These 5 TED Talks Will Make You Want to Get This Bread

“I never feel discouraged!” said no one ever. You might feel on top of the world on your best days, but everybody has moments of disconcertion. Consistently operating at full steam is not sustainable, and there’s no shame in the occasional negative thought. In fact, we recently learned that we might all be experiencing connectivity fatigue, which doesn’t help (but here’s how to get over it). 

Sometimes, all you need is a little push to help you become the greatest version of yourself. And it can simply be a matter of hearing the right thing—positive affirmations can do wonders for the brain, especially in the form of motivational stories from aspirational authority figures. A powerful statement delivered by a successful, charismatic individual can provide that jolt of stimulation we all periodically require to get us off our derriere and shift our mindsets. 

You know, like having a personal hype man. 

With that in mind, we rounded up five TED talks that’ll push you to turn things around, because powering through—or better, achieving new heights—can be a matter of hearing game-changing advice.

Why it’s awesome:

Because everyone can draw valuable life and entrepreneurial lessons from a corporate entity’s shortcomings.

Why you should listen:

Knut Haanaes is a biz strategist who’s seen first-hand companies succeed and fail. His simple explanation turns into a learning moment as he shares how businesses can avoid a downfall and the reasons these concepts also apply to people. He touches on the traps we often subconsciously create for ourselves and how our fear of change can hold us back. It’s probably everything you need to hear.

Why it’s awesome:

This talk is a dive into the psychology of positivity, offering great insight into the power of the mind.

Why you should listen:

Social psychologist Alison Ledgerwood chats about how the brain sees gains and losses, and how shifting our perception can help us shed all that negativity we can unwillingly harbor. She lists easy, straightforward tips we can apply to train our minds to think about the upside versus the downside of things. Sayonara, negative thoughts.

Why it’s awesome:

Adam Grant gave the Warby Parker guys a pass on investing in the company and lived to tell the tale. Now he shares the wisdom he’s gained through that unfortunate decision.

Why you should listen:

Original thinkers are the world’s visionaries and entrepreneurs. We all secretly want to be like them (don’t lie). Grant explains the common habits these archetypes share so you can either finally be validated or learn how to become creative. Spoiler alert: It might also make you feel better about your procrastination habit.

Why it’s awesome:

Not only will it make you feel better about having been rejected a few times, but it’ll also make you see how those experiences are actually pivotal and can help you achieve success.

Why you should listen: 

What might start as a series of sheepish tales of self-defeat turns into inspiring stories of overcoming the burden of other people’s perceptions and not letting them dictate our fate. Jia Jiang imparts universal lessons of resilience, which he experienced while willingly putting himself in scary, discouraging situations. Brave soul.

Why it’s awesome:

We’re all super stressed out and told that stress is the enemy. But now there’s a twist.

Why you should listen: 

Embracing stress sounds like something, well, stressful, but psychologist Kelly McGonigal explains why doing so can actually make us better people. Watch to understand how your mild anxiety can help you be more motivated, increasingly compassionate and productive, plus enable you to be better equipped to face life’s challenges—you just have to learn how to channel it. Who’s ready to excel at stress?!