Growth is a journey, not a destination. The choices we make each day shape who we become and determine whether we continue to expand our minds and push beyond our self-imposed limitations. One of the best ways to motivate and inspire yourself to pursue continuous self-improvement is by exposing yourself to empowering ideas from influential thinkers and leaders.

Below are 10 of the most inspiring TED Talks that will fuel your growth mindset and help you cultivate the habits and skills to achieve your full human potential.

In his talk “The Mindset of a Champion,” Eduardo Briceño reveals how we can develop a growth mindset by embracing challenges, learning from criticism, and viewing failures as opportunities to improve. By adopting the mindset of a champion, we can achieve breakthroughs in our lives, careers, and relationships.

In “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance,” Angela Lee Duckworth shares her insights into the trait she calls “grit”—the ability to sustain passion and perseverance over long periods to achieve meaningful goals. She explains why talent is less important than effort and how we can cultivate grit in ourselves and others.

In “The Puzzle of Motivation,” Dan Pink examines what really motivates us and how businesses and leaders can tap into our intrinsic motivation. Autonomy, mastery, and purpose are the three elements that drive people to push themselves to greatness. Pink shows how to apply these insights to the workplace, education, and daily life.

In “The Power of Vulnerability,” Brené Brown shares her eye-opening findings from over a decade of research into vulnerability, courage, authenticity, and shame. She explores how vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change and why we must embrace vulnerability to live wholeheartedly.

In “The Happy Secret to Better Work,” Shawn Achor makes the compelling case that happiness inspires productivity and success, not the other way around. He highlights practical ways we can rewire our brains to become more positive in order to gain a competitive advantage at work and in life.

Mindfulness is the practice of purposely focusing your attention on the present moment—and accepting it without judgment. Mindfulness meditation, in particular, has been shown to have significant benefits for both the body and mind. Several studies show that mindfulness can decrease stress, reduce rumination, enhance focus and concentration, decrease emotional reactivity, and promote an overall sense of health and well-being.

Practicing mindfulness does not require expensive equipment or a big time commitment. You can start by focusing your attention on your breath for just a few minutes a day. Find a quiet and distraction-free place to sit comfortably. Close your eyes and simply observe your breath as it flows in and out. Do not try to control your breath, just observe it. When your attention wanders, gently bring it back to your breath. Start with just 2-3 minutes a day and build up from there.

Another easy way to practice mindfulness is through a body scan meditation. Systematically tense and relax different muscle groups in your body one by one. Start at your feet and work your way up to your calves, thighs, abs, chest, shoulders, arms, and face. Tense each muscle group for 5-10 seconds and release. Notice the sensations in each part of your body as you do this exercise. This helps you develop an awareness and appreciation for your physical body in the present moment.

You can also practice mindfulness through simple daily activities like eating, walking, brushing your teeth, doing chores, etc. Pay close attention to the smells, tastes, textures, sounds, and sensations of each activity. Notice the way your body moves and how your weight shifts. Appreciate the simple pleasures in each moment. Be fully present rather than rushing through the activity while your mind is elsewhere.

With regular practice, the benefits of mindfulness can extend well beyond the time you spend meditating. You can develop an increased awareness and acceptance of your thoughts and feelings, which helps reduce rumination and negative self-judgment. You become better able to focus on one thing at a time, and less likely to act out of impulse or habit. Your enhanced awareness and focus translate to improved concentration and a greater appreciation for life’s simple pleasures.

Practicing mindfulness does not require a major life overhaul. Start with just a few minutes a day of focused breathing, a body scan, or mindful daily activity. Be patient and compassionate with yourself. Don’t judge yourself for wandering thoughts, just gently guide your focus back to the present moment. With regular practice, the benefits of improved focus, calmness, and wellbeing will become apparent in both your meditations as well as your daily life.

A sense of purpose and meaning in life is one of the most empowering feelings. Knowing why you’re here and what you’re meant to do can help guide your decisions, motivate you, and give you a sense of direction. However, finding your purpose isn’t always easy. Here are some tips to help you discover your life’s purpose:

Many people find their purpose at the intersection of their passions and the world’s needs. Think about issues that stir your heart or injustices you want to remedy. At the same time, reflect on your unique skills, talents, and strengths. Your purpose may involve using your gifts to serve a greater good.

Look for clues in your life experiences. The struggles you’ve overcome, your proudest accomplishments, and the times you’ve felt most alive and engaged can all point to your purpose. Look for common themes and connections in your life’s most meaningful moments.

Pay attention to what excites or energizes you. Notice the activities, subjects, and types of work you find most stimulating and engaging. Your purpose should be something that motivates and inspires you, not drains or depletes you.

Don’t be afraid to explore. Your purpose may not be immediately obvious. Try out different paths and possibilities to gain clarity. Take a class on a new topic, volunteer for a local charity, pick up a hobby, or learn a new skill. See what resonates most with you.

Talk to others who know you well. Share your search for purpose with people who understand you and your gifts. Ask them what they see as your calling or how they think you can best contribute to the world. Look for commonalities in their feedback.

Be open to your purpose evolving. Your purpose may change as you grow and life circumstances change. Revisit your sense of purpose regularly and look for new ways to expand it or directions it may be leading you. Your purpose will continue to unfold over the course of your life.

Stay committed to living on purpose. Once you gain clarity about your purpose, take steps each day to fulfill it. Make choices that align with your purpose and say no to distractions that pull you away from it. Your life’s purpose will only have meaning if you dedicate yourself to pursuing it.

Living a life of purpose is a journey. Be patient with yourself and maintain an open heart and mind. Your purpose will become clear one step, one discovery at a time. Have faith that the life you were meant to live is waiting for you.

Change can be scary, but stepping out of your comfort zone is the only way to grow. Here are five ways to embrace change and push past your fears:

Trying new things exposes you to new perspectives and ways of thinking. Take up a hobby you’ve never tried before, read a book on a subject you know nothing about, travel to a place you’ve never been. New experiences create new neural pathways in the brain and promote cognitive flexibility.

Face your fears instead of avoiding them. Whether it’s public speaking, heights, or asking someone out on a date, avoiding fearful situations only makes the fear intensify over time. Take small steps to confront anxieties in a gradual way. Each time you face a fear, it becomes less frightening.

Surround yourself with people who challenge you. Seek out relationships that expose you to different life experiences and ways of thinking. Engage in debates. Ask others questions about their perspectives and values. An open and curious mindset leads to personal growth.

Get comfortable with discomfort. Change is inherently uncomfortable, but the ability to tolerate discomfort is a skill that can be developed. Take cold showers, hold a plank pose, fast for a day. Discomfort exercises your mental muscle and builds resilience.

Reflect on how far you’ve come. Looking back at past achievements and life transitions helps build confidence in your ability to navigate change. You have grown and adapted many times before, and you will continue to do so. Appreciate how your life experiences have shaped you.

Change may never feel completely comfortable, but with practice, you can get better at embracing the uncertainty. Stepping out of your comfort zone is a journey, not a destination. But with an open and willing spirit, you can find excitement and opportunity where there was once only fear. The more you invite change in, the more vibrant and meaningful your life will become.

Building strong, meaningful relationships takes effort and time. While casual acquaintances come and go, deep relationships require nurturing to last. Focus on listening to others and being fully present. Make eye contact, give them your full attention, and listen to understand rather than just reply. Ask open-ended questions to get to know them better and find common interests. Share details about yourself too, to build intimacy through reciprocal vulnerability.

Express appreciation and affection regularly. Say “I appreciate you” often. Give hugs, hold hands, high-fives and pats on the back. Physical affection releases oxytocin which strengthens feelings of trust and attachment. Make quality time for meaningful interactions. Put away your devices, make eye contact and engage in real conversations. Try new activities together like cooking, hiking or volunteering. New shared experiences release dopamine which boosts feelings of pleasure and connection.

Be supportive through challenges and setbacks. Offer encouragement, help out when needed and celebrate wins together. Helping each other through difficulties builds resilience and bonds people together. Have fun and laugh together. Watch a funny movie, play games, go to a comedy show or just laugh at an inside joke. Laughter releases endorphins that improve mood and strengthen relationships.

Be honest, trustworthy and willing to share secrets. Honesty and trust are the foundation of meaningful relationships. Share details about your life, your struggles, your dreams and your interests. Give advice and offer help freely. Be willing to share your authentic self, imperfections and all. Show that you trust them by sharing your secrets and being transparent.

Make an effort to stay in contact and strengthen your connection. Even simple things like sending messages to say you’re thinking of them, calling to chat or getting together in person when possible. Make contact a priority to nurture your relationship. Relationships require work, so make the effort to reach out proactively. Let people know you value them.

Say “I love you” often to the people closest to you. Expressing love and affection strengthens the bonds between people. Love is the foundation of the most meaningful relationships, so openly sharing those feelings will make your relationships deeper and more fulfilling. Building strong, meaningful relationships takes conscious effort but rewards you with love, trust, support and joy.

Effective time management is key to increased productivity and success. When you manage your time wisely, you are able to achieve more in less time and with less stress. Here are 10 effective time management strategies to boost your productivity:

Create a daily schedule or routine and stick to it. Having a structured plan for each day will help you avoid wasting time and distraction. Plan your day in advance and focus on important tasks. Schedule time for both high-priority and less important activities. Leave some flexibility in your routine for unexpected tasks. Review how you’re spending your time regularly and make adjustments as needed to improve your productivity.

Prioritize important tasks. Not all tasks are created equal. Focus on high-impact activities that contribute to your key goals and priorities. Make a list of tasks and schedule them in order of importance. Work on high-priority items first before moving on to less important tasks. Learn to say no so you can focus on what really matters.

Eliminate distractions. Minimize notifications on your devices and try to avoid checking email and social media unless necessary. Let people know if you have important work to focus on and may have limited availability. Find a place to work where you can avoid interruptions. Start working on important tasks before you have a chance to get distracted.

Take regular breaks. While focusing is important, it’s also essential to recharge. Take short breaks every 90-120 minutes to renew your mental energy. Even taking short walking breaks can help you feel less stressed and more motivated. Try to disconnect from technology during breaks when possible.

Plan your time in chunks. Don’t feel overwhelmed by large, open-ended tasks. Break down big goals into smaller milestones and schedule time for each step. Start working, even if you only have a small amount of time. Making progress, no matter how small, will motivate you to continue moving forward.

Delegate when possible. Don’t try to do everything yourself. Identify tasks that can be delegated to others to free up more of your time for high-priority work. Provide clear instructions and deadlines to set the person up for success. Make yourself available to answer any questions. Trust that the work will get done.

Start working on important tasks early. Don’t delay important or high-priority work until later in the day when you may be tired or rushed. Start on impactful work as early as possible when your mind is fresh. Build momentum and make progress on key goals before other tasks and meetings take up your time.

Review how you’re using your time. Keep a time log for a few days to see exactly how you’re spending your hours and minutes. Look for time that can be better used. See if there are low-value tasks that can be eliminated or delegated. Look for blocks of time that can be scheduled for focused work. Make a plan to optimize your time for greater productivity and impact.

Avoid perfectionism. Don’t get caught up in making something flawless when good enough will do. Perfectionism leads to wasted time and reduced productivity. Establish deadlines and stick to them. Learn when it’s best to stop and move on. You can always revisit a task later to improve it if needed.

Take time for yourself. Make sure to schedule in personal time for yourself in addition to work. Take one or two days off each week to recharge and renew your motivation. Engage in hobbies and social interactions. Getting enough rest and downtime will boost your productivity and success when working. Make time for vacations and longer breaks when possible. Your productivity and motivation will benefit from the rest.

Self-reflection is one of the most important habits for continuous self-improvement and personal growth. Taking time to examine your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors helps you gain valuable insight into yourself, your patterns, and the areas where you have room for growth.

Regular self-reflection helps you better understand yourself and your reactions or behaviors. You can examine why you responded in a certain way to a situation, or why you continue to repeat a particular behavior or thought pattern. This self-awareness is the first step to making positive changes. When you understand the root cause of certain behaviors or habits, you can then make a plan to adjust them.

Self-reflection also helps reduce stress and negative emotions. Taking time to pause and look inward can help you maintain a balanced and healthy perspective. You can reflect on things you are grateful for, your values and priorities, and the progress you are making. This can help alleviate feelings of being overwhelmed or discouraged.

Another benefit of self-reflection is increased creativity and clarity. When your mind is clear and focused inward, you are able to see situations in a new light and potentially find new solutions to problems. As your mind quiets, your creativity is given space to emerge.

Self-reflection helps you learn and grow as a person. Looking back at your experiences, interactions, and how you handled different situations helps you gain valuable wisdom and life lessons. You can see what worked, what didn’t, and what you would do differently next time. This shapes your character and helps you become a wiser and more compassionate person.

Taking time for regular self-reflection and introspection has significant benefits for wellbeing and happiness. It leads to greater self-awareness and personal growth, less stress and negativity, increased creativity, and wisdom. Make the commitment to pause each day to look inward. Your mind, body, and spirit will thank you.

Resilience is the ability to adapt and thrive in the face of adversity. Developing resilience is a journey that often takes conscious effort and practice. Here are some tips to help cultivate resilience:

Adopt an optimistic mindset. While bad things happen, maintaining an optimistic outlook can help you see setbacks as temporary rather than permanent. Focus on finding opportunity and meaning even in difficult circumstances. Surround yourself with a strong support system. Strong, positive relationships with others can help reduce stress and provide encouragement. Connecting to others who share your experiences can also help put your own situation in perspective.

Practice self-care. Make sure to engage in regular exercise, eat healthy, get enough sleep, and limit unhealthy coping behaviors. Taking good care of yourself will help you better handle life’s challenges and setbacks. Learn from your experiences. Look for the lessons in your struggles and failures. What can you learn from the situation? How can you grow from it? Finding meaning and purpose can help build resilience.

Accept that change is a part of life. While change can be difficult, the only constant in life is change. Accepting this can help you adapt to life’s ups and downs. Rather than resisting change, look for ways to flow with it. Maintain a flexible and open mindset.

Take action and make a plan. Feeling in control of a situation, even in small ways, builds resilience. Don’t remain passive in the face of challenges. Take action by problem-solving, planning, and finding solutions. Even small actions can help shift your mindset to a more empowered one. While life is unpredictable, you can choose how you respond. Focus on the things you can influence rather than what you can’t.

Creativity is a skill that can be developed and strengthened over time. While some people are naturally more creative than others, everyone can boost their creative thinking by practicing certain techniques. Here are five ways to stimulate your creativity and boost innovation.

First, expose yourself to new ideas and subjects. Read books on topics you know nothing about, visit museums to see art you’ve never experienced before, pick up a hobby in a field you’ve never explored. Exposing yourself to new concepts and ways of thinking helps form new connections in your brain that spur creative thoughts. Traveling to new places also has a similar effect. Seeing different cultures and ways of living helps you gain new perspectives.

Second, brainstorm and make unexpected connections. Set a timer for 10-15 minutes and write down any ideas that come to mind, no matter how silly or improbable. Look for connections between unrelated ideas. The more ideas you can generate, the more likely you are to land on something truly innovative. Don’t censor yourself – just let your thoughts flow freely.

Third, take regular breaks to rest your mind. Creativity arises from an idle, wandering mind, not an overworked one. Take time each day to rest your mind through meditation, zoning out, napping, or whatever works for you. A well-rested mind is an innovative one. Some of the most famous “eureka” moments in history happened when the innovator’s mind was at rest.

Fourth, surround yourself with creative people. Spend time with people who think differently than you and expose you to new ideas. Their creativity will help stimulate your own. Bounce ideas off each other and build on each other’s thoughts. A creative, inspiring community can help motivate you and push you to achieve more innovative ideas.

Finally, look at problems from different angles. When faced with a challenge, try viewing it from multiple perspectives. Turn it upside down or inside out. Look for analogies and metaphorical connections. The more angles you can consider a problem from, the more likely you are to find an innovative solution. A fresh, unique perspective is key to creativity.

Active listening is a skill that can be developed and improved with conscious effort and practice. It requires giving the other person your full attention and listening to understand rather than just reply. Active listening involves paying attention to the speaker’s body language and tone of voice, not just the words themselves.

When you actively listen, you refrain from distractions and make eye contact. You maintain an open and curious mindset, rather than judging or planning what you’re going to say next. You allow the speaker to finish their thoughts without interruption. You then paraphrase what the speaker said to confirm you understood them correctly. This also gives the speaker a chance to clarify or elaborate on any points.

Asking follow up questions is another key part of active listening. This shows you are engaged and interested in gaining a deeper understanding. However, don’t interrogate the speaker or make them feel like they are being cross-examined. Keep your questions open-ended and posed with a curious, non-judgmental attitude.

Providing acknowledgment and feedback also demonstrates you are actively listening. Give verbal and non-verbal cues that you are listening by nodding, making eye contact and saying things like “uh-huh,” “yes” and “please continue.” Provide concise feedback by paraphrasing what the speaker said. Share your understanding of the key highlights and main takeaways to confirm they feel fully heard and understood.

When you are the one speaking, notice if the other person is actively listening. Do they make eye contact, nod and provide occasional “mm-hmm’s”? Do they rephrase what you said to confirm their understanding? Do they ask follow up questions to gain clarification or a deeper understanding of your perspective? Use their level of active listening to determine how deeply to share your thoughts.

With regular practice, active listening can become second nature. It is a skill that will enhance all of your relationships and lead to improved understanding and connection between you and others. Make the effort to be fully present – it can make a world of difference.