You Will Miss out on 99% of Life and it’s Alright | Ashish Ranjan | TEDxYouth@RusselStreet

Summary

In this compelling talk, the speaker reflects on a decade-long journey driven by ambition and the sacrifices made for success, particularly in preparing for a position at the Indian Space Research Organization. He challenges the notion of living without regrets, arguing that every choice comes with its own set of regrets. By highlighting the inevitability of missed opportunities and the anxiety of decision-making, he encourages listeners to embrace their choices and the regrets that accompany them. Ultimately, he underscores the importance of living authentically, making deliberate choices, and recognizing that life’s insignificance does not diminish its importance.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The speaker spent three years preparing for a competitive exam to secure a job at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
• ⏳ Sacrifices made during this preparation included sleep, social time, and personal luxuries.
• 😟 The pressure of competitive exams often leads individuals to sacrifice much in pursuit of success.
• 🤔 The fear of missing out (FOMO) can paralyze decision-making and increase anxiety.
• 🔄 Life is filled with infinite choices, but time is limited; we can't do everything.
• 💔 Regrets are inevitable, and it's important to choose which regrets we can live with.
• 🌍 With 7.75 billion people in the world, it's impossible to meet everyone, highlighting the importance of making choices.
• 🎥 Content creation and consumption are overwhelming, with vast amounts of new content available daily.
• 🚀 Instead of worrying about missed opportunities, focus on fully living the moments you've chosen.
• 💬 The speaker emphasizes that it's not about living without regrets, but about choosing the regrets that align with your values and aspirations.

Q & A

What job did the speaker prepare for, and how long did the preparation take?

The speaker prepared for a position at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for three years.

What sacrifices did the speaker make during their preparation?

The speaker sacrificed sleep, good food, time with friends and family, and other luxuries in life.

What is the main theme discussed in the talk regarding regrets?

The speaker emphasizes that everyone will experience regrets in life, and instead of trying to live without any regrets, one should choose which regrets to accept.

How does the speaker relate FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) to decision-making?

The speaker explains that FOMO can lead to anxiety and indecision, causing individuals to panic over missing out on various opportunities, which can paralyze their ability to make choices.

What analogy does the speaker use to describe time, and why is it significant?

The speaker describes time as a dimension we cannot control, highlighting that it is limited and that we face an infinite number of choices, leading to potential regrets.

How does the speaker illustrate the abundance of content available in today's digital age?

The speaker mentions that 30,000 hours of content are created on YouTube every hour, emphasizing that it’s impossible to consume all that content, just as it’s impossible to experience everything life has to offer.

What regrets does the speaker mention they have personally?

The speaker regrets not spending more time with friends, not celebrating with their family after career achievements, not traveling enough, and missing out on personal relationships.

What advice does the speaker offer regarding making life choices?

The speaker advises to make choices that resonate with one's true desires and to accept the inevitable regrets that come with those choices, rather than living with excuses.

What does the speaker mean by 'pick your regret'?

The phrase 'pick your regret' means to consciously choose which regrets are acceptable to live with based on your values and priorities, rather than being paralyzed by the fear of missing out on everything.

How does the speaker view the idea of living without regrets?

The speaker argues that the notion of living a life completely free of regrets is unrealistic; instead, they suggest that we can only choose the regrets that we can accept.