The Invisible Force - self-image – enables you to achieve great goals | Dan Lok | TEDxStanleyPark

Introduction

In this section, the speaker introduces an idea that is transformative yet simple and has the power to completely transform one's life.

The Idea That Will Transform Your Life

• Every child should learn this idea before they go to school.

• This idea will help you learn, understand, and apply every single piece of information, knowledge, and insight that you'll get from all the fantastic speakers.

• Dr. Maxwell Maltz called it the greatest psychological discovery of his generation.

• The concept is self-image - how we see ourselves in our mind.

Why Great Ideas Alone Are Not Enough

In this section, the speaker explains why great ideas alone are not enough to change our lives.

Changing Something Outside of Ourselves

• Most people tend to change something outside of themselves in searching for something within themselves.

• We trap ourselves in an old self-image and never really update who we are today.

Comfort Zone

• Our comfort zone is like a thermostat set at 70 degrees - it's what we're comfortable with.

• Most people have goals that are larger than their self-image, which is why they don't reach their goals unless they alter or expand their self-image.

Drive to Do Something About It

• When something drops below our comfort zone, we feel a drive to do something about it.

• Trying something and failing is better than not trying at all.

Conclusion

In this section, the speaker concludes by encouraging the audience to update their self-image and expand their comfort zone in order to achieve their goals.

Expanding Our Comfort Zone

• We need to expand our comfort zone in order to achieve our goals.

• We can do this by taking small steps outside of our comfort zone every day.

Lowering the Thermostat

In this section, the speaker talks about how people lower their expectations and goals to avoid feeling like a failure.

Lowering Expectations

• People lower their thermostats by lowering their expectations.

• They make their goals smaller, more 'realistic', and more 'reasonable'.

• People say "Don't get your hopes up, or you'll be disappointed."

Self-Sabotage

• When people lower their thermostat too much, they begin to self-sabotage themselves.

• They stop doing what got them there in the first place and start making dumb decisions until they get back to where they think they deserve to be.

The Power of Self-Image

In this section, the speaker discusses how our self-image controls our successes and failures in life.

Consistency with Self-Image

• The strongest force in human personality is the need to remain consistent with how we see ourselves.

• Any weight loss will be temporary if a person who's overweight goes on a diet without altering their self-image.

Becoming Self-Prisoners

• We become self-prisoners of our own self-image.

Overcoming Comfort Zones

In this section, the speaker talks about overcoming comfort zones and not settling for less than what we want.

Trying Something Else

• When we're supposed to be at 70 degrees but are at 65 degrees, we try something else; we don't settle.

• We keep going until we hit 80, 85, 90, 91, 92, 93, or even 99 degrees.

Outside of Comfort Zone

• Suddenly realizing that we're outside of our comfort zone can cause us to lose our drive and begin to self-sabotage ourselves.

Altering Self-Image

In this section, the speaker discusses how altering our self-image can lead to success in life.

Impact on Life

• The image that we hold of ourselves controls our successes and failures and impacts every single area of our life.

Losing Weight

• When a person who's overweight alters their self-image and goes on a diet, they start to lose weight.

• It's not what you eat that makes you fat; it's your self-image that makes you fat.

Developing Discipline

In this section, the speaker talks about how discipline and motivation are developed.

The Secret to Discipline

• The speaker asks a runner how he develops such discipline and motivation.

• The runner simply responds that he is a runner, so he runs.

• The source of the runner's motivation comes from his self-image as a runner.

Consistency with Self-Image

• People act consistently with who they believe they are.

• Smokers smoke because they see themselves as smokers.

• We all act consistent with who we believe we are.

Taking Action

In this section, the speaker discusses why great ideas alone are not enough to succeed and emphasizes the importance of taking action.

Foolproof Method for Quitting Smoking

• Many people know that smoking is bad for them but continue to do it anyway.

• A simple strategy for quitting smoking is to stop putting cigarettes in your mouth and lighting them.

• People smoke because they see themselves as smokers.

Applying Ideas in Life

• Instead of just being entertained or informed by great ideas, take action on at least one idea in your life.

• By doing something you don't normally do, you can start to alter and expand your self-image.

Meeting Your Potential

In this section, the speaker talks about meeting your potential and living the life you want.

Hell on Earth

• Meeting the person you could have been is hell on earth.

Asking Yourself Questions

• Ask yourself three questions: Who do I have to be to dream again? Who do I have to be to live the life I want?