Break the Milestones: Define Your Own Growth | Shalini Kale | TEDxKristu Jayanti University

Quick Overview

Shalini Kale argues that self-determination, competence, and relatedness—the three pillars of Self-Determination Theory—are crucial for personal growth, especially for women and Gen Z individuals in India who often face societal pressures and limiting labels like "weirdo" or strive for external validation rather than intrinsic motivation.

Key Points: The speaker questions why society often labels women, especially those pursuing unconventional paths like clinical psychology or entrepreneurship, as 'weirdos' or judges their work as less impactful than men's (1:48, 2:26, 5:09). Shalini Kale introduces Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as the framework for growth, focusing on three core components: competence, relatedness, and autonomy (9:32, 11:31). The speaker notes that many people, particularly in India, are socialized to prioritize external validation (like societal acceptance or good exam scores) over intrinsic motivation, leading to self-doubt (3:03, 8:04, 8:55). She shares a personal anecdote about struggling with mental health issues while pursuing clinical psychology, realizing that external validation via grades was not satisfying (4:14, 8:11). Kale emphasizes that autonomy—the freedom to choose one's path without societal constraint or rigid expectations—is key to thriving (11:45, 12:15). The talk encourages the audience to break free from the cycle of seeking external approval and instead focus on developing these three intrinsic needs for genuine, sustainable growth (12:56, 13:05).

Context: Shalini Kale delivers a TEDx talk at TEDxKristuJayantiUniversity, presented by the Department of Computer Science, focusing on the psychological framework of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as a roadmap for personal growth, especially in the context of societal pressures faced by women and younger generations like Gen Z in India. She challenges the audience to move beyond seeking external validation toward fostering intrinsic motivation rooted in competence, autonomy, and relatedness.