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Let Curiosity Lead | Yara Shahidi | TED

Don’t second-guess what “distracts” you, says actor-producer Yara Shahidi; that’s your curiosity coming through. The star of hit shows like “black-ish” and “grown-ish” tells how she learned to spot clues to her own future — and how you can, too. If you love watching TED Talks like this one, become a TED Member to support…

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Don’t second-guess what “distracts” you, says actor-producer Yara Shahidi; that’s your curiosity coming through. The star of hit shows like “black-ish” and “grown-ish” tells how she learned to spot clues to her own future — and how you can, too.

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#TED #TEDTalks #curiosity

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78 Comments

78 Comments

  1. @sauravakaprophet

    January 16, 2024 at 10:59 am

    Nas’s cousin, Queen 👸 Yara

  2. @shakilaji5570

    January 16, 2024 at 11:01 am

    Oh, I like it😊😊😊😊😊😊

  3. @fairking4689

    January 16, 2024 at 11:01 am

    Really inspiring confidence❤

  4. @shakilaji5570

    January 16, 2024 at 11:01 am

    Her cloth is outstanding❤😊😊😊😊❤😊❤

  5. @crxlsvanny

    January 16, 2024 at 11:03 am

    Yara is my crush

  6. @tinamylove3223

    January 16, 2024 at 11:15 am

    I’m a junior in high school. People look at me strangely when I say that I wish I could go to school forever. You put my thoughts into beautiful words ❤

    • @myparceltape1169

      January 16, 2024 at 1:35 pm

      At university a man was pointed out to me and described as a ‘perpetual student ‘.

    • @devindozier4043

      January 16, 2024 at 3:41 pm

      If you enjoy learning go for it! Nothing wrong with a hungry curiosity:)

  7. @FindingLauraC

    January 16, 2024 at 11:18 am

    Letting curiosity lead.

  8. @AlhadiSeneen

    January 16, 2024 at 11:27 am

    oh. you left me speechless

  9. @1NicolaPratt

    January 16, 2024 at 12:03 pm

    Inspired what a beautiful talk, with a lot of food for thought that I need to spend some time digesting. Thank you for encouraging me to explore my passions ❤ God bless you 🙏🏾

  10. @sgarrita2561

    January 16, 2024 at 12:03 pm

    I am nearly 60 yo first gen American, upper middle class never married, white woman —-seemingly nothing in common… however I can say personally when I’ve allowed my curiousity to lead me, I have always benefitted. When I’ve let societal norms, pressures, and obligations carry me through, while I have learned and benefitted to some degree, I have often been left empty, crushed, and broken. If we societally let curiosity lead every individual, we would be a much healthier and happier society. I applaud you Yara Shahidi!!! May you lead and thrive!!!

  11. @lauragill5121

    January 16, 2024 at 12:16 pm

    I’ve always had a wide variety of passions, struggled with this in college myself!! I’m an older white woman, but I am totally cheering for you and your generation ❤❤❤❤❤❤. My son, his partner, my nieces and nephews…. And myself! Keep asking questions and learning new stuff FOREVER!!

  12. @dameanvil

    January 16, 2024 at 12:25 pm

    00:00 🌍 The speaker reflects on the expansive imagination of childhood and laments the narrowing focus in adulthood, emphasizing the need for imagination in the present world.
    1:14 🧠 In today’s world, imagination is crucial for envisioning possibilities and addressing challenges; curiosity is highlighted as a key tool for building new realities.
    3:30 🎓 The speaker, a Harvard alum with a television show, faced a challenge blending academic and entertainment pursuits but emphasizes the universal struggle of juggling diverse interests.
    4:21 🤷‍♂ Societal pressure often pushes individuals towards specialization, limiting exploration of multiple passions, and underestimating the value of curiosity.
    6:04 🌐 Suppression of curiosity can lead to a false sense of certainty, hindering decision-making and personal growth; the speaker advocates for embracing curiosity.
    8:37 🚀 Curiosity’s results are described as “rupture,” challenging traditional norms, and emphasizing its potential to shape new possibilities and realities.
    10:07 ✨ Historical examples show that leaders of social change often pursued their passions and curiosities outside their designated fields.
    10:13 🌈 Curiosity’s byproduct is possibility, and the speaker encourages recommitting to curiosity as a way to expand options and build new futures.

  13. @vluna8983

    January 16, 2024 at 1:49 pm

    Loved your presentation 🎉

  14. @ozy753

    January 16, 2024 at 2:29 pm

    Türkçe çeviri istiyorum

  15. @synchandu957

    January 16, 2024 at 3:08 pm

  16. @Surreal.Xpressions

    January 16, 2024 at 3:14 pm

    Huggz from Iowa and the deep mind thank you for giving the world this

  17. @HealthZo

    January 16, 2024 at 5:42 pm

    😊 0:07 ❤

  18. @ItsEvanWilson

    January 16, 2024 at 6:32 pm

    Such a great talk – this is an honest and simple reminder of how easy it is to forget being curious. This talk is exceptional as it tells us that we should continue pursing our interests that pulls gratitude closer to our hearts ❤

  19. @rominho151

    January 16, 2024 at 6:44 pm

    really ispiring

  20. @l.j.6729

    January 16, 2024 at 8:15 pm

    🎉🎉🎉🎉 profound

  21. @Chansaeraedesigns

    January 17, 2024 at 12:11 am

    This was awesome. Thank you for refocusing us on our inate curiosity

  22. @angelfaithsteven8950

    January 17, 2024 at 12:25 am

    Well👏

  23. @Kheetti

    January 17, 2024 at 12:33 am

    Yara’s intelligence and maturity is mesmerising!!!😊

  24. @chideraokoli171

    January 17, 2024 at 1:05 am

    Thank you

  25. @melmelexplores

    January 17, 2024 at 3:58 am

    Love her confidence ❤

  26. @aaliyahlinkov

    January 17, 2024 at 4:40 am

    I’m so proud, true inspiration

  27. @_BangDroid_

    January 17, 2024 at 6:06 am

    Who is this TED talk even aimed at? Are there people who don’t embrace curiosity and are just willfully ignorant … wait, what am I saying, the US exists

  28. @alexandermoody1946

    January 17, 2024 at 6:49 am

    This really sums up the importance of nurturing children in a way that emphasises the qualities of imagination.

  29. @kingkuziinmoremoney

    January 17, 2024 at 6:55 am

    SHE’S THE LOVE OF MY LIFE ❤🎉💜🦍 YARA YOUR SKIN TONE REMINDS ME OF GOLD

  30. @kingkuziinmoremoney

    January 17, 2024 at 7:05 am

    HOW POWERFUL FROM RAPTURE IS AN INTRODUCTION OF SOMETUING FRESH TO CURIOSITY IS A LIFE LINE FOR HIM 😇💐🌧

  31. @rejoicennedi

    January 17, 2024 at 7:33 am

    Felt like poetry ❤ thanks Yara

  32. @jabrianewton9520

    January 17, 2024 at 9:58 am

    This was Important

  33. @vientoalisio

    January 17, 2024 at 10:07 am

    La curiosidad fue lo que me ayudó a salir adelante en un entorno infantil desafiante en extremo. Mi curiosidad me llevó a cuestionarme y buscar respuestas en libros y toda clase de dispositivos de acceso al conocimiento. Me abrió a otros horizontes y a una vida plena en todos los sentidos.

  34. @michaelmcneil3471

    January 17, 2024 at 10:13 am

    Brilliant Well said & well put🎯🥂

  35. @kylestfurcy3532

    January 17, 2024 at 12:54 pm

    Just what I needed to hear ✨ chase your curiosity

  36. @user-br8vb9mq1p

    January 17, 2024 at 5:17 pm

    Love her.

  37. @talesep1

    January 17, 2024 at 6:35 pm

    Wow. Brilliant

  38. @kingkiwikong

    January 17, 2024 at 9:12 pm

    Kupida and Mopida would be so proud 👏🏽

  39. @Tadiwamukonza17

    January 18, 2024 at 5:40 am

    Such an important reminder, thank you Yara! ❤

  40. @user-rz4ob3gz7h

    January 18, 2024 at 9:57 am

    3:53

  41. @KiaraCarbajal

    January 18, 2024 at 10:37 am

    ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

  42. @brightcoco

    January 18, 2024 at 11:45 am

    Felt like you just entered my messy brain and decluttered my thoughts and organized them into a beautiful speech…This is exactly what I wanted to say/hear…Inspiring indeed!!

  43. @MelSpeaksMD

    January 18, 2024 at 12:17 pm

    I love this! My heart pulls me in so many directions and I’ve come to the decision that “staying in your lane” is faulty advice given by ppl who lack vision. I love that she’s carving out her own path in Hollywood and academia 🤍

  44. @nafisehlatifi7646

    January 18, 2024 at 6:12 pm

    This was an amazing reminder, and thank you thank you so much for remembering protesters in iran and reminding that all of this comes from a dream.

  45. @imaniokwuosa5549

    January 18, 2024 at 7:45 pm

    Yara, I love you, but most importantly, thank you for your work.

  46. @fionnaroma9100

    January 18, 2024 at 10:34 pm

  47. @loishawkeyz1246

    January 18, 2024 at 11:19 pm

    I was abused for being curious by my teachers in school and other people and now it’s popular abusive teachers and people suck

  48. @christinemwangi7176

    January 19, 2024 at 3:55 am

    So so good Ms. Yara, listening to your Ted from Kenya.

  49. @susanmuchirahondo6801

    January 19, 2024 at 6:48 am

    I was waiting so long for you to do a ted talk

  50. @michaelvandenheuvel317

    January 19, 2024 at 6:49 am

    Smiles all around 🥰 …

  51. @nshabeer99

    January 19, 2024 at 7:01 am

    I’m hypnotized by her choice of words!!

  52. @Schwa99ySpic3

    January 19, 2024 at 6:30 pm

    Yara 🥹 you are so beautiful in your element! This message really hit home for me. ✨🫶🏾

  53. @ftngie

    January 20, 2024 at 2:14 am

    Are these tedtalks freestyled or on a teleprompter

  54. @Kayyllaa_

    January 20, 2024 at 1:07 pm

  55. @mvo9353

    January 20, 2024 at 3:03 pm

    Am I the only one that kept thinking of the Rock when she repeated “are you sure about that?”

  56. @Scoob_455

    January 20, 2024 at 4:37 pm

    Really good TED talk, intellectually gifted, naturally gifted, God bless her🩷

  57. @nyaluv143

    January 20, 2024 at 10:29 pm

    So great !!!!

  58. @fizzabaloch6422

    January 21, 2024 at 12:52 am

    I really liked the way she has presented and talked about curiosity

  59. @monique4161

    January 21, 2024 at 2:52 am

  60. @user-fn4jg8vq2d

    January 21, 2024 at 6:23 am

    Loved your presentation

  61. @nolwazizondi1306

    January 21, 2024 at 6:36 am

    Needed to hear this! ❤

  62. @user-bv8vn9gf7l

    January 21, 2024 at 12:25 pm

    I like her from blackish

  63. @qazaleh94

    January 21, 2024 at 3:16 pm

    wow Yara … it was so great .. so proud of you and thank you

  64. @Freddiewiththevests

    January 21, 2024 at 3:57 pm

  65. @riekabinges

    January 21, 2024 at 11:28 pm

    I missed my heart surgery for this🥰

  66. @lakep7798

    January 21, 2024 at 11:45 pm

    That was just beautiful!

  67. @TheGamer.Pro_

    January 22, 2024 at 1:14 am

    Amazing

  68. @Kayyllaa_

    January 22, 2024 at 1:50 am

    All of this has been on my mind recently and it’s so refreshing to hear Yara (someone who inspires me) talking about just that!!

  69. @Sharon_Njoki.M

    January 22, 2024 at 2:12 am

    Recommitting to curiosity 🤝🏽

  70. @domlover

    January 22, 2024 at 2:55 am

    Love ❤

  71. @odeyalefavour5306

    January 22, 2024 at 6:36 am

    Exactly what I needed 😭😭😭

  72. @rawkakani

    January 22, 2024 at 6:50 am

    No, Thank you

  73. @ox_legacy

    January 22, 2024 at 6:55 am

    This was exactly what I needed to hear today🙌🏾🔥

  74. @wendyvidzah

    January 22, 2024 at 7:25 am

    Yara for president! ❤

  75. @bigthebla

    January 22, 2024 at 1:33 pm

    Suddenly, everything made sense. I’ma come back to this a couple of times this year 🥹

  76. @nzeakograce1813

    January 22, 2024 at 2:01 pm

    Yara, you were absolutely precise in your delivery and your life held the gravity for more possibilities

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The TED Talks channel features talks, performances and original series from the world’s leading thinkers and doers. Subscribe to our channel for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.

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TED’s 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 our TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at

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