Whoa, I just found out my talk was released today! It gives me so much joy to be able to share a sliver of my life experiences with the world in a way that can hopefully spark reflection. To all of us: may we feel all things within ourselves to its full profound depth, talk back to those often ruthless inner voices with even more powerful acceptance and compassion - and illuminate the core of who we are underneath the chaotic noise of this world. Wishing all of us continual un-learning and unfolding wonder at it all!~ Grace and peace, -Ien

"The reason I was trying to change the world was because I couldn't accept the world as it was. And the reason I couldn't accept the world the way it was, was because I couldn't accept myself the way I was" -- that is POWERFUL !

If you struggled with self love, the answer isn't trying to love yourself harder. Love isnt a matter of effort. Love is matter of awareness. it isn't a matter of trying harder, it's about letting go. Powerful quote ... Ian

I cried really hard watching this. I’ve been going through a lot lately and beating myself up over things. Trying to be a “better version” of myself. It just puts a lot of pressure on me and only increases my anxiety and insecurity. I think I’m gonna watch this video every day for a little while

This is the TED talk I really needed today. I’ve been dealing with self hate and trying to change myself for years and years

" love is a matter if awarness and letting go of all trying " That hit deep.

"Accept the world today as it is, not as you want it to be. With acceptance comes love, for you cannot love a world that you want to exist. You can only love a world that exists as it is. Accept yourself now as you exist, and true desire for change and advancement will naturally emerge within you. Idealism justifies condemnation. Recognize this great truth, and you will begin to have a more immediate and profound experience of life and of that which is genuine and not based upon hope or expectation but upon true engagement." _Steps to Knowledge, The Book of Inner Knowing » Step 55: I will accept the world as it is._

He has perfectly described the millennial/gen Z phenomenon of exhaustion.

“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” ― Carl Jung Profound talk 🔥

If everyone aims to improve oneself, not looking at others with judgement, the world is a lot more peaceful and harmonious. Thanks for sharing!

Len, You just changed the World for thousands of people! God Bless!

Finally, a talk that has touched me deeply. Thanks, Ien for sharing this. You have reached the world, and I'm entirely grateful to have someone like you in this lifetime.

Beautiful sentiments. Struggles vs acceptance

Beautiful insight Beautiful vulnerability Beautiful honesty Beautiful share Thank you

He created a good point. To accept oneself, flaws and all.

"The reason I was trying to change the world was because I couldn't accept the world the way it was. The reason I couldn't accept the world the way it was because I couldn't accept myself the way I was. I had been projecting my desire to change myself to the outside world instead of looking within and seeing what was there. I had been running away into the idea of changing the world as a way to run away from my own feelings." Whew. Thanks so much for this for talk. And for being so honest. You put exactly what I've been thinking and feeling into words.

It's taken me a long time to realise how destructive it is, but the mantra of the 1980's and 1990's was "you can change the world!" It's not sustainable as an individual but I thought I was supposed to change the world, too, all by myself.

Aww he made Jubilee. I also grew up wanting to change things for the better. I made all this big plans that I imagined would be applied on a mass scale - detailed too - troubleshooting to find solutions to problems and refining them to make them better. I also realised one day I hated myself. Now I'm just in a weird place where I don't have anything I really enjoy. And my mind is not as occupied with 'changing the world' as it was before.

It's powerful. I've been in the same place, the path is so long, but it's possible to get out of there. Excellent and thank you for let to know that other people are struggling with the same!!

Wow...moved to tears and learnt so much! Thank you for sharing your story

never stop never stopping

The lecture society needs, but not the one it deserves

wow, this just became one of my favorite tedx talks, love this message and its beautiful, gentle delivery

i haven't watched a TED talk in years... I'm glad I clicked on this one. Thank you Ien.

You don't have to change yourself, you just have to 'Be Yourself'...and the only way to Be Yourself is to connect to your Real Self, Your Soul Essence, or as You call it, 'Your Higher Self' and be guided by that, Unconditionally.

Thank you for being so honest and transparent.

This was so profound, beautiful, and moving. It was exactly what I needed for where I am right now. Thank you❤

Exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you Ien!

Thank you Universe, thanks Ien and tedx....after watching this i have a smile ...more love less hate...its calming to my nerves, thank u. Instead of trying to change who we are and the world 🌍 , lets be more accepting and enjoy the journey of improvement in our own pace, get more open up to each other & close to our selves.

Just be. Be here now. All is well.

I feel every single word .... deep in my soul! Thank you so much.... brilliant speech

I appreciate your Incredible honesty and courage towards life. Loving your Ted talk. It's exactly how I feel at the moment.

hi, you shared with us very big, powerful words. Radical self-acceptance is an only way to start taking action and I could add: positive self-talk in front of the mirrow :''I like myself", may change our life for the better.

Be yourself, your true authentic self and you will understand your uniqueness, your individuality🙏

Man this hit home this morning ✨🙌🏾❤️‍🔥 it reminds me of numerous moments in my life, where I was able to let go all the trying and at once realised how ok I am and how much more rich the world became when I was able to to inhabit this space. My empathy and compassion expanded vastly, my heart open to so much more.

It seems like you were talking about myself. Thank you for this great, honest talk! We definitely need more sincerity nowadays.

Thank you Ian. This is a gift 💖

Thx, needed this kind of presentation

Thank you Ien... This came right when I needed it... Thank you Universe ❤

It's one of the talks that touched me so deeply,,,well said .

I share same thoughts, one thing i want to add , great wisdom came through such common people , not from people who are running market in the name of spirituality, motivation, psychology and self improvement

"I would love to change the world, but i don't know what to do.. so i leave it up to youuuu"

Realisation of true nature/svabhava is true satisfaction, that comes from recognition and acceptance

Great talk I needed to listen to. Self acceptance is an ongoing battle at any age.

I wish all people, especially those with powerful positions in society, saw this. Thanks for sharing.

Wow. Thank you so much for sharing. 🙏 I can relate.

Beautifully said Ien, much wisdom here. ☯️✌️🤓

That's a new understanding I haven't had, thank you for sharing this with others.

This talk was wonderful. Thank you, Ien.

👍👍👍thanks for giving us your experience

This was soo needed 🔥⭐️

Profound and helpful for such seekers of similar circumstances, which is a lot of us.

Thank you for this. Ien, you are great!!

Thank you for publishing this. I was thinking this way myself right now, and this video gave me a lot of courage. I felt like I was crawling around in pitch darkness, but now I feel like I can feel the ground and the world. Thank you.

Be the ever-evolving you and the right people will join your journey.

Beautiful words my friend!!

damn straight!!!! Only by introspection can one truly find their true purpose in the world. I'm so glad to find some resonance in your talk! Changing the world isn't a way to self-loathe or to pamper our ego, but giving genuinely simply because we are all a part of something bigger, and we cannot envision doing anything else that would make us as happy.

Very powerful thank you 😊

Thank you for sharing your personal life to gift to us such profound wisdom and truth about our human experience. This kind of message will change a lot of lives. It will empower people with the knowledge they need to be free. You tried so many times in many different ways to make the world a better place but in the end all that was needed was to share your story.

I got goosebumps. Thank you Ien

Thank you dude.

Beautiful sentiments 💯❤️

What makes us feel exhausted is us trying to be perfect all the time.Stop trying to be perfect because we live in an imperfect world

Nice shift from mind to heart.

Enjoyed your viewpoint

Well put brother. I have been and will be a better me from now on.

Thank you for this inspirationa💖

OMG, this is great.

this is speaking to me. Thanks Ien ❤

Such a powerful speech.

🔥🔥🔥 Thank you

Mahatma Gandhi said, “You must be the Change you want to see in the world.” now I totally agree with him, Gandhi.

Loved it❤🙏

wow i needed to hear this

Ian, I’ve been down this path of trying to accept yourself for all your flaws. The problem is that, you have to keep solving problems, they will always be there - but you replace your bigger problems with smaller ones as you go. I started focusing on my health and nutrition by strength training and meditating, and this in turn helped me solve my problems of body image and reducing anxiety. Good luck on your journey.

it was really great I've also tried to change myself which ended in more pressure on me. we should accept ourselves the way we are. we are the best version of ourselves the way we are. thanks

Thank you ❤️❤️❤️❤️😭😣😣😖😖😖Ur speech is very beautiful thank you 💕💕💕!!!

That was a great session which create a deep impact in my life and thought process. Thank you so much Sir.

Trying to accept yourself or other is an act of will. Any psychological act of Will is leading to emptiness. One has to see what is (facts) and what is not (thoughts about facts) this understanding of what is and what is not, is love.

Thank you

Thank you ❤

Deep and humbling discours . Thanx

Best talk ever 😎😎😎 enjoyed it so much

This is a great message. It’s good to try and better yourself but you can’t do it out of not wanting to be you. Acceptance of the self is an important thing

Thank you❤

Touched me

Life is what you make of it. Always has been, always will be.

Thank you Ien for sharing your sincere attempt to bring some sense into this world of unbridled aggression caused by insatiable greed. Invariably one is a bigger victim of oneself than the world and indeed the key is Self Awareness in complete honesty & the ability to accept oneself with utmost humility that yes, I err, I lose, I hurt, I get mad, I’m sad etc etc sometimes. “I” am not a static “me” but a passing creation of my own mis/guided self serving perceptions. Nothing ever remains the same. “I” change from moment to moment. We do the most harm when we try to please the world while we actually remain unfulfilled within. Our deepest responsibility towards a better world is to create the version of ourself that harms no one including myself. When we live in a world we need things for our survival. It is how you go about getting what you need & how you simplify the needs. But of course we’re creatures that scream to be fulfilled in a world that die for attention. What you present in this talk is the difference between “wanting to be” and “being”. We’re so busy “wanting to be” that we totally lose just “being”. When you say “stop changing your self” what you mean is try not to change your self so you end up feeding the needs of the world but focus on oneself. Get to know yourself, as you are really, not just that image you project externally. You are correct In this day of bombarding Social Media, it’s really tough not to go with the flow in order to be accepted by the world & to feel fulfilled, however temporarily, in external validation . We all might engage in that at a certain phase but yes, soon, reality hits home. That’s what you explain as the awards & accolades became meaningless subsequently, though not when you were chasing them. My response is much longer than I intended but lastly I urge you, live a meaningful life of purpose & gratitude. If you enjoy apples, grow apples. Weed your plot. Keep the pests & the animals out. When you harvest, share your yield Lovely listening to you. I will share it with my son.

Amazing

Fantastic

That is so powerful

Thank universe ❣️

Like how each and every emotion and word resembles what a lot of us are going through!

Thank you 🙏

Brave story come from beautiful person. Thank you for sharing your story

This was inspirational

One word : WoW

🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾 Thank you❤️

bravo Ian

Very beautiful thank you very much ❤️🙏☀️🌙