How to Find Your Purpose (W/ Yara Shahidi) | How to Be a Better Human | TED

Overview

Actress and producer Yara Shahidi reflects on her journey of balancing multiple identities—actor, student, and activist—while exploring themes of optimism, purpose, and personal growth. She shares practical tools like the Hard Yes list, insights on embracing imperfection, and the importance of historical perspective in navigating setbacks and progress.

Notable Quotes

- Optimism is not what exists in a vacuum on your best day, but how you're pulling through for yourself on your worst days. – Yara Shahidi, on the practice of optimism.

- Why am I getting such a large emotional reaction to being bad at something I have no right being good at? – Yara Shahidi, on embracing imperfection.

- Some of being a part of life is being on intimate terms with catastrophe. – Yara Shahidi, quoting Cornel West on resilience and historical perspective.

🎭 Balancing Dual Identities: Actor and Student

- Yara discusses the tension between her acting career and her academic pursuits at Harvard, noting how both shaped her empathy and intellectual curiosity.

- She rejected the either-or mindset imposed by others, instead seeking a symbiotic relationship between her passions.

- Her time on Black-ish and Grown-ish allowed her to explore civic engagement and education, which enriched her acting and personal growth.

🌟 The Practice of Optimism

- Yara describes optimism as a deliberate practice, not blind naivety. She contrasts her short-lived pessimism with the productivity and hopefulness that optimism fosters.

- She finds inspiration in history, particularly from those who worked toward futures they might never see, like the civil rights movement of 1963.

- The Hard Yes list—a personal inventory of things that bring joy—helps her reset during challenging times. Examples include live music, colorful clothing, and meaningful conversations.

📚 Learning and Historical Perspective

- Yara emphasizes the importance of understanding history to contextualize setbacks and progress. She reflects on generational differences in how societal changes are perceived.

- She acknowledges the ongoing nature of social justice work, noting that progress requires maintenance and vigilance.

- Her tattoo of 1963 serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by previous generations to create a better world.

🎨 Embracing Imperfection and Play

- Yara intentionally pursues hobbies she’s bad at, like playing the glockenspiel or crocheting, to embrace imperfection and find joy in the process.

- She shares a pivotal moment of shedding her fear of public failure, which opened doors to new experiences and personal growth.

- This mindset counters societal pressure to excel at everything and highlights the value of being an amateur.

🧭 Finding Purpose Through Highest Order

- Yara introduces the concept of highest order, a framework for identifying core priorities and values that guide decisions.

- She acknowledges the fluidity of purpose, noting that it evolves with life’s stages and challenges.

- Conversations with her grandfather and others have reinforced the idea that purpose doesn’t need to be fixed but can be sufficient for the present moment.