What I Wish I Knew When I Was Younger

Learned helplessness can prevent people from achieving their goals, something I've experienced first hand.

[druhu]

"To make a truly miserable man, have him believe that he can not change his future, yet have him believe that he could have changed his past." - Me just now, but you know I'm right.

[IKNOWTHINGS.]

When a science channel is more inspirational than a motivational channel.

[jasmineprieto]

I suffer from depression, and this video made me realize that learned helplessness has been making me sabotage myself. It also made me realize that I am capable of more than I think and it made me remember the times where I had achieved what I thought was impossible. This video made me feel less hopeless :)

[zeltroid]

This completely resonates within me. Born into poverty, my largest passion being the forward progression of human knowledge and for me to one day assist in these efforts. Now that Im 26, I've never felt so helpless. no family, no friends, just me and my own thoughts.

Thank you for this video. Truly

[courtneysmith]

This is actually exceptionally helpful for someone young and confused about how to control their life paths

[rz]

when working as an employee I did not try to use my creativity to solve problems, I always asked my manager.
the simple reason: I was afraid of being punished if I tried to be creative.

[EVERYTYME]

I stumbled across this video a little over a year ago. You have actually changed my life! It was like a switch went off in my head! Quit my job at target and now a manager in logistics!! I had a hell of a year...I've never put as much effort into anything else as I have trying to change my life and im finally happy with who I am! This video really lit a fire under my ass!! Thank you!

[moritztrosin]

I am watching this video at 20 years old, at the start of my second semester at university and all the stress and pressure is really getting to me and I get the feeling of helplessness and overwhelming. Often times I wish there was someone to help me, but time and time again I see myself alone with all the problems I have to face and realise that I have to be the one overcoming them on my own.
This video helped a lot to realise that everyone had times in their lives like this and that there is always a way, even though you can‘t always see it at first.

[hananas]

Me, being 18: "Hey, I'm young, I should watch this"
And I'm glad I did.

Edit: it's been 5 years (almost 6), in that time I graduated college, got my first and second job and I can definitely say there have been a few moments where I did good work because I remembered this video, especially since I'm normally a procrastinator.

[suricate]

"They didn't know it was impossible, so they did it"

[dumbass]

For some reason the YT algorithm decided to send this to me. 7 years later. Just in time for a major change in my life. Thank you my guy, this advice will be carried with me for the rest of my life.

[ldlorenz]

The best business motivation speech I ever received was "You're closer than you think. " It was true and changed my life.

[boyinaband]

Feel like I really needed that insight atm, cheers Derek :)

[joynohemi]

"Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
and the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference."

[monishm]

This man gives more knowledge than one can learn in their entire life time by themselves

[missasyan]

I genuinely needed to hear this man. Every time, I feel like I can't change things. I'm so scared of failing man. But hearing you already tried to take that leap, with acting or film schools or whatnot, I get more hope. That there is always another way. For the first few minutes in this video I could tell where it was going. I was thinking "I know there is a way to change. I don't know if I can do it.". but you won't know until you try, right?

I don't know why every time my career comes up I end up crying really hard. I'm so scared of letting everyone down. I'm only 16, and I know life will follow I just to get high school over with and worry about the rest when I get there, that I shouldn't worry so much and just do. I don't know then. Why I always cry when I hear reassuarances like these. I don't have talent so I have to build up the skill. And that's so scary. Because as someone who is considered smart, I have never failed for real. Anything I try, video games, I eventually get better slowly and if not I lose interest. But it's my job we're talking about. Maybe I should give up and be an academic instead, I think every single time. I don't know why I worry so much when I haven't failed yet like you have. When you make a misstep and or fail. I'm so scared of making that step before I even get there. I don't know dude. It's turning into a word salad and Damn I need to wash my face I'm out

[danielfinch]

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't — you're right." - Henry Ford

[omnitroph]

"Does our school system promote learned helplessness?"
Yes. Absolutely yes.

[kella]

When I was in year 4 my parents took me out of school to home-school me, something interesting I just realised is that school had in fact made it very difficult for me to make my own choices. I was never able to do studying without someone telling me what to do and it took me around a year to get over it and I just realised it was learned helplessness. It was definitely damaging and I am glad I know what it was now. After that, I became a lot more independent and studying was a lot easier for me, it was also easier for me to deal with a lot of different real-life situations as I had to do things on my own quite a lot. I think one thing about school as said in this video is that you learn to follow, not to lead and that is probably the greatest flaw in the education system. People are growing up not knowing how to deal with things and are probably struggling with things that would be so much easier if we learnt better. Thanks for making the video, it was really eye-opening :)

[batyrkhan]

It seems like he directly spoke to me seeing exactly the circumstances I am in right now