It’s not enough to do important work — we need to know it truly matters, says journalist Jennifer Wallace. Drawing on her research into firefighters, caregivers and more, she shows how simple acts of acknowledgment and connection can fuel our sense of purpose in a world that too often undervalues recognition. (Recorded at TED2025 on April 8, 2025)
Join us in person at a TED conference:
Become a TED Member to support our mission:
Subscribe to a TED newsletter:
Follow TED!
X:
Instagram:
Facebook:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:
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.
Watch more:
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
#TED #TEDTalks #Culture
@vkook40825
October 2, 2025 at 11:12 am
Hyeeeeeee 💜
@vkook40825
October 2, 2025 at 11:12 am
😮😮😮
@vkook40825
October 2, 2025 at 11:13 am
Lives matters 😢😢my life is soo difficult 😢
@Value_is_nul
October 2, 2025 at 11:58 am
🫂🫂🫂
@EveNoir-m3m
October 2, 2025 at 11:28 am
Brilliant speech. Thank you very much much!
@kevinwilliams3272
October 2, 2025 at 11:36 am
Wonderful!!! Your enthusiasm is contagious, Jennifer. And I love your WOOOOWWWW personality. I would have liked the talk to go on quite a lot longer. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
@Value_is_nul
October 2, 2025 at 11:57 am
I think this is one of the best TED talks I’ve ever heard.
When I became disabled and left the workforce in my mid-40s, at first I thought I was just going to kind of relax into a sort of retirement, but I ended up going back to work just part-time. Jobs that I’ve chosen. Jobs that I can tolerate both physically and emotionally.
The more I thought about it, before I went to work part-time, the more I realized I didn’t want to just sit around for the rest of my life and fade away without having made an impact.
First, I worked for a cat rescue, where I know I made a very big difference to both a number of cats and number of people. Later we moved to Massachusetts, and I kind of fell into a job working for the town in which I live. I was just looking to volunteer, but it turned out they had a part-time paid position that has worked out very well.
@meannush7552
October 2, 2025 at 10:15 pm
this guy won the game of life
@Letucenick
October 2, 2025 at 1:30 pm
Thank you very much!
@ExtroDynamiz
October 2, 2025 at 1:31 pm
This is an amazing Ted Talk. Thank you for this.
@cosmiclettuce
October 2, 2025 at 3:01 pm
a consensus POV that happens to be completely contrary to the nature of the universe
@AnnieB-v8j
October 2, 2025 at 6:44 pm
Ummm…then why are we here? Butterfly Effect.
@aremarketing9948
October 2, 2025 at 7:03 pm
It’s ironic how this channel tries to convince us that AI isn’t evil and won’t take our jobs, but Jennifer is actually saying the opposite — that it could devalue our work and leave us feeling useless in society
@AndrewChun791
October 2, 2025 at 7:07 pm
GPA
If you’re Paris Hilton, GPA probably doesn’t matter.
@todaycountsshow
October 2, 2025 at 9:51 pm
True meaning comes from knowing we matter—and reminding others their lives and work matter too.
@ChiNguyen-ez7pn
October 3, 2025 at 1:37 am
This matters! So much given the chaotic world we’re living in these days
@shelleycurreen1182
October 3, 2025 at 5:18 am
The problem is that we allow others to dictate our worth. Only you can find fulfillment in your life. Figure out what feeds your soul and do that.
@K_tinkie
October 3, 2025 at 8:20 am
Brilliant❤
@lifemotivation6789
October 3, 2025 at 9:34 am
This was powerful. 🔥 It’s not enough to just work hard—we all need to know that our work makes a difference, that we matter. Greg’s story is a reminder that feeling valued fuels purpose, resilience, and hope. Every act of kindness, every effort to serve, ripples further than we can see.
@TheBestLifeMindsetWithShelly
October 3, 2025 at 2:14 pm
Knowing our lives matter isn’t just about achievement-it’s about being seen, valued, and connected. Jennifer’s reminder that acknowledgment fuels purpose is so powerful, especially in a world that often overlooks the quiet contributions that mean the most. 💫
@zooneyl2248
October 4, 2025 at 8:25 am
👌
@EslamElhoweiti
October 5, 2025 at 10:15 am
Thank you very much ❤
@CoachPenelopeCruz
October 5, 2025 at 6:09 pm
we do better when we know we matter