TEDx Talks - The power of disconnecting to reconnect | Maya Gabeira | TEDxLausanneWomen
The speaker reflects on her past as a big wave surfer, where she achieved world records and titles, but eventually felt unfulfilled and numb. She stopped dreaming after her dreams became reality, leading to a period of feeling lost and disconnected. During this time, she wrote a book, 'Beyond the Board,' which she initially couldn't face but later revisited, prompting her to confront her pain and reality. She struggled with PTSD, anxiety, and other mental health issues, which she began to address by stopping medication and seeking personal freedom. Her journey included a period of mania and psychosis, during which she reconnected with her inner child and found joy in creative expression. This process helped her heal and find simplicity and peace in life, moving beyond her previous identity and achievements to embrace unconditional love and humanity.
Key Points:
- The speaker achieved significant success in big wave surfing but felt unfulfilled after reaching her goals.
- She experienced a period of numbness and disconnection, leading her to write a book that she initially avoided revisiting.
- Confronting her past and mental health issues, she stopped medication and sought personal freedom and healing.
- A period of mania and psychosis allowed her to reconnect with her inner child and find joy in creativity.
- She ultimately found peace and simplicity by moving beyond her past identity and embracing unconditional love.
Details:
1. 🎤 Embracing Life's New Chapter
- The segment involves a discussion on personal growth and adaptation during major life transitions, focusing on strategies for embracing change.
- Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive mindset and being open to new opportunities as key components of successful transitions.
- Highlights the role of support systems, such as family and friends, in navigating life changes effectively.
- Discusses practical steps for adapting to new situations, including setting realistic goals and taking proactive steps towards personal development.
- Offers examples of how individuals have successfully managed transitions by leveraging their strengths and seeking out resources.
- Stresses the value of self-reflection and continuous learning in fostering resilience and adaptability.
2. 🏄 Letting Go of a Passion
- The speaker has undergone significant life changes recently, particularly over the past few months, leading to a personal transformation.
- They have decided to move on from their passion for big wave surfing, indicating a readiness for new experiences and challenges.
- This decision is influenced by a desire to embrace new opportunities and reflects the speaker's evolving priorities.
- The speaker has a long history with big wave surfing, which has been a major part of their life and identity.
- The decision to let go signifies a major shift in focus, allowing for personal growth and exploration of other interests.
3. 🤔 The Void After Dreams Come True
- Achieving all dreams, including setting World Records and earning titles, led to an unexpected void for the speaker, highlighting the importance of continuous goal-setting.
- For three years, the speaker struggled with a lack of new dreams, indicating a potential risk of stagnation even after monumental successes.
- The speaker's deep connection to dreaming from a young age created internal conflict when faced with a reality devoid of new aspirations, emphasizing the role of dreams in personal fulfillment.
- This experience underscores the necessity of adapting and finding new dreams to maintain a sense of purpose and prevent feelings of emptiness post-achievement.
4. 😞 Navigating Through Numbness
- The speaker experienced a significant loss of passion, particularly for big wave surfing, which led to a period of feeling lost and aimless.
- During this time, the speaker engaged in activities such as writing, ocean conservation, and speaking, but still felt overwhelmed and in pain.
- A prolonged state of numbness lasted for three years, which was distressing given the speaker's previously meaningful and vibrant life.
- The speaker expresses a strong aversion to numbness, describing it as a state of no feeling where nothing makes sense, emphasizing the importance of living a life full of meaning and emotion.
5. 📚 Journey of Writing and Self-Discovery
5.1. Writing Process
5.2. Emotional Impact and Avoidance
6. 📖 Confronting Pain and Revisiting the Past
- The speaker faced their painful past by reviewing written pages, realizing their trauma was self-inflicted, which marked a significant moment of self-awareness.
- In 2013, a pivotal life event coincided with the completion of their book, highlighting the intertwined nature of their personal struggles and artistic endeavors.
- A rewriting process over the summer acted as a catalyst for personal development, enabling the speaker to approach their past with more kindness and understanding towards their younger self, ultimately leading to healing.
7. 🧠 The Struggle with Mental Health
- The decision to stop medication for PTSD and anxiety was influenced by a readiness to face mental health challenges independently, indicating a critical turning point in personal health management.
- Symptoms experienced included disassociations, panic attacks, asthma, sinus issues, high fevers, and blackouts, highlighting the severity and complexity of the mental health struggle.
- A significant realization occurred during a visit to Brazil, where a conversation with their mother provided clarity on past fears and the reasons for leaving home at 13, emphasizing the role of family in mental health.
- Interactions with the father illustrated a lack of understanding but ultimately led to a sense of freedom, showcasing the emotional complexity and the journey towards self-acceptance.
8. 🎨 Creative Expression as Healing
- Creative expression was used as a means to cope with and understand personal fears, pain, and the concept of death.
- Experiencing deep emotional pain was associated with profound love, suggesting that pain is an indicator of deep emotional connections.
- The speaker experienced a personal crisis, including mania and psychosis, which led to a period of introspection to make sense of their life and pain.
- Understanding the root causes of personal problems and pain allowed for the potential to fix them.
- The process was challenging, with experiences of dissociation and panic, particularly during nights spent alone in hotel rooms.
- During the day, engaging in creative activities liberated the 'inner child,' providing a sense of freedom and exploration.
9. ❤️ Discovering Love's True Meaning
9.1. Personal Growth through Love
9.2. Learning from Mistakes
9.3. Healing and Inner Peace
10. 🌈 Finding Simplicity and Peace
- Life is not about sacrifice and pain; it is meant to be easy and natural.
- The process of letting go of identity, titles, and societal labels can lead to a more meaningful existence.
- Transitioning beyond conventional roles and expectations allows for discovering personal peace and simplicity.