5 TED Talks To Watch When You Need Motivation

We’ve rounded up five videos that’ll leave you inspired with brilliant ideas, disrupt societal norms, stand up for social justice and nudge you towards that all-important state of vulnerability.

Dig in and get ready to feel inspired as fuck.

How to disrupt expectations

“Have you ever felt like you’re being a pain in the ass?” author C. Nicole Mason asks at the opening of her talk. Why, yes, very much so, thanks for asking. Mason goes on to expound why challenging gender expectations as girls, and as women, is integral in creating the lives we want to live, and how she’s gone about doing that in her own life.

4 simple ways to have a great idea

“Success expert” and author, Richard St. John breaks down the four simple ways to come up with a great idea, using Richard Branson, Sam Smith, Marilyn Von Savant (the world-record holder for having the highest IQ) as examples. Spoiler alert: They really are simple!

An interview with the founders of Black Lives Matter

The inspiring founders of Black Lives Matter—Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, Opal Tometi—articulate the case for why this social justice movement is essential to the progress and well-being of all.

The power of vulnerability

And an oldie but a goodie: Brené Brown—one of the foremost experts on human shame and vulnerability—gave this talk in 2011 and it’s since garnered more than 30 million views worldwide, making it one of the top five TED talks of all time.

And for good reason: Brown’s personal exploration of the concept of vulnerability, her research, and her ensuing insights make a compelling case “to let ourselves be seen, deeply seen, vulnerably seen; to love with our whole hearts, even though there’s no guarantee.”