The myth of self-discovery: Emily Warren at TEDxClaremontColleges

Summary

Emily Warren, a PhD student in psychology, shares her unconventional journey into graduate school, driven by the desire to 'find herself.' She challenges the notion of self-discovery, arguing it's a myth that implies we are lost. Instead, Warren advocates for grit and tolerance, encouraging students to embrace their current path and use experiences to build self-awareness. She inspires listeners to engage fully in life, suggesting that this approach will lead to a more fulfilling and grounded existence.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Emily Warren, a PhD student in psychology, shares her unconventional journey into graduate school, driven by a desire to find a path that would lead her anywhere but back to her parents' home.
• 🧠 The concept of 'finding oneself' is challenged as a myth that can lead to treating the present as merely a placeholder for future discovery.
• 🔍 Warren emphasizes the importance of being present and awake in life, rather than being preoccupied with future goals or the search for a latent self.
• 🏃‍♀️ She discusses the tendency of people to jump between jobs, majors, and relationships in a restless search for self-discovery, which can lead to a lack of self-awareness.
• 🌲 Warren recounts a personal hiking experience where she was so focused on her life path that she missed the experience of the hike itself.
• 💪 The importance of 'grit', a concept by Dr. Angela Duckworth, is highlighted as a key trait for perseverance and humility in the face of challenges.
• 🤔 Tolerance is presented as a necessary skill, allowing for uncertainty in life's journey and confidence in one's ability to navigate it.
• 🧭 She encourages students to embrace the process of self-discovery through experiences and to build self-awareness, which she believes will guide them truer than any preconceived path.
• 📈 Warren suggests using experiences as a way to collect data on oneself, advocating for a research mindset towards personal growth.
• 🌟 The speech concludes with a call to action for students to engage fully in their experiences, using them to build a deeper understanding of themselves.

Q & A

Who is the speaker of the transcript?

The speaker is Emily Warren, a PhD student in psychology.

What did Emily Warren do that most people would not advise?

Emily applied to graduate school on a whim.

What was Emily's initial expectation when she decided to go back to school?

She expected to find a missing part of herself by being back in school and on a path that led anywhere but moving back with her parents.

Did Emily find the missing part of herself during her graduate studies?

No, she did not find a missing magical part of herself, but she learned something more important and valuable.

What is the main question Emily poses to the audience?

Emily asks the audience, 'How many of you have ever felt the need to find yourselves?'

What does Emily believe about the concept of 'finding yourself'?

Emily believes that 'finding yourself' is a myth and that believing in it does us a disservice because it implies that we are lost.

How does the myth of 'finding yourself' manifest in people's lives according to Emily?

It manifests in people jumping around between jobs, majors, relationships, and visions of who they are meant to be, constantly looking outward instead of inward.

What is the 'wilderness loop' mentioned by Emily?

The 'wilderness loop' is a beautiful wilderness trail in Claremont where Emily went on a hike with a friend.

What did Emily learn from her hike on the 'wilderness loop'?

Emily learned that if she keeps jumping around out of fear and self-doubt, she will never land and gain footing in her experiences.

What are the skills Emily suggests are critical for taking charge of who you are and where you're going?

Emily suggests that grit and tolerance are critical skills for taking charge of one's life.

What is 'grit' and who developed this concept?

Grit is the tenacity to keep going in the face of challenge and the humility to admit that things are hard. It was developed by Dr. Angela Duckworth from the University of Pennsylvania.

What advice does Emily give to people struggling with decisions or worrying about being on the right path?

Emily advises people to get their grit on, be tolerant with themselves, and let go of the expectation to find themselves or figure things out perfectly.

What does Emily hope for the audience in terms of their experiences?

Emily hopes that the audience allows themselves to be fully engaged in their experiences, using them to collect data on themselves and build their capacity for self-awareness.