The only time I used to watch Ted Talks was in school. Teachers would show them as either ways around teaching for the day, or to actually teach their lesson that they just felt this person explained better. Needless to say, if my teacher told me that we were watching one that day, I was excited. I have compiled together a list of Ted Talks that I believe are worth watching. They made a difference in my life and I am hoping they make a difference in yours too!

1. Amy Cuddy: Your body language shapes who you are.

   I was shown this gem in a communications class my sophomore year of college. This is my absolute favorite Ted Talk I have ever watched. I was so moved by her story because I felt it was similar to my own. Feeling like you’ve made it to a place where you don’t belong. When she acknowledges triumph I felt myself crying full blown in class, because I knew I could get to that point eventually too. “Fake it until you become it.” (I refrained from making a huge paragraph about this just so you could watch the whole thing and me not give a lot of it away.)

2. Shonda Rhimes: My year of saying yes

   Writer and producer of multiple hit tv shows such as Scandal, How To Get Away With Murder and Greys Anatomy, Shonda gives an inspirational speech about finding your way back to yourself once you have become burnt out. This is a much more recent Ted Talk that I discovered on my own time. I was searching for something to pick me up after a long day of not being home. Shonda taught me that I need to find time for the love in my life in order to truly be successful and happy.

3. Carol Dweck: The power of believing you can improve

   Last but not least, this gem is an essential watch when you are feeling like you are a failure. At one point, when I came back from my one failed semester at the University of Tennessee, I would lay in my bed some days and just cry. I asked my mother on multiple equations why I was a failure. I wanted to know why I was such a terrible person, that I couldn’t even hold onto my own dream. This Ted Talk showed me that there is substantial power in wanting to improve yourself. It made me see that in order to improve I had to first believe that it was possible. My failures did not define me. As long as I believed that I could improve, I would. And I did.

And there you have it! Three inspirational Ted Talks that changed my life. I think everyone could really benefit from watching them.

Have any Ted Talks you believe I should watch? I would love your suggestions below!