The Best Is YET To Be | John Andrei Angeles | TEDxShanghai Singapore Intl School

Quick Overview

John Andrei Angeles delivers a TEDx talk emphasizing the power of adopting a growth mindset, highlighted by the word "YET," to overcome self-doubt, fear of change, and personal struggles, citing his own experience of testing positive for COVID-19 twice and finding motivation in personal growth habits like those in Sean Covey's book.

Key Points: The speaker overcame initial self-doubt and the feeling of "I'm not enough" by incorporating the word "YET" into negative statements, transforming them into opportunities for growth. He references Sean Covey's book, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens," specifically Habit 1: Be Proactive, calling it the key to unlocking all other habits and taking control of one's life. The speaker shares a personal struggle of testing positive for COVID-19 twice during a period of uncertainty, which forced him to adopt a proactive approach instead of blaming external factors. Research showing that students with a growth mindset demonstrate higher brain activity when making errors, processing mistakes more deeply to correct their course. He contrasts the fixed mindset (avoiding mistakes, believing one knows best) with the growth mindset (seeing mistakes as learning opportunities, improving with practice). The speaker concluded that progress, not perfection, is the goal, achieved through small, consistent actions like planning, doing, and setting goals, rather than waiting for the 'perfect moment.' His success in academics (A+ grades) and leadership (becoming House Captain) stemmed from applying these growth principles.

Context: This is a TEDx talk delivered by John Andrei Angeles at the TEDxShanghai Singapore Intl School event, focusing on the psychological concept of the growth mindset versus the fixed mindset, as popularized by Carol Dweck. The speaker uses personal anecdotes, including overcoming self-doubt during the COVID-19 pandemic and moving to Thailand, to illustrate how adopting proactive habits and the simple addition of the word "YET" can reframe challenges into opportunities for continuous learning and self-improvement.