At some point, we need to stop fighting mental illness. Medication, therapy, and coping strategies only work when we are accepting and embracing our issues. This is a concept called mindfulness, a non-judging acceptance. Applying mindfulness to mental issues like anxiety, depression, and OCD allows us to stop fighting and start thriving.
Daniel McCutchen is a freshman at Harvard University. He is the founder of a non-profit fundraising organization called Walk For The Water, raising funds for clean accessible water for people in Burundi, Africa through local 5k races in Austin, Texas. He also serves as an advisor to the Aspen Institute’s National Youth Commission on Social Emotional and Academic Development, helping to push legislation on the implementation of social and emotional learning in public education. In high school, Daniel taught a class on social and Emotional learning, teaching at-risk freshman ways to manage relationships, emotions, and goals. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx