When you feel the need to speed up, slow down | Kimi Werner | TEDxMaui

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. We often think of extreme athletes as fast-moving and quick-thinking. Champion freediver and spearfisher Kimi Werner explains how actually, sometimes slowing down is the key to survival in the deep.

Maui born and raised champion spearfisher and freediver, artist and chef-hunter.

At any given time, there’s a good chance you’ll find Kimi Werner packing her bags for a new adventure—on land or in the sea. Whether she’s mingling with people from different cultures, learning about an area’s natural resources or hitching a ride on the dorsal fin of a great white shark, the perennial globetrotter, freediver and spearfisher is always on the move.

Born and raised on Maui, Kimi fostered a deep connection to her island home at a very early age. This intrinsic bond with nature became a guiding force in her life, leading her to follow in her father’s footsteps and take up spearfishing and freediving. Renowned for her remarkable ability to hold her breath for more than four minutes to reach depths of over 150 feet, Kimi won every category she entered at the 2008 U.S. National Spearfishing Championships in the dark waters off Newport, Rhode Island. Today, she continues to inspire others as an ambassador of nature, accomplished chef and professional artist who embodies the heart and soul of simple and sustainable living.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[michaelmurphy]

Been dealing with anxiety for 23 years possibly more with counsellors, books, meditation yet when I listened to your Ted talk yesterday morning it struck a chord with me. All day as soon as I felt my body speeding up wanting high constant activity I slowed down did the opposite focusing on the breath walking slower deciding not to do something at that time. By slowing the mind down and relaxing unused muscles I was able to lift more and run father than I have in awhile when I visited the gym. When I noticed I wanted to run faster because I felt so good instead I slowed down and walked. I slept better last night than I have in awhile also. I wanted to write this last night but I slowed down and waited until today. You should resubmit this video under the keyword anxiety. I am sure others could benefit. Thanks for giving me a possible solution to being a calmer more productive person.

[hawaiidoves]

Awesome attitude! It's not about winning, it's about being who you are.

[aderoprescott]

What a beautiful life you live. Doing exactly what you desire to do and changing your mind and being absolutely yourself.

[nazarethsander]

Nature is the purest path to self discovery and enlightenment not mention protecting the natural world for future generations.

[AhmedOmar-bckt]

We live in a generation that appreciates speed. As a result, we feel emotionally disconnected, stressed, and unsympathetic. Move at your own pace to discover this beautiful world. Your life and thoughts will be more purposeful if you slow down.

[EstairiaH]

Kimi is such a beautiful soul! I so appreciate her story of her life. The choices she decided to make and how she listened to her deepest desires.

[ChrisWalkerInnerwealth]

probably one of my favourite Ted Talks of all time

[jestione]

With every video i watch of Kimi I get closer to finding me. Thank you you are a wonderful soul.

[mintsnake]

Here in the time of coronavirus, and I really believe that this is something that people need to hear (and understand) right now. We have been given this opportunity to PAUSE, and even though I see a great many people finding a better path, there are also a lot of people who are feeling the need to speed up instead. I think this drastic situation merits a thorough rethinking of what economic systems and patterns of behavior (overconsumption, disconnection from nature and more) need to be changed.


Thank you, Kimi, for finding the words that I feel will get through to people, and all in twenty minutes, too. You've always been a hero of mine ever since I heard about you, and I can't believe it took me this long to find out you had a TED Talk. Thank goodness for YouTube analytics.

[kaoutardaoudi]

Thank you kimi I really needed to hear this especially at this time, one of the best ted talks ever because I could truly hear it from the bottom of your heart

[garycacciola]

Beautiful talk Kimi!  As in everything you do...meaningful, respectful, eloquent, precise and slow! Fantastic!  Thank You!

[eniola]

"I didn't want to over-sensationalise this moment for profits"... so many amazing points from this video

[Hondawg]

I can't say how inspiring this video is to me at this moment in my life. I have the utmost respect for Kimi that she was able to reach inside herself and extrapolate what her priorities had turned into and what she needed to do to turn that around. Amazing speech!

[debbiep]

I am watching this 6 years later after loving all of her fishing and cooking videos

[sandeepgokhale]

I had seen this video 2-3 months back twice. I didn’t comment that time. I see many TEDx videos but for some reason this particular video remained etched in my consciousness ever since I saw it. I am a follower of slow down movement, sustainability etc and that may be the reason that I could relate to it at emotional level. But other than that few more things struck with me.


It is extremely difficult to accept and realize that something is missing in our otherwise happy life with a good job, family and well to do wealth. So usually in fast pace of life, people do not give any chance to body or their own inner voice to say what they are happy with? or they are not able to hear that voice. Kimi could listen much earlier in her life and not just listened but acted on it by resuming her childhood passion.


When her passion activity grew so much that it could have become her new career with all the new lime light. But she was so prompt to realize that this new competitive part of her passion (i.e. winning and defending titles) will lead to stress and the core objective of her passion – to get calm and tranquil – itself will be jeopardized. So she decided to quit the competitive part of the activity. It is extremely difficult to take such decision when you are at height of glory. That means disappointing many and you need huge courage to take such decision of turning away – fame, attention, opportunities, money, peer pressure and lot many things but she did it. That’s incredible.


But she continued her passion in a natural way, where there was no stress of winning and defending. Rather is was for de-stressing. She also took opportunity to add a new life mission of finding sustainability and peace in two usually warring sides conservationist and hunters (which can be read as representatives of insane consumers, capitalist, or in short people insensitive to nature)


Lastly, from where she must have got this courage and wisdom to listen to her inner voice and overcome various temptation. Possible reasons may lie in her humble childhood and values that her parents imbibed in her and off-course her own Karma.


Overall a lot to learn from a short 20 mins video. We could also see a special calmness and a sense of fulfillment on her pace. This video and similar others should be shown in high schools and colleges where a entire generation in on the verge of a psychological epidemic that has been triggered by social media and all sorts of external stimuli. It is becoming difficult for people in general to stay at one place for more that 10 mins without any work… Lastly this video should be kept in mind for next few months when the world will see an insane frenzy if getting to so called “normalcy” post Covid lock-downs across the globe. We must remind ourselves in next few weeks and rather whole decade that “We need to slow down to continue to go forward”

[carolgeorge]

My second time watching. I have practiced “slowing down, ” when I was anxious ! Amazing how much this has controlled my mind and body! Thank You Kimi Werner

[rb.x]

This one really got me in the emotions. Listening to those messages from the children. Thank you for the important message 🙏🏼

[kyylee]

Kimi your talk has opened my eyes n transformed me. To slow down has helped me tremendously . I now am more calm n make logical decisions n think of everyone around me. Thank you n God bless you

[squamishmedium]

one of the best tedtalks I've seen in many years! (March 2020 first time seeing this!)

[evanstookey]

Taste of the Dao. I don't know how to say it, but this brings me back to my center, and I wish to really live. That moment, being IN the present moment. Being IN it. Thank you so much Kimi for being an example. today is the day!