Becoming you—in a world telling you how to become yourself | Georgia Gibson | TEDxESCP London

Summary

In a world overflowing with self-improvement content, the speaker reflects on how these quick, motivational sound bites often lead to a bloated mind, rather than genuine self-growth. He reveals the power of hindsight and editing in shaping perceptions of success and warns against comparing your raw self to others' curated lives. The talk emphasizes the importance of a slow, meaningful process of becoming 'you' and suggests that real growth comes not from shortcuts but from lived experience and self-reflection. The speaker encourages focusing on long-term vision and embracing personal journeys, free from societal pressures.

Takeaways

• 😀 The world is flooded with self-improvement content, but most of it offers only short-term motivation without long-lasting impact.
• 😀 Hindsight and editing are crucial in shaping content, making the past look more presentable, but they can create unrealistic expectations for the audience.
• 😀 Social media often amplifies self-doubt by making you compare your raw, unedited life to the curated versions of others' lives.
• 😀 Consuming content is designed to make you think about yourself, not others. It's less about the creator and more about how the consumer feels about themselves.
• 😀 The concept of 'unselfish blogging' involves being personal but not too relatable, using shared emotions rather than exact situations to connect.
• 😀 Comparing yourself to others on social media can be misleading. What you see is often edited or packaged to fit a particular narrative, not an accurate representation of reality.
• 😀 Social media doesn’t evolve us to compare with everyone in the world. It makes us compare ourselves to unrealistic standards, which can be damaging.
• 😀 The best advice comes from those who know you best, not from people outside your circle. Listen to your tribe rather than seeking validation from everyone.
• 😀 In other languages, the process of becoming is nuanced, but in English, we only have one word for it, which simplifies a complex journey.
• 😀 Social media often makes us believe in fast, instant transformations, but real growth and change take time, effort, and many behind-the-scenes hours.
• 😀 The true 'art of becoming you' is about the slow, organic process of balancing being and doing, which is often ignored in today's fast-paced world of self-help.

Q & A

What does the speaker mean by 'content on the art of becoming you'?

The speaker refers to the overwhelming amount of self-improvement content available online, which promises to help people become their best selves, such as tips on financial success, healthy living, and personal relationships.

Why does the speaker compare self-improvement content to 'chocolate fingers'?

The speaker compares self-improvement content to 'chocolate fingers' to illustrate how these quick, consumable pieces of advice feel satisfying in the moment but leave you feeling worse afterwards, much like the temporary pleasure of eating a sugary snack.

What is the significance of hindsight and an editor in creating content?

The speaker highlights that successful content creators often have the advantage of hindsight and editing. These elements allow them to present their past experiences in a way that seems insightful and inspiring, although the actual journey may not have felt that way at the time.

How does social media affect people's perception of themselves?

Social media affects how people see themselves by presenting curated, edited content that encourages comparison. This comparison often leads people to feel dissatisfied with their own lives, especially when they are in vulnerable emotional states.

What is the danger of comparing your life to someone's edited online life?

The danger is that people often compare their raw, unedited lives to the polished, edited versions they see online, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy and unrealistic expectations for their own progress.

What does 'unselfish blogging' refer to in the context of content creation?

'Unselfish blogging' refers to the balance between being personal and authentic in content creation without oversharing or becoming too relatable. It’s about allowing audiences to connect emotionally without making the content feel boring or irrelevant.

How do successful creators like Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran manage to connect with their audiences?

These creators combine hyper-detailed personal stories with universal emotions, allowing their audience to relate to their experiences even if they haven't lived the exact same situations.

What is the problem with trying to 'hack' the process of self-improvement, according to the speaker?

The speaker argues that trying to hack self-improvement leads to a false sense of instant results, when in reality, sustained success comes from years of effort, mistakes, and learning, rather than from viral shortcuts or quick transformations.

Why does the speaker suggest limiting the advice you listen to?

The speaker advises limiting the advice you take to those who truly understand you and the life you want to lead. Listening to too much advice, especially from people outside your close circle, can lead to confusion and negative outcomes.

What does the speaker say about the process of 'becoming' in the context of language?

The speaker contrasts the English word 'become' with the six verbs for 'becoming' in Spanish, pointing out that different types of change (in terms of pace, permanence, control, and positivity) require different processes. This highlights that becoming yourself is not a one-size-fits-all process and varies greatly depending on context.