TED talks we love


As psychologists working with new parents, we often recommend talks for our clients to watch. Here, we share some of our favourites.
ANGER, COMPASSION AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE STRONG
​As parents we can experience anger, even rage, in ways we may not have felt before. This is an excellent Ted Talk from a psychologist dad who recognises the impact of his anger on his family. Find out what he does about it, and about his work in prisons with some of the angriest of people. This is a good watch for all parents, not just dads.


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IN PRAISE OF SLOWNESS
​Carl Honoré wrote In Praise of Slow, which examines our compulsion to hurry and chronicles a global trend toward putting on the brakes. His second book, Under Pressure, explores the good, the bad and the ugly of modern childrearing. This talk is about his realisation that as a parent, he was wishing away time, and hurtling through life with a speed that saw him attracted to a one-minute bedtime story. When he realised that he was experiencing bedtime stories with his son as a chore, something to get through quickly so he could get back to other things, he had an epiphany. His TED talk is a wonderful reminder about the value of slowing down.
THE POWER OF VULNERABILITY
​One of our all-time favourites! Brené Brown, social researcher and well-known speaker, is funny and heartwarmingly honest. She talks about the strength in vulnerability. Brown talks about the underlying shame and fear that we all carry, that prevents us from being vulnerable and real. What makes people feel worthy of love and connection? What gives people the courage to be imperfect? Letting go of who you think you should be, and being who you are. How to let our children know they are worthy of love and belonging. These are some of the themes in Brené Brown's talk.
THE SPACE BETWEEN SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF COMPASSION
Kristen Neff is a researcher who has discovered the benefits of self-compassion on mental health. Kristen talks about self-esteem is about needing to be better than others to feel good about ourselves.
She talks about self-esteem being contingent on success and on how we look. Self-compassion is a way of accepting ourselves as we are, and treating ourselves with kindness versus harsh self-judgement. Accepting that we are all perfectly imperfect. ALL of us.
THE POWER OF INTROVERTS
Susan Cain, author of the book Quiet: The power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking, discusses the difference between introverts and extraverts. School and work environments are typically designed for extraverted people. With a third to half of the population being introverts, she makes a case for the creativity and transformative leadership of introverts. Needing solitude is not an affliction. If you or your child is an introvert, Susan Cain's talk could help you to understand and value this temperament.