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How to Find Your Purpose (W/ Yara Shahidi) | How to Be a Better Human | TED

“Optimism is not what exists in a vacuum on your best day, but how you’re pulling through for yourself on your worst days,” says actress Yara Shahidi. Yara is known for her sitcoms Black-ish and its spinoff Grown-ish. She shares what she learned from creating a “Hard Yes” list, why she chose to attend Harvard…

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6 months ago

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“Optimism is not what exists in a vacuum on your best day, but how you’re pulling through for yourself on your worst days,” says actress Yara Shahidi. Yara is known for her sitcoms Black-ish and its spinoff Grown-ish. She shares what she learned from creating a “Hard Yes” list, why she chose to attend Harvard after acting, and why she thinks anyone can find their highest order if they pay attention.

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The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.

TED videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with the TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a request at

#TED #TEDTalks #HowToBeABetterHuman

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18 Comments

18 Comments

  1. @mahima2007-mj

    April 15, 2026 at 3:03 pm

    Ted you’re helping us alot😭🫶🏻

    Reply

  2. @ioanarcalean7870

    April 15, 2026 at 3:24 pm

    Foarte fain.
    De ce acestea nu se traduc și în limba română?

    Reply

    • @elin_

      April 15, 2026 at 4:01 pm

      Not enough people speak romanian, just like they don’t speak my language.

      Reply

    • @ioanarcalean7870

      April 16, 2026 at 12:14 am

      ​@elin_😢

      Reply

  3. @madsisak

    April 15, 2026 at 3:44 pm

    Zzzzz

    Reply

  4. @elin_

    April 15, 2026 at 3:58 pm

    How to be a better human? Abandon abrahamic religions.

    Reply

  5. @tlwest1

    April 15, 2026 at 4:14 pm

    I thought this was about finding your purpose

    Reply

    • @elin_

      April 15, 2026 at 4:20 pm

      Nah just rambling from a celebrity

      Reply

  6. @elin_

    April 15, 2026 at 4:20 pm

    This is so cringely tiring.. Yet another video saying the exact same thing as the others have done in the past.

    Also very easy for a celebrity without severe mental illness to sit and talk about optimism…

    Reply

  7. @PharaohGomez

    April 15, 2026 at 5:15 pm

    She’s so smart and yet so elegant and beautiful wow 🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵😍😍😍😍😍😍

    Reply

  8. @siiiomaiiii

    April 15, 2026 at 7:49 pm

    I want her to keep talking, she has such insight, I want her wisdom to never end

    Reply

  9. @Gharial555

    April 15, 2026 at 8:11 pm

    A highly successful actor decided that everyone else needed to hear their opinion on why we should all be happier about our sh*tty lives? Stfu😂

    Reply

  10. @BehavioralCapital-c1m

    April 15, 2026 at 9:38 pm

    I’ve recapped Yara’s ideas into short, actionable steps for you to follow below.

    1. Follow multiple interests → don’t force a single path.
    2. Replace “either/or” with “and.”
    3. Act before you feel fully certain.
    4. Choose optimism → it leads to action.
    5. Stay curious → you don’t know enough to limit yourself.
    6. Build a “Hard Yes List” (what truly brings you joy).
    7. Define your “Highest Order” (core drivers of your life).
    8. Go deep on what matters → ignore pressure to comment on everything.
    9. Allow yourself to be bad at new things.
    10. Redefine yourself continuously → purpose evolves.

    Reply

    • @pashaveres4629

      April 15, 2026 at 11:58 pm

      Nice! Thanks. 🙂
      Wondering “How does this have only 2 likes??”
      Oh, it was posted two hours ago.

      Reply

    • @BehavioralCapital-c1m

      April 16, 2026 at 1:08 am

      @pashaveres4629 Appreciate it! Yeah, still fresh 😄

      Reply

    • @DivorceThrivers

      April 16, 2026 at 6:15 am

      🎉

      Reply

    • @BehavioralCapital-c1m

      April 16, 2026 at 2:26 pm

      @DivorceThrivers

      Reply

  11. @miriamkromah2983

    April 16, 2026 at 9:25 am

    This similar to something I want to build and am building. This is a sign that my idea is possible and will actually happen.

    Reply

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People & Blogs

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October 4, 2026

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#TED #TEDTalks #Books #TEDx

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3 days ago

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The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.

Watch more:

TED videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with the TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a request at

#TED #TEDTalks #Music #Performance

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4 days ago

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