# The Superpower We've Been Taught To Hide | TeeJ Mercer | TEDxBuckheadAve

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msvGlajXtAw
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/msvGlajXtAw
Generated: 2025-11-11T06:04:14.158+00:00

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## Quick Overview

TeeJ Mercer reveals that the supposed weakness of needing help is actually a superpower, proven by her success in founding a nonprofit that provides housing and support to foster youth transitioning out of the system, leading to significant financial success and personal fulfillment.

**Key Points:**
- The speaker identifies the superpower society teaches people to hide as 'needing' or neediness, asserting it is proof of human experience, not a flaw.
- The speaker's cousin, who was nearly killed by her abusive husband in 2009, was supported by the speaker who moved to Atlanta to help her.
- The speaker founded a nonprofit that provided housing and support to foster youth aging out of the system, helping 98 graduates attend HBCUs and generating over $1 million in cash and prizes within four years.
- The speaker realized her neediness was actually a superpower when she stopped faking perfection and started asking for help.
- The five discoveries to activate one's superpower include: speaking vision out loud, hollering when not okay, accepting human experience, moving on info held, and embracing how one is wired.
- The speaker explicitly states that the biggest obstacle to activating this superpower is the fear of being perceived as broken or needy, often whispering 'I need help' instead of hollering it.

![Screenshot at 00:12: The speaker, TeeJ Mercer, takes the stage wearing a vibrant, sequined robe and novelty glasses, standing in front of a screen displaying the talk's title: "The Superpower We've Been Taught To Hide."](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/msvGlajXtAw/00-00-12.png)

**Context:** TeeJ Mercer delivers a TEDx talk titled "The Superpower We've Been Taught To Hide," focusing on the societal conditioning to conceal personal needs and how embracing vulnerability—specifically neediness—is actually a source of strength. She shares a personal story involving her cousin's escape from domestic violence and her subsequent decision to create a nonprofit supporting foster youth, which ultimately became a massive success, validating her personal revelation.

## Detailed Analysis

TeeJ Mercer argues that the 'superpower we've been taught to hide' is neediness, which she redefines as proof of one's humanity, not a weakness. She recounts a pivotal moment in 2009 when her cousin fled an abusive husband, prompting Mercer to move from LA to Atlanta to support her while she was working in TV production. This experience led Mercer to found a nonprofit dedicated to supporting foster youth aging out of the system. She emphasizes that this organization achieved massive success, raising over $1 million in cash and prizes within four years and helping 98 students attend HBCUs like Paul Quinn College. Mercer attributes this success to finally embracing her own neediness, concluding that neediness is a superpower. She outlines five discoveries to activate this power: speaking vision out loud, hollering when not okay, accepting human experience, moving on information held, and embracing how one is wired. She stresses that shame tells people they are broken if they need help, but accepting this need is crucial for growth and success.

### The Superpower of Neediness

- Neediness is not a flaw but proof of human experience; society teaches us to hide it.
- The speaker recounts her cousin's escape from domestic violence in 2009, which catalyzed her move to Atlanta to support her.
- She realized that hiding her need for help was detrimental.

### Founding the Nonprofit

- The speaker founded an organization to support foster youth aging out of care.
- Within four years, this initiative raised over $1 million in cash/prizes and helped 98 graduates attend HBCUs, including Paul Quinn College.
- She credits this success to accepting her neediness and asking for help.

### The 5 Discoveries to Activate Your Superpower

- 1. Speak my vision out loud
- 2. Holler when I'm not okay
- 3. Accept my human experience
- 4. Move on the info I have
- 5. Embrace how I'm wired
- Shame tells people they are broken if they need help, but embracing neediness is essential.

![Screenshot at 00:04: The title slide appears: "THE SUPERPOWER WE'VE BEEN TAUGHT TO HIDE" by TeeJ Mercer.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/msvGlajXtAw/00-00-04.png)
![Screenshot at 00:12: TeeJ Mercer takes the stage in a brightly colored, sequined robe and purple novelty glasses, looking energized.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/msvGlajXtAw/00-00-12.png)
![Screenshot at 00:42: The speaker emphasizes her point, stating that neediness is a superpower, not a flaw.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/msvGlajXtAw/00-00-42.png)
![Screenshot at 01:09: The speaker recounts the story of her cousin who needed help after fleeing domestic violence.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/msvGlajXtAw/00-01-09.png)
![Screenshot at 02:16: The speaker lists the consequences of hiding needs, noting that her cousin disappeared for three years after a violent incident.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/msvGlajXtAw/00-02-16.png)
![Screenshot at 04:05: The projection screen behind the speaker displays the list of "5 Discoveries That Activate Your Superpower," with the first two points visible.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/msvGlajXtAw/00-04-05.png)
![Screenshot at 06:01: Discovery two, "Holler when I'm not okay," is highlighted on the screen as the speaker discusses her tendency to holler when injured.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/msvGlajXtAw/00-06-01.png)
![Screenshot at 07:37: Discovery three, "Accept my human experience," is visible on the screen.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/msvGlajXtAw/00-07-37.png)
![Screenshot at 09:03: Discovery four, "Move on the info I have," is visible on the screen.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/msvGlajXtAw/00-09-03.png)
![Screenshot at 11:11: The screen now shows all five discoveries, concluding with number five: "Embrace how I'm wired."](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/msvGlajXtAw/00-11-11.png)