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Christina Costa: How gratitude rewires your brain | TED

When a psychologist who studies well-being ends up with a brain tumor, what happens when she puts her own research into practice? Christina Costa goes beyond the “fight” narrative of cancer — or any formidable personal journey — to highlight the brain benefits of an empowering alternative to fostering resilience in the face of unexpected…

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When a psychologist who studies well-being ends up with a brain tumor, what happens when she puts her own research into practice? Christina Costa goes beyond the “fight” narrative of cancer — or any formidable personal journey — to highlight the brain benefits of an empowering alternative to fostering resilience in the face of unexpected challenges: gratitude.

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62 Comments

62 Comments

  1. Kyle Jordan

    February 13, 2022 at 8:46 pm

    This talk is a really beautiful reminder to stay grateful even in the hardest of circumstances. Made me tear up!

  2. Majd shoots 📸

    February 13, 2022 at 8:48 pm

    A beautiful speech….
    But the question is gratitude to whom?
    Why even such experience can’t get people back to God?
    Everything this lovely lady said is right on point, but missing the strongest part of this beautiful puzzle and that is gratitude to God that we all going to meet one day
    May God lead us all to him before our life ends 🤲🏼

  3. jrromman

    February 13, 2022 at 8:56 pm

    Thank you for sharing your story. What a great message and scientific analysis. All of us watching this are kissing your brain in appreciation for your video.

  4. Monica Jean

    February 13, 2022 at 8:57 pm

    Made me tear up. My cousin went through brain cancer at 19. Gratitude is everything no matter the condition. Love is such a more powerful energy to heal your self with. God bless you on your journey🙏🏼💖😇

  5. Carlos C

    February 13, 2022 at 9:00 pm

    Thank you.
    Thank you Christina.

  6. José Meireles

    February 13, 2022 at 9:22 pm

    Gratidão, Gratidão e Gratidão! por estar em paz com o corpo! 4779

  7. Peter Wong

    February 13, 2022 at 9:26 pm

    Thank you for sharing, Dr. Costa.

  8. Marquis de Hoto

    February 13, 2022 at 9:34 pm

    So many things in life are like salt in the soup…. you only realise once its gone…. and than you become grateful.

    a lot of the times

  9. Alexandra Gnoske Davila

    February 13, 2022 at 10:00 pm

    I grew up loving nature and eventually considered myself an environmentalist – it got exhausting when everyone around me always framed everything as a fight. Eventually I stopped putting myself around people like that and found those who framed things as solutions and challenges. They’re usually pretty quiet, and busy, literally finding solutions and implementing them! Thank you for sharing this view point – more people need to hear about it!

  10. tiefensucht

    February 13, 2022 at 10:03 pm

    I’m so thankful that I can write this comment.

  11. Kobe Beefy|Leather Craft

    February 13, 2022 at 10:06 pm

    In everything give thanks.

  12. old lifter

    February 13, 2022 at 10:21 pm

    Disappointed TED censors speakers who obey their guidelines

  13. Jatin Nandwani

    February 13, 2022 at 10:52 pm

    Thanks so much

  14. Random

    February 13, 2022 at 11:04 pm

    She is beautiful❤️

  15. atenas80525

    February 13, 2022 at 11:09 pm

    Inspiring personal story
    BUT – at “attitude of gratitude” has been a Judeo-Christian prayer practice for thousands of years
    Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (and dozens more in the Bible)
    To be sure, many Christians (including this one) struggle with gratitude and don’t do it enough as we should
    Yet it still abounds throughout the Bible
    Ironic that one had to get a PhD to learn something that should be taught in Sunday School

    • селестика 𓃚:*111

      February 13, 2022 at 11:13 pm

      but she didn’t have to get a PHD to do so? she literally mentions multiple times that it was a personal value of hers, that she told her middle school students to kiss their brain as a form of gratitude?

  16. Dodo Nodens🐟

    February 13, 2022 at 11:12 pm

    Instead of fighting. Try negotiating and accepting your computer virus hat has been implanted into you by data imbalance and overload.

  17. Ligia Sommers

    February 13, 2022 at 11:24 pm

    🙏🏻❤️‍🩹✨🌹

  18. Lex M

    February 13, 2022 at 11:57 pm

    I giggled a little when she said she was grateful for nurses who got the IVs in first try, I love how she managed to connect us with her experience and not only that recognize the lightness in those moments as well. Showing that she’s living and prospering not waiting to do so. So powerful and beautiful she even regarded all sides of feelings during moments like this or huge feelings. Totally a work of art 🙂

  19. Surferant666

    February 13, 2022 at 11:59 pm

    Why does excessive melanin stunt the hypothalamus and pituatory?
    And why does excessive melanin create negative buoyancy and poor nightvision?

  20. Joseph John

    February 14, 2022 at 12:15 am

    Now, you understand why the Bible commands us to give thanks to God every time.

  21. Cindy Kurneck

    February 14, 2022 at 12:24 am

    Thank you Christina Costa. I am grateful that you took the time to share this with us. You have taught me a great deal today. <3

  22. Hunter

    February 14, 2022 at 12:29 am

    VERY THAT!

  23. Padmavathi Rao

    February 14, 2022 at 12:30 am

    Loved your talk and the attitude of gratitude. Stay blessed and I hope more and more people can see and learn from you.

  24. _ drysubmarino

    February 14, 2022 at 12:39 am

    Psychedelics to elevate BDNF. Psychoplastigens open therapeutic window.

  25. Henry Lang

    February 14, 2022 at 12:39 am

    I knew gratitude improved lives, but I never knew it could change lives that. Kiss your own brains lads!

  26. ✿Shahrezad Nor💜 Mohammadiy

    February 14, 2022 at 9:47 am

    أصحاب السعادة…
    حضرات السيدات والسادة..
    🟢 لقد تعلمنا من تجاربنا الأخيرة ما يحدث من إلحاق الضرر بالرفاهية في كل مكان

    إذا ضعف النظام المالي في بلد واحد، وإذا أصيب شخص واحد بالإنفلونزا فسيعرض ذلك الجميع للخطر،

    وإذا سعى بلد واحد وراء امتلاك السلاح النووي فسيزداد خطر وقوع هجوم نووي بالنسبة لكل الدول،

    وعندما يمارس المتطرفون العنف في منطقة جبلية واحدة سيعرض ذلك الناس من وراء البحار للخطر.

    أنقذ شعبنا!.

    أنقذ كوكبنا 🌎🌏🌍 !!!.

    بصحة جيدة دائما!

    أشكرك.
    😀🤭🤭.

    .

  27. Maybe You're Right😀

    February 14, 2022 at 9:53 am

    😀
    👍
    Yes | TED🤗

    and yes-
    MAYBE YOU’RE RIGHT 👍!
    YES 👍
    👍
    # Cop 26
    SAVE OUR PLANET 🌏🌍🌎!

    👍

    ” we are talked a lot about, but we are not listened to ” -why?
    😀

    Thank you.
    😀😀

  28. kathika ❤

    February 14, 2022 at 10:04 am

    Gratitude is something that gives me power to live every day happily 😊

  29. Sanchita Dayal

    February 14, 2022 at 11:15 am

    Thank you Christina! You are an inspiration to many…may God bless you and keep u in His care.

  30. Michael James

    February 14, 2022 at 12:15 pm

    I am grateful to hear your story. God bless you.

  31. Ho pe

    February 14, 2022 at 1:14 pm

    If you think about it, it proves the principal of some religions to be true, such as Buddhism. Fun and inspiring speech and thank you for sharing!

  32. alya sahira decoration

    February 14, 2022 at 1:29 pm

    Sangat menakjubkan

  33. Justine A

    February 14, 2022 at 1:35 pm

    This is definitely a great Ted Talk and will deserve more views! Wonderful!

  34. FunTime!

    February 14, 2022 at 2:24 pm

    Epic!!!

  35. InMaTeofDeath

    February 14, 2022 at 2:36 pm

    Favorite part of these comments is the number of folks expressing gratitude without feeling any need to give it to a god. Nice to see folks know the world is spectacular enough without needing there to be fairies beneath the garden.

  36. An American Muslim

    February 14, 2022 at 2:49 pm

    Gratitude–the cornerstone of Islamic belief….subhanAllah….Dear you are being led, through science to truth. Inshallah you get there 🙂

  37. Mya Ingram

    February 14, 2022 at 3:02 pm

    So beautiful and inspirational 🌸

  38. Aletto Deanera

    February 14, 2022 at 3:29 pm

    ❤️❤️❤️

  39. theBellIsTolling

    February 14, 2022 at 3:34 pm

    I taught high school and every Friday the first 15 minutes of class were spent on gratitude. In their notebooks they had a section for gratitude and they would write five things that occurred that week or that they felt that week, for which they were grateful. Then we went around the room and everyone shared one. I asked them to save their gratitude lists put them in their sock drawers and look at them again in 10 years. I hope that they did it.

  40. theBellIsTolling

    February 14, 2022 at 3:38 pm

    this was a great way to start my day. Keep thriving!

  41. Ghada Chalghoumi

    February 14, 2022 at 4:41 pm

    ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
    Thank you for sharing your story. God bless you 🙏

  42. _ Herkhiles

    February 14, 2022 at 7:56 pm

    🙏🏽❤️

  43. Elham Farhang

    February 14, 2022 at 8:12 pm

    I am grateful for watching this inspiring talk ☺️
    Thank you Christina😍

  44. mmadineedi

    February 14, 2022 at 8:33 pm

    You are a superb human being and you will be a resilient person that I could quote refer my patients to learn from you! My positive thoughts for your well being!

  45. Rafael Edwards

    February 14, 2022 at 8:47 pm

    wonderful experience, reflection and testimonial….Thank you, thank you, thank you….. a couple of years ago I realized that thankfulness and gratitude are a different sort of emotional experience, with the capacity to really change my life. I try to make it a practice every day….

  46. atenas80525

    February 14, 2022 at 8:56 pm

    QUESTION – can gratitude actually be viewed on various scans? Can we see differences in the brains of grateful people?
    I had to watch this twice – based on the title and speaker credentials, I was hoping to see some analytical, quantitative measurements – is that possible?

  47. Harry Pearle

    February 15, 2022 at 12:57 am

    Top TED Lesson 4Change. How much can we do with our limited BRAIN-POWER? No limit
    Thank you much. Refuah Shalayma, (complete recovery, in Hebrew)

  48. Ruinp Thama Fuanrde ye Choi fa

    February 15, 2022 at 4:11 am

    It has come to a point that helping hands couldn’t save a permanently damaged brain with the mix-ups of the fallible thoughts.

  49. Malcolm Humes

    February 15, 2022 at 6:18 am

    Im greatful that you shared this with us, greatful that TED gave you a platform to do so and greatful that the universe is so wonderfully ironic ♡

  50. 劉若田

    February 15, 2022 at 9:37 am

    thx for your sharing, wish you a good life.

  51. nabil abdo

    February 15, 2022 at 12:34 pm

    God with you

  52. AN-NA Studio Arquitectura

    February 15, 2022 at 2:26 pm

    So inspiring ❤️ Thank you

  53. Jaci N

    February 15, 2022 at 3:24 pm

    Kissing it now and feeling gratitude for you sharing your story.

  54. Paddy Whack

    February 15, 2022 at 11:13 pm

    I am being treated for my 4th cancer since 2011. I always thank the receptionists, the weigh-in nurse, the HaemOnc nurses, the techs, and the doctors who are just as Christina describes them: smart, caring, competent, humorous. I am not religious, but these folks are my angels. They have my undying trust, thanks, and GRATITUDE.

  55. Melissa Megala

    February 15, 2022 at 11:49 pm

    OMG QUEEN?! i found u on tiktok! and then got this notif! i’ve known u for foreverrrr

  56. Micaela Rodrigues

    February 15, 2022 at 11:56 pm

    Thank you for shared your story ❤️🙏 kisses from Brazil

  57. ed stoffregen

    February 16, 2022 at 12:19 am

    My 17 your niece was diagnosed with a brain tumor. It is good to hear a way to channel your energy in a positive way through life’s trials.

  58. D R

    February 16, 2022 at 1:00 am

    This is why it is so important to have empathetic health professionals, it is hard to feel gratitude when you feel like things are being done to you rather than feeling you are being cared for.

  59. Brian Waite

    February 16, 2022 at 3:08 am

    Gratitude is a powerful force! I have spent the last several years focusing on all the great things going on in my life. (Daily) gratitude and thanksgiving has changed my life. I have spend at least 20 years of my life on depression medication. I no longer take these kinds of drugs. Life is precious and God is so faithful to help us move forward to a new and compelling future.

  60. Henry Chang

    February 16, 2022 at 4:34 pm

    I could really feel your gratitude towards the medical team. What a beautiful and important message that you shared with people!
    I’m grateful for the message that you brought to me, and thank you so much 🙏❤️

  61. Susan Clare

    February 16, 2022 at 8:26 pm

    Wow, I am so grateful for your talk, it is profoundly inspiring. I am kissing my brain and sending a kiss to yours.

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