Discovering Hidden Potential | Ansh Shrivastava | TEDxYouth@EuroSchoolKharadi
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6esuw9AHZYY Video ID: 6esuw9AHZYY ============================================================ [Music] [Music] What if I tell you we all have a hidden superpower? A power so strong it can change lives, men hearts, and maybe even save the world. Sounds incredible, isn't it? But here's the catch. It's so well hidden that most of us don't even know we have it. I didn't know I have it until I accidentally found it. It all started a few months ago when a new neighbor moved in along with a young boy of my age. At first, I didn't think much of it, but then I started noticing. He acted differently. He would say things that seemed out of place. He would speak in a way that quite didn't match his age. And his behavior sometimes made me feel uncomfortable. His behavior was like trying to solve a maths problem with no solution. Ah, frustrating and confusing. Whenever we played as a group, the vibe always changed. One day he approached us and one of my friends cracked a joke on him. We all laughed. He looked at us, turned and walked away. He come on, we were just joking, I called out, but he ignored. We shoved it off, thinking he's being all romantic. Obviously, we were having some casual fun. We laughed at this awkwardness, not realizing how our actions were hurting him. Soon, he became quieter, and even when we crossed paths in the lobby or in the elevator, he never spoke a word. One day, I couldn't help but ask, "Hey, what's wrong with you? Why don't you come down to play? Why are you so quiet?" He shouted and looked down. I can still remember his quiet voice. He said, "Nothing. I'm fine." At that moment, I assumed he was just isolating himself on purpose. I believe that all our actions were just harmless fun and he was being too sensitive on it. But then something happened. Karma came knocking. A moment that changed everything. It was my first day at the guitar class, something I had been excited about and even prepared a piece to play. But as soon as I entered the room, my excitement turned into nose. I realized I was more like Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star than being a rock star. I looked around and saw everyone play with such ease, their fingers moving confidently across the strings. On the other hand, I was struggling. My hand shook, my fingers coupled with every note I played, and the sound coming from my guitar was no to what I had practiced. It can be described as a cat fighting a vacuum cleaner. And then I heard it, a whisper, a giggle. I glanced over and saw that some of the older students were laughing. And one of them even said loud enough for me to hear it clearly. Wow, he's really struggling. At that moment, I felt embarrassed. I felt small. My face grew hot. And the only thing I could think about was why were they laughing at me? They don't know how hard I've practiced. They don't know how nervous I am. And it's my first day of the guitar class. But then something inside me clicked. It was like a light bulb going off. My neighbor, my friend, the one I had judged so quickly. He must have felt the same like this. He must have felt the same sense of loneliness. I felt awful that I only thought about having my own one. A few weeks later, I found out the truth. My neighbor had a condition and was not as normal as we are. At that moment, a sudden wave of guilt hit me. He was sad and I had no idea. Instead of showing him kindness, I had made fun. Instead of supporting him, I had pushed him away. I realized I had missed the chance to use my own superpower. A power that could have made my friend feel more important. And that superpower is empathy. Empathy is the ability to step into to someone else's shoe, to feel what they feel, and to understand their situation. It is the power to connect, to care, and to make people feel they are less alone. When we use empathy, we don't just make someone feel better. We unmask their inner potential. And just make we unmask our way. Imagine if we all chose empathy first. Imagine if instead of judging, we started understanding. Imagine if instead of looking into someone's actions, we took the time to look into their heart. And you know what? It doesn't take any special skill. It only takes a moment. A moment to pause, to listen, and to care. We live in a world that sometimes quick to judge, quick to assume, and quick to turn around from others pain. But empathy can change that. With empathy, we can make people feel like they matter. What kind of world would that create? A beautiful world where everyone felt valued, where everyone felt understood, and where no one felt invisible. And the best part, empathy is free. No download needed, no subscription fee, and no terms and condition applied. As I wrap up, I want to leave you all with one final question to think about. Why do we only understand others pain only when we experience it ourselves? Let's choose empathy and make the world kinder, more compassionate, and more connected because we all have the power to change someone's life. And who knows, empathy one day might just change the world. So let's not wait anymore. Let's choose empathy today. Thank you. [Music] [Music]