The lies our culture tells us about what matters --- and a better way to live | David Brooks

"If nobody's ever loved you, do you think you can be a good father?" Oh man that broke my heart.

I love it when I hear TED talks like this because it gives me hope that society will awaken to its self inflicted suffering and move forwards.

I was fortunate enough to have seen this talk in-person and I walked out of that room with chills and a different perspective of life.

"Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two." Gorgeous

"Pain that is not transformed gets transmitted" If you get hurt, don't kick the can down the road, take responsibility, show maturity. Transform

This is probably one of the finest ted talks on this plattform.

Listening to this made me weep, I am not the only person that feels this. Peace.

You know when you are hearing wisdom. It makes you stop and it gives you chills. Thank you David Brooks.

I never knew my father other than I was afraid of him. He never really came back from WWII, except as a shell of a man. I may have overcompensated a bit, but my son who is 32 now is my friend.

So much to unpack in this talk. I'll have to watch it few more times. We need to rebuild families and communities.

“Rape is not just an attack on a bunch of physical molecules, it’s an attempt to insult another persons soul.” Ugh, I felt that deep in my soul.

where you hear intrepiation in a voice the speaker has moved emotional mountains to share their truths, Thank you David Brooks

This absolutely cuts to the core. This message should be heard over and over again if we are to emerge from the darkness that is enveloping the world, particularly in the West. Have you ever noticed the beautiful Innocence of people from other places who focus their lives on family, friends, and neighbors? They will die far happier than anyone who devoted their lives to getting that next promotion or buying that bigger house.

David, I often read your column in the NYT, some times agree sometimes not. But you opened your heart to us all and in that you opened my heart to the possibilities of joy. Thank you.

“If no one has ever loved you, can you still be a great father?”-that’s when I busted into tears

Bravo David Brooks. Empathy - Understanding - Connection is the core of a joyful life. A higher and more glorious life.

One of the ABSOLUTE BEST segments of Ted Talks I have had the pleasure of watching. LESSON 1: NEVER put things ahead of people. LESSON 2: I once asked a co worker how he was doing. His answer ranged from how he just bought a new boat, his cottage up north, his new lawn mower, ect... and I thought to myself "I didnt ask you about them things, I wanted to know how are YOU?" STOP defining yourself and others by how much money you or they have, how big their bank account is, how expensive their home is, ect. It is childish, assinine , self defeating and besides- with all the day to day struggles everyone goes thru, who really gives a crap?

6:37 "The heart yearns for fusion with another, and the soul yearns for righteousness" - THAT is one of the most beautiful and most powerful things I've heard in my life.

I appreciate the fact that you tried to squeeze a life long message in 15 minutes. There is so much that needs to be opened up in every 5 seconds of your speech. Thank you sir for delivering the message for better humanity.

interesting. I did a project on Brooks in one of my english classes— we had to pick a columnist who was of the opposite political party as our own. He was listed as moderate conservative, and I come from a liberal city, family, and background, so I chose him. As I read his articles, though, I felt something resonate in me. His writings spoke truths. Anyways, now I’m an avid Brooks reader and I really applaud his vulnerability in this TED talk.