Is the glass half full or half empty? The final proof! Leo Bormans at TEDxGhent

Leo Bormans is the author of the international bestseller "The World Book of Happiness". He has been working for more than 20 years for the Belgium government on empowerment and active citizenship. Now he is an international
ambassador of Happiness & Quality of Life. At TEDxGhent he gave the final answer to the everlasting question whether the glass is half full or half empty.

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)

[Nativgod]

We don't see people the way they are, we see people the way we are. Profound and true.

[fenntea]

It doesn't matter if you see the glass as half full or half empty. Because its always full. 1/2 liquid and 1/2 air.

[DhanunjayaSrisailamTTT]

He blew up my mind. What a talk. Loved it.

[Bima_Lack]

if you're putting something into the glass you're filling it. so is half full

if you're taking something out of the glass, you're emptying it. So it half empty

Water was poured into the glass, so at that moment, it's half full.... but when someone decides to pour the water out, it will already be half empty

[vinnyboombots]

How did the glass start? Was it empty or was it full?  The answer is in the question...

[hypercrazy-ixwp]

I personally feel its half full. BUT I WOULDNT describe myself as an optimist. Anyways my logic to this is a simple-ish explanation.
I think it's half full as if you think about gravity and science and all the wonders water doesn't float.. and if it doesn't float then how can you describe it as half empty. If you were to not fill it at all sure air is an element but you wouldn't see anything! And what you can't see wouldn't count. As you can see water I think it's half full. Also as you were to fill a whole glass of water you could see it and its actually like a human thing to do.
Nobody looks at an empty glass of water not even any liquid as its not even an empty glass of liquid it's just a glass.
Empty can be anything really.
Lovely video keep it up!
Im a secret nerd (:

[enddigital]

When I put on my prospective, you could see it in both ways but the right way is to only see it as half full. let me explain why I said that, if you are the guy who complains and don't appreciate what you have or the guy who have everything and also ambitious. then you are the guy who see it as half empty. But if you understand you will never truly be happy than your the guy who see it as half full and appreciate what you have. see it this way, the air always be on top of you and the water will be under you, that is the reality but remember to appreciate what you have under you and never forget you will never grave the air.  

[spalius]

Optimist: Its half full
Pessimist: Its half empty
Feminist: Its being raped

[labyrinthofknowledge.]

After all the times I've ever heard someone use this analogy of the glass is half full or empty. I've never heard anyone ask the question. who stole the other half of my drink and how do I refill my glass

[MarkusDarkess]

People arguing.. but the focus is never on the water wether the water is filled in or poured out. The focus is on the cup. Is the cup half full with water. The focus is on the water. But the cup is full.

[NoirpoolSea]

The glass is _all_ empty. Solid matter is mostly empty space. Even the glass "itself" is empty space. Your very self is also an illusion. Be the change you want to be.

[sibulelemene]

Depends, if it was poured full and put to half then its half empty, if it was poured to reach half then its half full

[TheaDragonSpirit]

It's neither half full or half empty. It's just right.

[JamsFilmsYT]

If you're filling the glass up with water and stop half way, it's half full, if you drink out of it or spill some water out of it, it would be half empty.

[HybridGib]

Is a mermaid half-human or half-fish?

Kind of a loaded question when you put it that way

[randommemesweekly]

fools, if you drink the water it's half empty, and if you fill the cup it's half full

checkmate

[c.d.outdoors]

Filling it half way is half full empty it half way it’s half empty

[physicalreserves]

The glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

[TheDempsFamily]

all he had to do was say if its half full or half empty

[MsSquarer]

I think too much....my glass is half full of optimism that I could cannot seem to achievethe full glass because of the half empty which is squashing me down. Can you guess who half empty is? 😭