so you know what I’m talking about

to me so you know what I’m talking about can you trash computers No so picture

can you trash computers No so picture

can you trash computers No so picture this it’s a magnificent Sunday morning

this it’s a magnificent Sunday morning

this it’s a magnificent Sunday morning and you’re able to bring this huge

and you’re able to bring this huge

and you’re able to bring this huge project you’ve been working on the last

project you’ve been working on the last

project you’ve been working on the last couple of months when suddenly your

couple of months when suddenly your

couple of months when suddenly your printer crashes as soon as you realize

printer crashes as soon as you realize

printer crashes as soon as you realize what happened you stopped performing

what happened you stopped performing

what happened you stopped performing another aggressive soliloquy and the

another aggressive soliloquy and the

another aggressive soliloquy and the next thing you know is that there is

next thing you know is that there is

next thing you know is that there is coffee all over your favorite white

coffee all over your favorite white

coffee all over your favorite white shirt how did you manage to spill your

shirt how did you manage to spill your

shirt how did you manage to spill your drink all of me Wow it may be because

drink all of me Wow it may be because

drink all of me Wow it may be because you were too busy complaining about your

you were too busy complaining about your

you were too busy complaining about your printer crossing instead of trying to

printer crossing instead of trying to

printer crossing instead of trying to find a solution to the problem that you

find a solution to the problem that you

find a solution to the problem that you made things even worse than before you

made things even worse than before you

made things even worse than before you know what they say when it rains it

know what they say when it rains it

know what they say when it rains it pause and maybe you should start

pause and maybe you should start

pause and maybe you should start wondering whether you’re contributing to

wondering whether you’re contributing to

wondering whether you’re contributing to the rainy weather by your way of

the rainy weather by your way of

the rainy weather by your way of thinking and the reason why I really

thinking and the reason why I really

thinking and the reason why I really want to emphasize that is because I

want to emphasize that is because I

want to emphasize that is because I don’t think people realize that by being

don’t think people realize that by being

don’t think people realize that by being negative

negative

negative they are literally hurting themselves

they are literally hurting themselves

they are literally hurting themselves waking up every single day thinking oh

waking up every single day thinking oh

waking up every single day thinking oh I’m so going to fail that test they

I’m so going to fail that test they

I’m so going to fail that test they won’t like me I’m so going to screw up

won’t like me I’m so going to screw up

won’t like me I’m so going to screw up he’s hurting you more than you can

he’s hurting you more than you can

he’s hurting you more than you can imagine all these self-fulfilling

imagine all these self-fulfilling

imagine all these self-fulfilling prophecies are hurting you more than you

prophecies are hurting you more than you

prophecies are hurting you more than you can imagine

can imagine

can imagine our thoughts shape who we are and a

our thoughts shape who we are and a

our thoughts shape who we are and a reality so next time you think about

reality so next time you think about

reality so next time you think about something wonder whether you would like

something wonder whether you would like

something wonder whether you would like this thought to be a part of you if not

this thought to be a part of you if not

this thought to be a part of you if not change it how by being positive another

change it how by being positive another

change it how by being positive another thing that I’ve noticed is that people

thing that I’ve noticed is that people

thing that I’ve noticed is that people have the tendency to mix up the finish

have the tendency to mix up the finish

have the tendency to mix up the finish so let’s agree once and for all

so let’s agree once and for all

so let’s agree once and for all being positive does not mean being happy

being positive does not mean being happy

being positive does not mean being happy positive means choosing to think about

positive means choosing to think about

positive means choosing to think about the good qualities of someone or

the good qualities of someone or

the good qualities of someone or something and this doesn’t make you

something and this doesn’t make you

something and this doesn’t make you necessarily happy or happier it simply

necessarily happy or happier it simply

necessarily happy or happier it simply makes you positive also choosing to be

makes you positive also choosing to be

makes you positive also choosing to be positive doesn’t mean that you have to

positive doesn’t mean that you have to

positive doesn’t mean that you have to be positive all the time no one can do

be positive all the time no one can do

be positive all the time no one can do that there are days that even the most

that there are days that even the most

that there are days that even the most positive person on earth will not be

positive person on earth will not be

positive person on earth will not be able to resist thinking negative yay

able to resist thinking negative yay

able to resist thinking negative yay happens all the time but the thing that

happens all the time but the thing that

happens all the time but the thing that differentiates people who are positive

differentiates people who are positive

differentiates people who are positive from the people who are negative is that

from the people who are negative is that

from the people who are negative is that positive people at the end of such days

positive people at the end of such days

positive people at the end of such days after crying and cursing and thinking

after crying and cursing and thinking

after crying and cursing and thinking how awful things are will rise and shine

how awful things are will rise and shine

how awful things are will rise and shine and choose to try you think about the

and choose to try you think about the

and choose to try you think about the bright sort of things which had been

bright sort of things which had been

bright sort of things which had been right in front of them all this time so

right in front of them all this time so

right in front of them all this time so what you can do and what really matters

what you can do and what really matters

what you can do and what really matters is if you try try to be positive until

is if you try try to be positive until

is if you try try to be positive until you manage to be positive trying is what

you manage to be positive trying is what

you manage to be positive trying is what really counts now about point usually

really counts now about point usually

really counts now about point usually the big question pops out okay so how

the big question pops out okay so how

the big question pops out okay so how can I be positive what do I do well the

can I be positive what do I do well the

can I be positive what do I do well the first thing you need to do is realize

first thing you need to do is realize

first thing you need to do is realize the positive eating is married to

the positive eating is married to

the positive eating is married to appreciation if you don’t appreciate you

appreciation if you don’t appreciate you

appreciation if you don’t appreciate you can’t concentrate on the good side of

can’t concentrate on the good side of

can’t concentrate on the good side of things if you can’t concentrate on the

things if you can’t concentrate on the

things if you can’t concentrate on the good side of things you can’t be

good side of things you can’t be

good side of things you can’t be positive so I asked them tell me one

positive so I asked them tell me one

positive so I asked them tell me one thing that you really appreciate about

thing that you really appreciate about

thing that you really appreciate about your life and this is when the difficult

your life and this is when the difficult

your life and this is when the difficult part begins after thinking about it for

part begins after thinking about it for

part begins after thinking about it for a bit they reply well I don’t know I

a bit they reply well I don’t know I

a bit they reply well I don’t know I mean I’m not really that good at

mean I’m not really that good at

mean I’m not really that good at something I don’t have a partner my

something I don’t have a partner my

something I don’t have a partner my friends are like these my family doesn’t

friends are like these my family doesn’t

friends are like these my family doesn’t really understand me etc etc etc and

really understand me etc etc etc and

really understand me etc etc etc and they can’t find anything that they

they can’t find anything that they

they can’t find anything that they really appreciate so I hop them and say

really appreciate so I hop them and say

really appreciate so I hop them and say can you tell me any of you what is the

can you tell me any of you what is the

can you tell me any of you what is the first thing the very first thing you did

first thing the very first thing you did

first thing the very first thing you did this morning

this morning

this morning can you

can you

can you No you call it you don’t know what you

No you call it you don’t know what you

No you call it you don’t know what you did I’m up concerned what is the very

did I’m up concerned what is the very

did I’m up concerned what is the very first thing you did this morning thank

first thing you did this morning thank

first thing you did this morning thank you appreciate the fact that you woke up

you appreciate the fact that you woke up

you appreciate the fact that you woke up today I appreciate all the small things

today I appreciate all the small things

today I appreciate all the small things that you take for granted every single

that you take for granted every single

that you take for granted every single day I appreciate the fact that you have

day I appreciate the fact that you have

day I appreciate the fact that you have a house you can sleep in and clean water

a house you can sleep in and clean water

a house you can sleep in and clean water to drink and food to eat

to drink and food to eat

to drink and food to eat appreciate the fact that you have the

appreciate the fact that you have the

appreciate the fact that you have the opportunity to educate yourself

opportunity to educate yourself

opportunity to educate yourself appreciate the fact that if anything

appreciate the fact that if anything

appreciate the fact that if anything happens to you you’re able to go to a

happens to you you’re able to go to a

happens to you you’re able to go to a hospital and if you think that this is

hospital and if you think that this is

hospital and if you think that this is not a privilege to have in today’s world

not a privilege to have in today’s world

not a privilege to have in today’s world I am sorry but you have no idea about

I am sorry but you have no idea about

I am sorry but you have no idea about what is going on around you about 21,000

what is going on around you about 21,000

what is going on around you about 21,000 people die of hunger every single day

people die of hunger every single day

people die of hunger every single day every ten seconds a child dies 100

every ten seconds a child dies 100

every ten seconds a child dies 100 million people worldwide are harmless

million people worldwide are harmless

million people worldwide are harmless and eight hundred five million people do

and eight hundred five million people do

and eight hundred five million people do not have enough to eat so appreciate

not have enough to eat so appreciate

not have enough to eat so appreciate appreciate the simplest things around

appreciate the simplest things around

appreciate the simplest things around you appreciate the fact that you don’t

you appreciate the fact that you don’t

you appreciate the fact that you don’t have to worry about losing the warmth of

have to worry about losing the warmth of

have to worry about losing the warmth of your house I appreciate the fact that

your house I appreciate the fact that

your house I appreciate the fact that you and your loved ones are healthy I

you and your loved ones are healthy I

you and your loved ones are healthy I appreciate the fact that you know how

appreciate the fact that you know how

appreciate the fact that you know how piece looks like while other people die

piece looks like while other people die

piece looks like while other people die without knowing the meaning of the word

without knowing the meaning of the word

without knowing the meaning of the word appreciate the smell of flowers or

appreciate the smell of flowers or

appreciate the smell of flowers or appreciate a wonderful sunset that you

appreciate a wonderful sunset that you

appreciate a wonderful sunset that you may see appreciate everything that has

may see appreciate everything that has

may see appreciate everything that has always been there and you did not take a

always been there and you did not take a

always been there and you did not take a moment to truly see them by being able

moment to truly see them by being able

moment to truly see them by being able to appreciate and concentrate on the

to appreciate and concentrate on the

to appreciate and concentrate on the good side of things you’ll start

good side of things you’ll start

good side of things you’ll start thinking positively and you will see the

thinking positively and you will see the

thinking positively and you will see the difference that I have in your life

difference that I have in your life

difference that I have in your life because I promise you you are no better

because I promise you you are no better

because I promise you you are no better than the thoughts in your head and when

than the thoughts in your head and when

than the thoughts in your head and when difficult times come because they will

difficult times come because they will

difficult times come because they will and you start thinking about the future

and you start thinking about the future

and you start thinking about the future and what you’re going to do remember

and what you’re going to do remember

and what you’re going to do remember people have the tendency to worry about

people have the tendency to worry about

people have the tendency to worry about tomorrow as if it is given and negative

tomorrow as if it is given and negative

tomorrow as if it is given and negative mind will not

mind will not

mind will not we’ll give you a positive life so change

we’ll give you a positive life so change

we’ll give you a positive life so change your way of thinking and I am Telling

your way of thinking and I am Telling

your way of thinking and I am Telling You good things can and we will happen

You good things can and we will happen

You good things can and we will happen with a half-full glass

with a half-full glass

with a half-full glass let’s host a great future ahead of us

let’s host a great future ahead of us

let’s host a great future ahead of us today is going to be a good day stay

today is going to be a good day stay

today is going to be a good day stay positive

positive

positive thank you very much

thank you very much

thank you very much [Applause]

”

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