Mental prisons | Arab Hammoudeh | TEDxUniversityofSharjah

Arab talks to us about the three notions of overcoming what she refers to as "Mental Prisons." We human beings, she says, often find ourselves in crossroads where we have ideas and potential but never seems to know the right thing to do. Finding your passion, asking for help, and connecting the dots backward are the three notions that for her form the ultimate recipe for finding resolution.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

So, when I was around five years old

my sister who's older than me,
she was already going to school.

My aunt was teaching in that same school.

Now one day, I found my sister
holding all these beautiful crayons

and drawing what looked like
a very creative drawing,

which was actually
for a school competition.

Now, owing to the fact
that I could not be but myself,

I wanted to draw as well.

I wanted to be in that competition,

and I wanted to win that competition.

I remember nagging my mom
and asking about it,

like really nagging,
like a determined kind of nagging.

And what do you know?

All the fuss I made actually paid off!

At the age of eight,
I won Sheikha Latifa Award for arts.

I was the youngest artist in the country

to draw stories
that were actually published

for two consecutive years.

And throughout this whole process

I was interviewed by many
magazines and newspapers.

Now, some of you might argue,

"Oh well, it is not that big
of an issue or that big of a step,

or even not that big of an achievement."

Well, I am here to tell you,

it is not about how huge

or how gigantic this step
you're about to take is.

Do not dwell on those kind of details.

It might sound like cliche to you,
but it is absolutely true.

It is the union of the small steps
which makes that one big step.

So, this might be trivial to you,

but this was the proof
that I had a talent.

This was the proof that I can do
and be whatever I wanted.

This was that piece
of the puzzle that inspired me.

It inspired me to work harder
and aim even higher.

It inspired me to win Sheikh Hamdan award
for distinction three times,

it inspired me to win
Sharjah award for distinction,

again for three times,
and many awards followed.

Now, what happens is as time passes by,

and owing to the fact that human
beings are very creative,

we come up with ideas,

thoughts, and dreams on a regular basis.

What happens is we often find ourselves
in conflicts and at crossroads.

We have the potential.

We have the ideas.

We want to do stuff.

But there are walls, and bars,
and prisons that are standing in our way.

What might come handy
in that specific situation,

Is to recognize the person
that's surrounding you,

and to know how to overcome the challenges

that might face you at that crossroad.

Today I would like to share with you
three notions that, for me,

form the ultimate recipe
to find your solutions.

So, the first notion I would like
you to keep in mind

is that you have got to find your passion
and what works for you.

You should find your comfort zone.

You should thrive, and flourish,
and find what suits you.

But not only that.

You should gradually push yourself.

You should push the envelope.

You should find your creativity,

and you should explore it.

Only by doing so you'll be
more prepared and more equipped

to face whatever conflict
and whatever crossroads.

The second notion that I would
like you to keep in mind is that

you should have an absolute belief

that there is nothing wrong
with asking for help every now and then.

Do you want to be successful?

Yes.

Well, if you want to be successful,
you should play it smart.

You should know your weaknesses.

You should surround yourself with people
who compliment you and support you.

Just like anybody sitting here,

I, myself, might have some prisons.

I myself might have some notions

that stop me from doing things
I like and I love.

But I figured that the only way
I would overcome that

is if I surround myself with
my social support system.

Now, my support system is my family.

For you, it might be your friends.

It might be your best friend.

It might be your colleagues.

It might be your advisor,
whoever you trust.

It would never fail you

to have someone out there supporting you.

I can absolutely promise you.

Whenever I feel that there's any wall,

or any bar, or any prison that's standing
in the way of my thoughts,

my ideas, and my dreams,

I would refer back to my
social support system.

I would refer back to my family.

It never fails me,
and it always enlightens me.

So, the third and final notion
I would like to share with you today

is actually inspired by one of the most
influential people for me, Steve Jobs.

What he actually said is that,

"You cannot connect the dots
looking forward;

you can only connect them
looking backwards.

So, you have to trust that the dots
will somehow connect in the future."

You have to trust in something.

Your guts, destiny, life, whatever.

This approach has never failed me,

and it has made
all the difference in my life.

And that's what Steve Jobs said.

After a very inspiring life and career,

Steve Jobs realized that everything
would eventually fall in place.

Every action, every decision,
every dot in your life

would somehow eventually connect

to form the ultimate picture
and the ultimate dream.

Do not stop yourself
from doing things you like

thinking they have no value whatsoever.

Do not stop yourself
from doing things you love

thinking they wouldn't benefit me
or my future one way or the other.

I think what I'm trying to say
is that you should do your best.

Do not calculate every step
you're about to make.

Be spontaneous. Be bold.
Be clever. Be ambitious.

And last, but not least, be determined.

Thank you.