when a KZfaq channel shapes your thoughts more than your parents

"No one ever gets anywhere important in one go. We have to be able to forgive ourselves for our first drafts." Holy cow this quote is relevant to me. My favorite video from you guys in a while. Please keep up the good work!

Forget me narrating my life story, I want Morgan Freeman to do it

This video caught me off guard and has left me speechless. In the good way.

This video is beautiful. Rejection and failure are hard to accept, but when you do accept it as part of life, you see it as something beautiful. A journey of battles to reach victory, not a journey of despair.

My life is based on a true story

I spent nearly one and a half hour translating your video into my mother tounge- vietnamese as your video was so inspiring and meaningful. Please approve my translation, I put so much hope in it

Hi, Thank you! I really needed this today.I'm sick, needing a kidney transplant and on dialysis,I'm living with my sister and her family for the moment but she's decided to kick me out. So I'm having to go to the government welfare office this morning to apply for help. I was our Mother's caregiver for twenty five years after she was hit by a drunk driver and permanently disabled. After she passed I got sick and now when I'm the one that needs help,I'm made to feel like an unwanted burden. People keep telling me it's her problem and not me, but it still hurts to feel so easily discarded. Trying to tell my story to myself in a positive light. Hope it works:/ Thanks.

The only thing I feel like saying, is that the way you talk to yourself makes all the difference. And I'm usually very hard on myself, so I'm not saying it's easy. But once you start doing it, once you start accepting and loving your story, it will get easier and easier.

Every video that you guys make is a confort to me. I love to know that i'm not the only one who thinks and questions the very basic human condition, the little feellings in our daily routine. Thank you guys from Brazil!

I defy anyone to find a more soothing, wise & meaning-packed 5 minutes on KZfaq. You have my deep thanks.❤

His voice makes me sleepy 😌 I listen every night to fall sleep 😴

shine on you crazy diamond!

me narrating my life 21yo: Wow I can't wait to become an adult. 22yo: Whoa. 23yo: Ummm... 24yo: Wait. 25yo: Oh God. 26yo: Please make it stop.

Unexpectedly cried watching this. It feels so seen knowing that you have power, you ultimately create meaning in your life. No matter the challenges. Akin to an artist or author that creates a piece of art and shows to the public after many attempts behind the scenes without others knowledge. Whatever reason family, culture, religion, gender, social class, sexual orientation that is independent of your self prescribed identities that make you as an individual you, like your decisions, inner self reflections, etc. As a young person, its so easy to do what is safe, what gains you acceptance from ppl around you. But to be yourself. That honestly takes not just time. It sometimes means messing up. I just turned 27. And something I learned paradoxically is the process and adventure of maturing but most of all unlearning things actually help to be more of who and where you want to be. Some get there quick, others more time. The results of things we did in our lives got us to where we are today. There is no perfect life. Perfect decision. That is not say take life trivially, but the narrative of one's life value is unique. Its not staight forward and its difficult to know whats the proper decision. That is your judgment and honestly thats terrifying but also amazing. Why? Because with more experience and mishaps you become a more effective and decisive and competent you. Not judging your life based off an ideal stranger's life crafted on social, not your parents, peers, or community. Life is a creative endeavor not a scientific measurement not can a robot replace you as a human being as a whole be better at who you are. Being a better you is all you can create to do, hopefully the product is fun, functional, and sharing and collabing w others is mutually inspirational thru lifes that is layered with struggles and emotions but as well as love

I used hesitate to watch these videos because the truths within them seemed too harsh for me to take anything from. However, I feel finding this channel was one of the best things I discovered on the internet. These videos are so informative and straight forward, but still offers a profound simplicity. Your videos have impacted me just after a couple months of watching these videos! Thank you.

Life itself is meaningless, but living is not.

I failed medchool in Berlin 2 years ago. My entire life fell apart. I had to move back to the city where my parents stay, because my jobs were bound to the condition of me being a medstudent. I am 28 now, have been struggling against suicidal impulses, lost major parts of my humorous, extroverted personality, have become isolated (I have no friends in this city), alone. I struggle everyday to try to get back into another medical school (outside germany), but there are many barriers that end up preventing it (tuition in UK and US, language barriers in other EU countries etc.). I hate my life and don't know what to do. All my life I was the straight A student. Always did my best. In medschool, while others went partying, relaxing or sleeping, I was working in one of my 3 jobs to get through the month, while trying to pass my exams and have a perfect attendance in university. In the end, a heavy depression and burn-out, ruined an important exam. I failed 2 times in a row (didn't attend the first time and failed the remaining two attempts.. always the same way... months of hard studying, just to sit in front of the exam and suddenly having no knowledge to draw upon.. as if the hours of mental torture and discipline neverhappened..). Now the guys that always copied my answers during exams or whom I explained things, who had money and a life, are wearing white coats, treat patients and tell others how hard they worked, while I went above and beyond my limits and lost everything. I want to be a doctor. There is no other profession I can see myself in. I am lost.

This is so beautiful. Thank you ❤️

I think this is probably my favorite video from School of Life. And the music helped to make the video better.

tears rolling..... I felt warmth to read the comments...thank you TSOL... I always smile when I get a notification of a new video.

Remember this guys: "No one gets anywhere important in just one go"

Thank you Alain De Botton. Your voice is so compassionate, and your message so sincere. So happy to live on this time of humanity when we can reach wise people at the other side of the planet by just a simple click. I feel truly lucky

I love knowing I signify nothing. That we all mean nothing. It’s deeply comforting as a thought, because if we don’t matter then neither do our failures. This acceptance and joy at contemplating meaningless fills me with awe at the sheer massive scale of this gorgeous universe. And comfort at the fact that no matter how fucked up we get as a species, we will most likely not fuck up the whole damn universe by ourselves.

I love the style of this video. It makes me feel like I am being read to. It feels like a bedtime picture book for grown ups, where complicated problems are clearly stated and placed within a safely viewed but whole and honest construct. I appreciate these videos and the time I spend with them daily.

One of your best videos in a while

I recommend anyone to write their own autobiography, even if you're the only one that reads it. You'll be surprised at the things you remember when you start remembering.

Beautifully written, narrated, and animated videos that are honest, meaningful, compassionate, and always manage to console and calm. Love this channel

that is so beautiful...after experiencing the end of a lovely relationship that is exactly what I needed...thank you guys!

I so glad you guys exist. Don't know where I'd be without you lads

You have no idea how much I needed this today. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I simply cannot get enough of these inspirational videos. After watching a marathon of these videos, I gained much confidence to believe how my suppressed negative thoughts are definitely worth challenging. This is life changing! Thank you!

I am convinced that the producer of these videos has had compassion instilled in their core being to a depth that is quite remarkable. Thank you for sharing your compassion, wisdom, and knowledge.

this channel doesn't have any respect on religion and dreams,but it feels good that someone cares about "us"

I don't know how you manage to do this at the very exact moment of my life when I need it the most. Thank you school of life you really are an amazing KZfaq channel, you deserve everything.

Excellent video. I personally always focus on the negatives in life and beat myself up for mistakes and missed opportunities. When in fact, mistakes are an essential part of learning and improving. On social media, we tend to only see the good highlights of other peoples lives making us feel less successful and valued. But we all make mistakes. We're only human after all. Have a good day everyone.

This is probably my favourite school of life video, because it is true, our lifes are stories of overcoming difficulties and failures and stories that dont have big obstacles, self-doubt and rising from the ashes are boring.

This made me tear up a bit... The feelings couldn't have been more perfectly worded, and the emotions are absolutely real. Thank you so much for making this beautiful video and making me more hopeful about life.

probably the most valuable channel on the internet

Simple, yet powerfully supportive video suggesting that we might consider viewing our lives through 'kinder', less disparaging eyes......

Thank you for making this video on the right time for my life, last night I'm contemplating on why I was keep on being rejected on any job interview, my papers where rejected yesterday as well. I'm thinking on giving up again or just push through this. My perseverance is waning, my prayers are now a shout of plea rather than faith, I know deapair won't lead me to anya good, but I just want to have a peaceful and kind work environment but even that is difficult to find. I'm crying.

Your videos couldn't be more fantastic. Thank you for so much wisdom. I'm sure you bring peace to many of us who watch them.

This is so true, we must learn from our mistakes, some that we control other we can't. We must know that we are all incredible beings. We are masterpieces of the universe.

This videos make me feel like I'm not alone, others think exactly like I do. While, I often know I am right. I'm human. I forget. I fuck up. I lose faith... But as the video says Forgive Yourself for your first drafts. "Forgive Myself and outlive this hell"- Madonna.

This episode more than any other saved my whole day. No exaggerating. Thank you. Will be playing this every morning til it's memorized.

This video made me tear up a little. It's very crucial to remember we are not our own enemy and treat ourselves kindly. This serves as an educational reminder, as well as shedding light on our outlook of life itself. Thank you.

I discovered this treasure and cannot stop of listening. Thank you, The school of life for existing. I am going through a hard time and your videos are helping me a lot.

This was so relatable, it made me take a step back and revaluate my negative outlook towards my life. This video gave me hope, thank you.

The School of Life is hands down the best KZfaq channel out there. It seems almost tailored to my interests. Keep up the good work guys! Really appreciate the content you're putting out there.

This is so beautiful, so important, and so relevant. I've never immediately re-watched a video on KZfaq before in my life. And I imagine I'll be coming back to this on a regular basis. Thank you for this beautifully made video-packed full of value but also put together in such a way that feels soothing and healing to watch.

This video made me tear up... I love you, TheSchoolOfLife.

You've given me peace I've never been able to find on my own before. Thank you for your work.

The calming voice of the narrator makes this series

I gasp in admiration at how true every word is of this...Not a word seems wasted.Such poignancy and truth are rarely to be found....

Moving. This channel is of the utmost importance. Thank you, School of Life.

I didn't know how much I'd needed to hear these words until now. Thank you so much for what you do, School of Life.

Your faith has got to be greater than your fear. Your love must be greater than everything. Stay positive, because whether you are alright or not, if you can or cant, you are correct either way. So don't fill your mind and heart with anxiety based on negative expectations, instead do the contrary believe in the higher version of yourself guided through love and understanding towards your existence and life. Luv 2 all.

Thank you, Alain. I really needed that.

As a clinical psychologist who uses Narrative Therapy I am so so so glad you did this video following the Freudian and old school psychological models often used as frameworks for life change and relationships. Please use Micheal Whites work for more of this! There is much knowledge to be used which takes into account the socio political, cultural and economic contexts in a time that the popular pop psychology (which is arguably neoliberal and in favour of getting people back to work, like CBT approaches) is everywhere on the internet! David Smail called it "magical voluntarism" i.e. The fallacy that we have the ability to magic ourselves out of the inequality, oppression, deprecation and existential angst without material resources such as access to education or social support, therefore blaming the individual for their own misery. To take it to the next level we can co-author our lives together in groups of people with shared values which can liberate, aka liberation psychology and the work of Paulo Freire & Nacho Martin-Baro. Just like collectives such as Buddhists have done for many years before their knowledge was appropriated and sold back to them. Look forward to more videos bringing these ideas to the Everyman. Thank you !!! Dane

Thank you so much School of life for always making me feel better in hard times!!

I'm in love with your animations😍

Here is my story: *October 1st 2003* I am born in Houston, Texas to my 20 yr old Shellie and 23 yr old Zane Hayes. *My life until school* I lived in League City which was a smaller city near Houston. My mom and dad grew up in a small town in Center, Texas which was near the border of Louisiana. My parents moved to League City so my mom could go to college at Sam Houston University. My dad worked as a machine operator for Texas drainage, they digged ditches on the side of roads so they wouldn't flood from rain. Fortunately, my mom's grandparents lived in Houston because my great grandfather was a business man. So I had somewhere to stay when my mom had college. We visited Center where I see my grandparents and my aunt. Mom had a friend who had a son named Corbyn whom I became friends with in Center. I always had an obsession with airplanes as my dad's father was a pilot who landed in League City to get me to Center faster in his own airplane so he was fun to hang around with. *2009 and 2011* I went to school. I thought school was cool at the time and I made many friends there. *2011* During the summer, my mom got a call from her dad, Rick, saying that my aunt Kelsie (her sister) snuck out with friends and got injured in a car wreck. And she was in a coma. My mom and I went back to Tyler, a town near Center with a good hospital. I wasn't allowed to see her because I couldn't go in the ICU. I had to sit with my dad's parents and mom's friends came to visit the hospital so I wasn't alone in the waiting room. That summer, my mom's mother died from stress and because of that, my parents decided to move back to Center. So I moved to Center. Kelsie had recieved a permanent speech problem and couldn't walk straight anymore as a result of the wreck. I had moved to Center and started 2nd grade there. Making new friends was difficult but I eventually did. My dad still had to work in Houston so I only saw him on weekends or holidays when he was off. He and some of his friends were gonna build a house in Center so we didn't have to live with my grandparents. But it was slow. *2012* Rick met someone from New York on a dating website named Lori. She was wierd. Rick and Lori visited each other for a while but broke up because Lori disrespected my mom and they got into an arguement. *2013* Rick's health began to decrease. He got surgeory often and became a slob. Not showering, growing a beard, dressing inproperly, being lazy and peeing into a bucket outside. It was a good reason for my mom to start getting ready to move out. My mom had big news too. She was pregnant! And I was excited. *October 20th 2013* My mom gave birth to my sister we named Brynlee. We were now able move out to our new home. *Febuary 12 2014* Rick died in the hospital from cancer. He smoked a lot which my family begged him to stop long before. Now Kelsie had to move in with us. *2018* It's been pretty solid so far. I am in highschool right now and living a life. Getting my drivers permit and hunting this season. May I wish you Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and thank you for reading this.

This is probably the sweetest nicest thing I've seen in a long time. Thank you!

Thank you so much for this video. There are stories in my family that I want to tell including my own. This video helped me think about the low points of life in redemptive ways that I hadn't considered before. My goal is to not only tell the high points but to give a full picture from a POV that sees the best in people, life and the circumstances we tend to encounter. Thank you again. I'll be watching this video several times as a reminder of the kind of mindset I want to cultivate.

You guys always make such thoughtful and moving videos. I was feeling really depressed and being super hard on myself. Thank you for reminding me of these truths. : ' )

thank you for this. this video now makes me want to smile when I go through humiliating times and say "its okay, im growing"

in tears. I needed this. thank you.

You guys have no idea how amazing and helpful you are to so many people

i feel like every time im going through something in my life a new video seems to pop up from the school of life talking to me about my problem as if they know me and what im thinking like these videos were made just for me

I needed that, thanks School of life

thank you for inspiring me to see my life with being able to have a voice of reason commentating about life and sort of a little description of the way to think of positive ways to change it for the better. it made my windows to my soul wet from rain.

this piece is the best one yet. it really warms my heart. thank you so much.

Thank you for spreading the light, please continue.

This gave me so much peace... Thanks School of Life, keep on!

Simple and yet wonderful text, sound track, and illustrations. Changed my day, cleared my mind.

I started crying in the beginning :(

Beautiful message, thank you.

This is the most uplifting video I have watched in a long time. Thank you 🙏 so much!

Beautiful! Thank you for this nugget of truth and wonderful reminder.

it's only morning and this already made my day. thank you so much.

This lifted me up when I needed it most. Thank you.

thank you for these heart felt videos, sharing with friend who need it. Your videos and philosophy are very valuable to me.

I must thank you guys for such amazing videos. I have had so much peace in my life, like I tell you I am thriving..

This video is simply amazing. It touched my heart and my soul. Thank you!

This channel is a beacon of light.

Full of wonder and joy!

so meaningful and relatable! my eyes teared up! thank you for the motivation! 😊

I honestly needed this. Thank you.

Thank you. Great stuff to be reminded of on my birthday. Life could've been better, but could've been worse. I think of my past and what could've been worse. I think of my future and what could be better.

And....yep...I just started crying. I needed this.

This is such a great source of inspiration. thank you for your work , it really does help.

"Horrors of a first draft" how beautifully put! I shall remember this line forever.

My father was a Navy officer. We moved around the world several times. I was born in Hampshire and I have several fond memories of home.

Absolutely brilliant. The best explanation of personal storytelling. Thank you. 👌🏽❤️

I can't believe this! I was just having a conversation this morning with a young man in his early twenty' s I said to him allway's be aware of your self awareness and of others as well There is a lot of underlying currents in one's life not untill you walk a mile in another person's shoes can you begin to evaluate their path of their life.

The music in this one is so beautiful and optimistic!

i love you Alain !! Thank you for this channel you beautiful human being !!!

The world is a better place having people like Alain

Thank you. I really needed this today.