People & Blogs
Bad days aren’t a detour— they mean you’re right on track #TEDTalks
One month before the Rio Olympics, runner Alexi Pappas couldn’t hit her splits in practice. She was begging her watch to change its mind. Then her coach told her to take it off — and shared the best advice she’s ever received. That single piece of wisdom led her to break a national record and…
@slick8086
August 16, 2026 at 3:09 pm
“you’re supposed to” according to who?
@cheyennemiller6814
August 17, 2026 at 2:49 pm
@slick8086 I believe it’s more of a mindset “hey it’s okay I feel meh/bad today, because I have goals and they’re just not for today!” It’s supposed to help us in those moments that are not “good”. I wish I would’ve seen this after my first son, I had terrible PPD and this is helpful for people who maybe are “blocked” mentally/spiritually/ etc. (apply in your life where needed/wanted). However Ying-Yang / balance in all, the unconscious will remain until it becomes conscious.
@TrueAlchemist444
August 16, 2026 at 3:13 pm
This makes sense ❤
@Avarice7D
August 16, 2026 at 3:17 pm
Her. It’s definitely OK to say things that are based on your own experiences . I don’t believe that you need to quote or reference everything you say everytime you say something. Especially if what you are saying sounds reasonable, is trying to help people and is based on personal experience.
@Avarice7D
August 16, 2026 at 3:18 pm
@slick8086
@sicosico3426
August 16, 2026 at 3:55 pm
Baseless talk 💤
@jf-jx4ym
August 16, 2026 at 4:03 pm
Cant dial back bad circumstances, PTSD and incompetence of systems.
@PjMardesic
August 16, 2026 at 5:29 pm
The law of equal opposites
@drumbum3.142
August 16, 2026 at 5:33 pm
Bad Situations and Circumstances are Bad. Period. But one can (Sometimes) find Diamonds in the Rough.
@SethBurden
August 16, 2026 at 7:26 pm
How to tell when someone lives in a bubble.
@ianrackson5749
August 16, 2026 at 11:29 pm
I don’t think I’ve become annoyed so quickly in my life. Can’t stand when people list their accomplishments… worst part is she uses the word “even” like she’s definitively amazing
@davidchelepyan5233
August 17, 2026 at 12:50 am
This is a useful breakdown. How about when you’re just trying to make a living, what are the ratios then?
@TheCritterFixer
August 17, 2026 at 12:58 am
Where did she come up with the ratio stuff?
@142vids
August 17, 2026 at 3:58 am
Bla bla bla “just do it” method old as days. Doesn’t work like that.
@AmirAxioms
August 17, 2026 at 4:09 am
And I was worried about being better at my TED talk!
@paulo1940
August 17, 2026 at 4:48 am
I am sorry to hear plenty of you were watching to get some insight and hope about your difficult situations. I suppose you already know that isn’t particularly what she is talking about though.
From what I am getting, the scope of her advice best fits skill learning where you ain’t always progressing or even maintaining progress, but falling behind at no fault of your own. This is where the advice comes alive; she needed to acknowledge that progress isn’t linear, and that setbacks are part of your journey, not an indicator of failure. Without that, her mind would self-sabotage and prevent her from truly pushing herself to give it all she has regardless of where she lands on the time (she was timing her laps as a runner). Hence, instead of focusing on being your best, focus on trying your best, trusting that this messy progress chart will soon enough go up again (ofc, she had a coach, so she wasn’t being wishful – She got gold yall)
So, maybe it isn’t related to some of your crises, but maybe you could still take a word of encouragement and know that even if things aren’t looking their best, you could still try your best hoping that you will be digging yourself out of this difficult situation over whatever time period it will take to resolve.
I hope this clears out some of yalls frustration and that you have learnt something valuable. Peace✌️
@nonn-x7t
August 17, 2026 at 6:46 am
It’s very good
@schrabbelback
August 17, 2026 at 10:36 am
I feel too okay most of the time. What now?
@thatguywiththestache
August 17, 2026 at 3:44 pm
the way this was presented was incredibly tone deaf but there’s some truth, *to some degree* in the mind over matter mantra.
@nobody_8_1
August 17, 2026 at 3:47 pm
Excellent.
@The_Tellye
August 18, 2026 at 1:39 am
depends on the situation tho