Understanding your thoughts is key to understanding your behavior, especially as your identity evolves. It's important to recognize when to speak up, when it is appropriate, and when it is necessary. Navigating uncertain times and answering these questions requires intentional self-awareness. Shifting from a negative mindset to a positive one is crucial. Speaking up in a positive manner and within a positive environment can transform not only your outlook but also your relationships. Ashley Elliott, co-author of I Used to Be _____, devised and published a theory to help individuals gain insight into their thinking patterns that prevent them from reaching success in relationships at work and home. She is a licensed counselor and coach who specializes in grief and communication. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

NOTE FROM TED: This talk contains a discussion of military operations and related injury, which some viewers may find distressing. Contents only represent the speaker’s personal views and understanding of manifestation and consciousness. We've flagged this talk because it falls outside the content guidelines TED gives TEDx organizers. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdfIn this stirring TEDx talk, Commodore Varun Singh (Retd.), a decorated Indian Navy veteran,ex-MARCOS commando, and cancer survivor shares his profound journey through war, injury, and illness—marked not only by the visible scars of battle but also by the quiet strength drawn from within. From the innocent spark of childhood ambition to don the uniform, to surviving a near-fatal encounter during counter-insurgency operations, and later confronting kidney cancer, his life narrative is a compelling reflection of duty, sacrifice, and transformation.With rare vulnerability and insight, Commodore Singh explores how the mind copes with trauma—turning fleeting moments into lasting memories, blurring reality with mirage, and creating dialogues with the unknown. He unravels how the memory can distort, protect, or haunt us—and how a simple smile, even when forced, can become the first step toward healing. Join us as he unravels the mysteries of memory, and invites us to reimagine pain not as a burden, but as a bridge to resilience. Indian Naval Officer, Commissioned in 1993 and presently tenanting the appointment of Secretary, Services Sports Control Board. Battle casualty and cancer warrior. Wife, Reena is MABEd and is the house administrator. Daughter is MA, MBA and working for tech startup as HR executive. Son, Sarthak is pursuing MTech from IIT Delhi. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Do we genuinely possess free will, or are our actions dictated by the laws of nature? In his insightful talk, Christian List, a Professor of Philosophy at LMU, delves into the intricate debate between free will and determinism. He navigates the scientific challenges to the concept of free will, exploring everything from deterministic physics to the randomness found in quantum mechanics. List thoughtfully considers whether our ability to make choices can truly exist alongside a scientific perspective. By drawing on examples from social sciences and everyday experiences, he argues that science has not disproven free will; instead, it serves as a crucial framework for understanding human behavior.Chair and Co-Director of the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy. As a professor of philosophy at LMU Munich, Christian’s groundbreaking work explores decision theory, free will, and collective rationality.This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

While hustle culture promises success to hard-working people, this chase for success often results in constant fight or flight, hindering people from thinking about their needs and goals through limited time and energy. This speaker addresses how hustle culture can impede people’s abilities to truly understand themselves through three components: burnout, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. Lou Pavek was born in Edina, Minnesota, and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. She graduated summa cum laude from Stetson University in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. While at Stetson, she was introduced to research after serving as a Research Assistant on multiple projects with Dr. Garcia and Dr. Eskenazi in the Psychology Department. In her senior year, Lou later served as the first-ever Research Coordinator for Stetson’s Brain Fitness Academy and conducted a research project that, like this talk, studies productivity. Outside of psychology, Lou was involved in FOCUS Orientation, Student Ambassadors, and more. Since graduation, Lou has been a Research Assistant for Dr. Woods and Dr. Gullett at the University of Florida’s Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory. Lou has also volunteered as a crisis counselor, peer reviewer, and assistant at Gainesville’s Civic Media Center. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Growing up in Brazil, this speaker shares the impact that anti-queer culture and inspirational queer advocates had on their youth. From these experiences, this talk will explore the action and change led by a teenager in Brazil. Noel Vicente, a Stetson student from Brazil, advocates for queer rights and equity in education, shaped by personal experiences of discrimination in a conservative military school. He founded Mentoria Piloto, a free mentorship program helping low-income, mostly queer students from northeastern Brazil access competitive international programs with $40,000 in scholarships and now works with Volusia Pride to empower youth in queer advocacy. Through their experiences, Noel emphasizes the need for public policy reform to create safer and more inclusive educational environments for queer students, especially in light of growing anti-LGBTQ+ policies worldwide. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx