A 3-Step Guide to Believing in Yourself | Sheryl Lee Ralph | TED
Sheryl Lee Ralph: Believing in Ourselves
In this talk, Sheryl Lee Ralph shares her personal journey and offers insights on how to believe in ourselves, especially during challenging times. She emphasizes the importance of seeing ourselves, reframing our thinking, and embracing our uniqueness.
Seeing Ourselves
- Sheryl Lee Ralph expresses her identity as an endangered species but refuses to play the victim.
- She highlights the significance of knowing where our voice belongs.
- Reflecting on her Emmy win, she acknowledges the shock and disbelief she experienced.
Overcoming Doubts and Defeat
- Sheryl Lee Ralph shares her astonishment at winning an Emmy after facing numerous rejections throughout her career.
- She recalls being overwhelmed by applause and reflecting on her journey from a young actress directed by Sidney Poitier to Broadway success in "Dreamgirls."
- Despite moments of doubt, she realizes that persevering through rejection led her to that golden moment.
Believing in Challenging Times
- Sheryl Lee Ralph acknowledges the current challenges we face, including the weight of the pandemic, political division, violence, climate change, and social media.
- She emphasizes the need for mental health checkups and reframing our thinking to regain confidence in ourselves.
- Addressing potential skepticism about her struggles, she asserts that appearances can be deceiving and shares that she has faced hardships throughout her life.
Three Steps to Believe in Ourselves
Step 1: See Ourselves
- Sheryl Lee Ralph emphasizes the importance of truly seeing ourselves for who we are in order to believe in ourselves.
- She shares her personal experience of feeling isolated as the only Black person in a private school and the negative comments she received.
- Her mother's empowering words helped her see herself positively and taught her to deflect negativity.
Step 2: Reframe Our Thinking
- Sheryl Lee Ralph encourages reframing our thinking to overcome challenges and believe in ourselves.
- She acknowledges that external success does not always reflect one's internal struggles.
Step 3: Embrace Our Uniqueness
- Sheryl Lee Ralph highlights the importance of embracing our individual journeys, even if they differ from others' perceptions.
- She emphasizes that everyone has their own struggles, and it is essential to recognize and appreciate our uniqueness.
By following these three steps, Sheryl Lee Ralph believes we can cultivate self-belief even during difficult times.
Believe in Yourself - Sheryl Lee Ralph's Inspiring Speech
In this speech, Sheryl Lee Ralph shares her personal experiences and insights on the importance of believing in oneself. She emphasizes the power of thinking, acting, and having faith in ourselves to overcome challenges and achieve success.
The Power of Thinking
- Sheryl highlights the significance of thinking about ourselves and believing in our abilities.
- She recalls a moment when a casting director questioned her potential as a Black actress, but instead of being discouraged, she used it as motivation to prove him wrong.
- Sheryl explains how she embraced the belief that she deserved to be cast alongside top actors like Tom Cruise, which empowered her to take up space in Hollywood.
Acting on Belief
- Sheryl encourages us to act like we believe in ourselves because it opens up possibilities that wouldn't exist otherwise.
- She shares an anecdote about advocating for more diversity on a TV show and ultimately getting cast as a character due to her persistence and self-belief.
Embracing Self-Love and Faith
- Sheryl urges everyone to start a meaningful practice of looking in the mirror and loving what they see.
- If self-love is challenging, she suggests respecting oneself or encouraging one's own growth.
- Having faith in oneself can help overcome obstacles and allow dreams to soar.
Conclusion: Believe in Yourself
Sheryl Lee Ralph concludes by emphasizing that the greatest relationship we will ever have is with ourselves. By believing in our abilities, taking action, and having faith, we can achieve greatness.