If you know me, you know that I have a deep love for TED talks. I want to share a few that have helped me find my way and inspired me to take action in this crazy world we live in. When life overwhelms me I have often turned to binge watching Netflix until I can deal. Luke and I got an apple TV for our wedding and discovered the TED channel. Sometime last year, I decided to challenge myself to watch at least one TED talk before Netflix when I felt the need to escape. Sometimes this resulted in one TED talk and a week long Netflix binge but other times it helped me reset my mind for just long enough to be able to face the world again. Here are five talks that have inspired change in me.

Brené Brown studies human connection — our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. A talk to share.

I changed my list way too many times because I didn't want to have two talks by the same work but Brene's work has profoundly affected my life and I think the two talks are best watched together.
Shame is an unspoken epidemic, the secret behind many forms of broken behavior. Brené Brown, whose earlier talk on vulnerability became a viral hit, explores what can happen when people confront their shame head-on. Her own humor, humanity and vulnerability shine through every word.

Childhood trauma isn’t something you just get over as you grow up. Pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris explains that the repeated stress of abuse, neglect and parents struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues has real, tangible effects on the development of the brain. This unfolds across a lifetime, to the point where those who’ve experienced high levels of trauma are at triple the risk for heart disease and lung cancer. An impassioned plea for pediatric medicine to confront the prevention and treatment of trauma, head-on.

We'll go to the doctor when we feel flu-ish or a nagging pain. So why don’t we see a health professional when we feel emotional pain: guilt, loss, loneliness? Too many of us deal with common psychological-health issues on our own, says Guy Winch. But we don’t have to. He makes a compelling case to practice emotional hygiene — taking care of our emotions, our minds, with the same diligence we take care of our bodies.

Our biases can be dangerous, even deadly — as we've seen in the cases of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner, in Staten Island, New York. Diversity advocate Vernā Myers looks closely at some of the subconscious attitudes we hold toward out-groups. She makes a plea to all people: Acknowledge your biases. Then move toward, not away from, the groups that make you uncomfortable. In a funny, impassioned, important talk, she shows us how.

Five not enough for you? Not to worry, I'll be sharing plenty more! :)