I agree. It’s hard to see that when we are in the middle of our suffering. But if we are able to shift our perspective it will determine if we make it through the pain or get stuck in it. Thank u for being open to seeing emotional pain another way.
Michelle Livingston Thorstad - you are an amazing person! Thanks for putting yourself out there and preparing all of us for when emotional pain comes to our door.
Aww thanks Shawn! I’ll never forget a conversation we had at one of my reviews at BBY. You were giving me some constructive criticism and immediately after u shared your feedback, you told me that my greatest asset was who I was as a person. That meant so much to me and has always stayed with me and been a source of encouragement for me when I feel like I’ve failed in life. Thanks for being a cheerleader on my journey and one of the people who helped me get to where I am at today in my professional life. Appreciate u!
The metaphor of emotional pain as a gift is so powerful and definitely rings true for me. Some of the biggest changes in my life or times when I felt I really grew were after really big traumatic events.
Amen! Our suffering and pain reveal new attributes to us of who God is. Attributes that we don’t discover until we go through a season of hardship . He makes the suffering worth it as he loves and comforts us in ways we’ve never experienced.
Michelle spoke truth to the heart and gave us the gift of being willing to be vulnerable so that others could grow by finding their authentic self! She brings a wealth of experience to share and a compassion to those going through emotional pain. She has faced the greatest battle to change ones perspective and because of that has invaluable lessons to share! Thank you for the treasured gift of your talk!!!
Thank you! It’s pretty amazing that nature mirrors this concept as well. It helps us better understand in a tangible, simplistic way how hardships work for our benefit and growth in the long run. Thanks for listening!
I never thought I'd say this, but I want to be more like those teens - real, raw, and vulnerable with my emotions. Must be so liberating to just let it out
Thank you for sharing your story of how emotional pain has been a blessing. You are a woman of hope and wisdom helping others through their pain to emotional freedom! Great teaching that impacts everyone.
You can just feel her genuine passion for helping others find healing and freedom. We need more people like her in the world who are willing to turn their hardships into lessons and share them with the world
I related so hard to her honesty about resisting and avoiding pain. It's so much easier to numb out than feel it all. But she's inspired me to be brave and lean in.
Have experienced her mentoring/counseling first-hand. Would trust this woman with my life. When she speaks she speaks with love, experience and integrity. This is definitely worth a listen!
This talk has really flipped the script for me on how I view pain... To think of it not as my enemy but as a teacher and even a friend is really empowering.
Amazing concept. I personally was forced to face the emotional pain of a Traumatic Brain Injury and saw the value of starting a TBI Support Group. Love Michelle and her work.
Volunteering with teens sounds like such a transformative experience. It's inspiring to see how openness and vulnerability can lead to deep connections and even healing
Yes! Volunteering can be life-changing. Sharing our stories and our gifts with others is healing and helps us find purpose and significance in our pain. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I’m so happy to have you as a mentor Michelle! I’m also glad that you can tell your story from such a huge platform that can resonate and touch so many people! Proud of you!!!
"Trust comes when actions meet words.." Michelle speaks of great advice based on experiences or life tests in Her story. These are the type tests or conquered hardships that can be trusted in the fashion of resilience and positive living. It's a great confirmation that we don't have to fight around these painful gifts and also a good reminder that there is support out there..if your ego will deflate enough to be open to it.
Indeed. It’s so hard to ask for help in our culture. Independence is celebrated in our country. But we weren’t designed to do life alone. We need one another and those that can humble themselves and admit that are the ones who typically thrive when the emotional distress comes. Thank u for your thoughts!
Thank you. Vulnerability with the right people 6:50 is essential to allowing others to know us and help us shoulder our pain. So hard to find those circles sometimes. But essential for us to come out on the other side in a better place.
I think her journey is really interesting, that kind of mindset shift is huge and I've seen how beneficial it can be for people. I wish more people took this approach to their problems instead of just wanting to be a victim
Thank you. Yes mindset shifts are the hardest to change because their so deeply rooted and start to develop from the time we are born. Yet how we see our circumstances is vital to how we will navigate them. Thanks for listening!
The part about the correlation between pain persistence and isolation was super interesting! It makes sense that having support would help with burdens like that. Bit sad for those who don't though
I agree! Having community is the difference between us getting through our pain and us getting stuck in it. Breaks my heart when people don’t have support around them. We need each other and too often we’re too embarrassed or ashamed or depressed to reach out for help. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Appreciate u!
Michelle is incredibly wise! I love her ability to be able to shift perspective help find hope in the midst of hopelessness. I love how engaging she is and how she tells story. She is incredibly gifted in speaking. I feel so honored to know her and to learn from her wisdom!
Michelle Livingston is a person in my life who has had a profound impact on me. The way she genuinely loves people in every walk and season blows me away. Great talk!
Michelle, you have always been my go to for solid and unbiased advice. This clip definitely spoke to me. I appreciate your friendship and non judgmental love more than you know!
Loved the metaphor of roots going deeper during times of stress... to think that our struggles can lead us to new depths within ourselves is really quite beautiful
Pain is a gift. God uses pain to show us something is wrong, so we can take steps to healing. Thanks for sharing, Michelle. May we all learn and grow and become better people.
Michelle is a highly gifted mentor, coach and counselor dedicated to the wholistic growth and development of her clients. I have observed her ability to overcome her emotional pain and translated that into helping others, young and old lead a more productive life.
I’ve never thought of emotional pain as something that could be shared and lightened. I would like to be able to do this but I don't know who I would even share my pain with
Thank u for being honest about that. It’s so hard to find authentic places and people to trust with our deepest hurts. I would suggest looking into support groups in your area. Depending on what you are dealing with, there are a lot of organizations out there that hold groups for people. Grief share is one. Finding a counselor is very helpful as well.
Also, Rob Reimer has a book called Soul Care and he holds Soul Care weekend conferences around the world helping people share and process their pain. I’d highly recommend checking him out.
Incredible message from an inspiring human! This is the message the world needs!!! .Michelle, you absolutely blow me away with your empathy, understanding and ability to connect. Congratulations!!!
I can't help but feel sad about those who don't have access to a supportive community... Kind of makes sense of how people can turn out so bitter and mean, I imagine being isolated is what does that anyway
Eesh I feel called out here lol I know I need to stop avoiding my emotional pain but I just don't know how to really process it in a way that's not destructive.
Soul Care by Rob Reimer is an excellent book on processing past hurts. He also holds weekend conferences to help people process their pain that are life changing. I’d encourage you to check him out.
I appreciate the idea of seeing emotional pain as a gift, but not everyone has the support system to help them through it. Sometimes we're so alone in something that the pain just pushes us further into isolation
One of the worst video titles I've ever seen. Pain is pain and it can be traumatic. Stop trying to pretend it's a good thing. Being a survivor isn't the same thing as glorifying suffering.
AI bots' responses or at least a "fearless anonymous" troll, it appears (e.g., the randomness of the userID ... normal humans can't remember that craziness). AI bots infiltrated all social networks. One can tell by its random responses, or the (in)ability to relate to human emotions - pain, happiness, fear, love, hatred, ... Good thing we can block these bots nowadays.
That point about how sharing our pain with others lessens the burden... I've experienced that too. Connection is medicine.
Indeed. We weren’t made to carry it alone.
I was so moved by the story of the teens finding joy and connection through sharing their struggles. That's the power of community right there.
Amen sister!
This message blessed my soul. 🎁
"You may just find yourself" Love this, and the idea that our deepest pain can lead us to our deepest truth and identity... that's powerful stuff.
Seeing emotional pain as a gift is something I never thought I would understand. Well said!
I agree. It’s hard to see that when we are in the middle of our suffering. But if we are able to shift our perspective it will determine if we make it through the pain or get stuck in it. Thank u for being open to seeing emotional pain another way.
A speech full of wisdom, that’s my mama!!
Turning pain into purpose!
Michelle Livingston Thorstad - you are an amazing person! Thanks for putting yourself out there and preparing all of us for when emotional pain comes to our door.
Aww thanks Shawn! I’ll never forget a conversation we had at one of my reviews at BBY. You were giving me some constructive criticism and immediately after u shared your feedback, you told me that my greatest asset was who I was as a person. That meant so much to me and has always stayed with me and been a source of encouragement for me when I feel like I’ve failed in life. Thanks for being a cheerleader on my journey and one of the people who helped me get to where I am at today in my professional life. Appreciate u!
I never thought about emotional pain as a gift before, but it makes so much sense. It's like a wake-up call to deal with our stuff and grow.
Yes!!! Emotional Pain can be an invitation to finding interior freedom if we allow it to do its work! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts!
The metaphor of emotional pain as a gift is so powerful and definitely rings true for me. Some of the biggest changes in my life or times when I felt I really grew were after really big traumatic events.
Me too! It sucks that the pathway to growth requires pain but I’m so thankful that our pain is never in vain! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Some of the best lessons in life are coming from the emotional events we go through.
What a life-giving message ... so well said! A great reminder of the fullness of joy God offers us! Wonderful wisdom!
Amen! Our suffering and pain reveal new attributes to us of who God is. Attributes that we don’t discover until we go through a season of hardship . He makes the suffering worth it as he loves and comforts us in ways we’ve never experienced.
Michelle spoke truth to the heart and gave us the gift of being willing to be vulnerable so that others could grow by finding their authentic self! She brings a wealth of experience to share and a compassion to those going through emotional pain. She has faced the greatest battle to change ones perspective and because of that has invaluable lessons to share! Thank you for the treasured gift of your talk!!!
Wow wow wow!!!
Thank you !
I loved how you tied the concept of resilience to both human nature and nature itself. The grape analogy in particular was so good!
Thank you! It’s pretty amazing that nature mirrors this concept as well. It helps us better understand in a tangible, simplistic way how hardships work for our benefit and growth in the long run. Thanks for listening!
so beautifully said! it’s definitely important to see the purpose behind our pain and the resilience it will bring to us!
beautiful woman and mind❤️
I never thought I'd say this, but I want to be more like those teens - real, raw, and vulnerable with my emotions. Must be so liberating to just let it out
I agree!! Thanks for sharing
Thank you for sharing your story of how emotional pain has been a blessing. You are a woman of hope and wisdom helping others through their pain to emotional freedom! Great teaching that impacts everyone.
Thank you for your kind words.
Strong message with great wisdom. Your openness & vulnerability opens us to our own tender soul. Tremendous gift & blessing!!
Thank you Jill!
Thank you for being so vulnerable.
Can't imagine how much courage it must have took for her to open up about her own story like that. I have so much respect for her vulnerability.
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing the importance of learning to embrace our pain to be able to move forward in life.
You can just feel her genuine passion for helping others find healing and freedom. We need more people like her in the world who are willing to turn their hardships into lessons and share them with the world
Thank u so much for your kind word!
The slogan about getting into it if you can't get out of it is really good! Will be remembering it for next time life gets tough
Yes! When we start to cooperate with it instead of fighting it we can learn from it. We can’t change what we won’t accept.
Incredible message by an incredibly powerful woman! Well done my sweet friend!
Thank you so much!
This talk was a beautiful reminder of how resilient the human spirit is. We can overcome so much more than we give ourselves credit for.
Amen! We are overcomers!
Good word! It's true...emotional pain can bring unexpected community, resilience, and joy...as long as we press in and dont avoid it
I related so hard to her honesty about resisting and avoiding pain. It's so much easier to numb out than feel it all. But she's inspired me to be brave and lean in.
Thank you for your vulnerability!
Have experienced her mentoring/counseling first-hand. Would trust this woman with my life. When she speaks she speaks with love, experience and integrity. This is definitely worth a listen!
This talk has really flipped the script for me on how I view pain... To think of it not as my enemy but as a teacher and even a friend is really empowering.
Yes! Perspective is key!
Amazing concept. I personally was forced to face the emotional pain of a Traumatic Brain Injury and saw the value of starting a TBI Support Group. Love Michelle and her work.
You are a rockstar. So amazing to meet you. Love your message and presentation.
Thank you Ali! The feeling is mutual! Look forward to connecting with the you again in the near future!
"Try opening it up and see what it has to offer you" - that's gonna be my new motto when life gets messy. Embrace the pain, baby!
Yes! I love that! Thanks for sharing!
Volunteering with teens sounds like such a transformative experience. It's inspiring to see how openness and vulnerability can lead to deep connections and even healing
Yes! Volunteering can be life-changing. Sharing our stories and our gifts with others is healing and helps us find purpose and significance in our pain. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Michelle is a woman who walks the talk in real life. Full of wisdom learned through real pain. One of my favorite people to connect with.
Thank you for your kind words!
I love how she talked about finding joy in the middle of the pain. It's not about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain.
Preach!! Thanks sharing!
Damn, I gotta say, she is one wise and brave woman. You can tell she's walked through the fire and come out gold.
Thank you for your kind words!
@@speakermichellelivingston1277 great talk - the thanks is to you!
Oh I love this, and she is so good on the stage - bravo!
You’re so kind. Thank you!
I’m so happy to have you as a mentor Michelle! I’m also glad that you can tell your story from such a huge platform that can resonate and touch so many people! Proud of you!!!
The feeling is mutual! :)
"Trust comes when actions meet words.." Michelle speaks of great advice based on experiences or life tests in Her story. These are the type tests or conquered hardships that can be trusted in the fashion of resilience and positive living. It's a great confirmation that we don't have to fight around these painful gifts and also a good reminder that there is support out there..if your ego will deflate enough to be open to it.
Indeed. It’s so hard to ask for help in our culture. Independence is celebrated in our country. But we weren’t designed to do life alone. We need one another and those that can humble themselves and admit that are the ones who typically thrive when the emotional distress comes. Thank u for your thoughts!
This is a must watch! The vulnerability and strength that Michelle speaks with is unmatched.
Thank you. Vulnerability with the right people 6:50 is essential to allowing others to know us and help us shoulder our pain. So hard to find those circles sometimes. But essential for us to come out on the other side in a better place.
Love the analogy with grapes and wine! It's such a cool way to think about growth through tough times.
I agree! Crazy how similar and connected we are to nature.
Loved this speech!! 🩷
Thank you!
Man, I'm guilty of numbing my pain with Netflix and food too. But she's right, we gotta lean into it and feel it to heal it.
It’s nice to know I’m not alone in my numbing agents! Lol. Thanks for empathizing!
You are so wise!!!❤
The vintage wine metaphor was spot on. Just like grapes need stress to become something beautiful, we need challenges to bring out our full potential.
I appreciated the vulnerability you showed in sharing with us. It's clear you have a natural talent and are truly in your element on this platform!
I think her journey is really interesting, that kind of mindset shift is huge and I've seen how beneficial it can be for people. I wish more people took this approach to their problems instead of just wanting to be a victim
Thank you. Yes mindset shifts are the hardest to change because their so deeply rooted and start to develop from the time we are born. Yet how we see our circumstances is vital to how we will navigate them. Thanks for listening!
Brb, gonna go text my besties and see who wants to be my "heart check accountability buddy." We all need that kind of realness in our lives ❤
Awesome! I love that!!
The part about the correlation between pain persistence and isolation was super interesting! It makes sense that having support would help with burdens like that. Bit sad for those who don't though
I agree! Having community is the difference between us getting through our pain and us getting stuck in it. Breaks my heart when people don’t have support around them. We need each other and too often we’re too embarrassed or ashamed or depressed to reach out for help. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Appreciate u!
I so needed to see this today - bless you
Praise God!! He knows just how to give us what we need when we need it. Hugs
Michelle is incredibly wise! I love her ability to be able to shift perspective help find hope in the midst of hopelessness. I love how engaging she is and how she tells story. She is incredibly gifted in speaking. I feel so honored to know her and to learn from her wisdom!
You’re so kind! I feel so blessed that I get to work with such incredible , resilient, individuals like yourself! You inspire me all the time!
❤
Michelle Livingston is a person in my life who has had a profound impact on me. The way she genuinely loves people in every walk and season blows me away. Great talk!
Thank u. It is an honor to companion you on your journey and watch u flourish as u embrace the hard stuff!
Michelle, you have always been my go to for solid and unbiased advice. This clip definitely spoke to me. I appreciate your friendship and non judgmental love more than you know!
Loved the metaphor of roots going deeper during times of stress... to think that our struggles can lead us to new depths within ourselves is really quite beautiful
I agree. It’s fascinating how nature demonstrates this concept so well for us
@@speakermichellelivingston1277 absoloutely
Pain is a gift. God uses pain to show us something is wrong, so we can take steps to healing. Thanks for sharing, Michelle. May we all learn and grow and become better people.
Amen! Everything works for our good! Thanks for listening! 😊
Amen! Not fun to go through, but ultimately for our good. God is good.
Ha! What an incredible concept. I certainly have many "gifts" waiting for me
Yes u do!!
@@speakermichellelivingston1277 bless you
Michelle is a highly gifted mentor, coach and counselor dedicated to the wholistic growth and development of her clients. I have observed her ability to overcome her emotional pain and translated that into helping others, young and old lead a more productive life.
Thank you for your kind words. The journey is always worth it if others are able to benefit from it as a result
Interesting perspective on dealing with pain. I can see how changing our mindset would help
Thank you for being open to hearing another approach!
@@speakermichellelivingston1277 💜💜
I’ve never thought of emotional pain as something that could be shared and lightened. I would like to be able to do this but I don't know who I would even share my pain with
Thank u for being honest about that. It’s so hard to find authentic places and people to trust with our deepest hurts. I would suggest looking into support groups in your area. Depending on what you are dealing with, there are a lot of organizations out there that hold groups for people. Grief share is one. Finding a counselor is very helpful as well.
Also, Rob Reimer has a book called Soul Care and he holds Soul Care weekend conferences around the world helping people share and process their pain. I’d highly recommend checking him out.
@@speakermichellelivingston1277 great referral, thanks
Real.
Incredible message from an inspiring human! This is the message the world needs!!! .Michelle, you absolutely blow me away with your empathy, understanding and ability to connect. Congratulations!!!
Thank for being the wise woman along the way. Appreciate u so much
I can't help but feel sad about those who don't have access to a supportive community... Kind of makes sense of how people can turn out so bitter and mean, I imagine being isolated is what does that anyway
Yes it’s heartbreaking. Genuine, authentic community is difficult to find no matter what age. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Eesh I feel called out here lol I know I need to stop avoiding my emotional pain but I just don't know how to really process it in a way that's not destructive.
Soul Care by Rob Reimer is an excellent book on processing past hurts. He also holds weekend conferences to help people process their pain that are life changing. I’d encourage you to check him out.
@@speakermichellelivingston1277 Wow thank you! I definitely will
It's wild to think about how much training she had in mental health, but still felt unprepared for her own pain.
Indeed. Sometimes the messenger must become the message to truly relate
@@speakermichellelivingston1277 yes, lovely talk thank you
Professional advice
Thank you. I appreciate your affirmation!
I appreciate the idea of seeing emotional pain as a gift, but not everyone has the support system to help them through it. Sometimes we're so alone in something that the pain just pushes us further into isolation
Such a great message. Powerful words
Thank you!
How to navigate this pain, i am feeling numb now in the middle of this , dont know how to move forward...i am feeling stuck rn😢
One of the worst video titles I've ever seen. Pain is pain and it can be traumatic. Stop trying to pretend it's a good thing. Being a survivor isn't the same thing as glorifying suffering.
Amateur advice
TedXTalks are full of amateurs and most talks now are mediocre crapola.
@@uaps28 I appreciate her telling her story but I got better advice off a 10yo.
@@JasonKnee-l7h LOLZ
AI bots' responses or at least a "fearless anonymous" troll, it appears (e.g., the randomness of the userID ... normal humans can't remember that craziness). AI bots infiltrated all social networks. One can tell by its random responses, or the (in)ability to relate to human emotions - pain, happiness, fear, love, hatred, ... Good thing we can block these bots nowadays.