Feeling Like an Outsider: Embracing the Hidden Gifts | Christine Upchurch | TEDxWilmingtonLive

Feeling like an outsider can be painful. But beyond the pain lies potential benefits - if you are aware of them and choose to embrace them.
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Christine Upchurch is the Vibration of Change™ creator and coach, a workshop leader, writer, radio talk show host, inspirational speaker, spiritual myth buster, healer, and explorer of consciousness. She has been a featured guest on radio shows across North America, and has taught thousands across the globe to tap into “something more” for the purpose of healing and transformation.
On the cutting edge of what she calls the new mainstream, Christine is passionate about helping empower others to live more expansive and vibrant lives.
Christine is the recipient of a 2014 Global Women's Summits/The Women's Information Network (WIN) Leadership Award. Legendary human potential leader Dr. Jean Houston calls Christine “a midwife of souls.” This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@melodydonovan7884]

We are free spirits. Unfortunately life can be difficult for us. Independence for us is key. 😊

[@jorgeterrazas6505]

I feel like an outsider on this planet.

[@beautifulpeace8533]

I feel the same way.

[@VisionsDark]

Same mate, you meet some humans who are worth it, who try to meet you half way but most are just herd animals.

[@Dvinven]

God I'm so awkward.

[@ashtoncommittedarsonbutina131]

For me the thing creating the outsider feeling is extreme shyness and social anxiety. I don't talk much in any group I'm in, wich makes me feel like I'm not contributing or creating meaningful connections, wich them creates the outsider feeling.

[@Luke-pd7xj]

Same, you’re not alone. I keep being told social anxiety is cured through consistent exposure to different social situations so once I’m finally on my own away from my family, I can begin to start healing my anxiety. It’ll take time but you’ll get through it. Keep challenging yourself

[@lilycat1694]

Same here too.

[@drlesliebethwish48]

Christine, your guidance about feeling like an outsider is universal--and very reassuring. I remember feeling how much my United States southern heritage made me feel like an outsider in the United States mid-west. I, too, found advantages of being an outsider: It helped me know who was nice and kind--and who wasn't! Your talk inspires and gives us ways to see hidden benefits of not being in the in-crowd. And your frankness about your childhood trauma offers powerful support, too. Thank you again.

[@christineupchurch3714]

Thank you, LeslieBeth!

[@dianaclark6358]

Thank you Christine for sharing your wisdom and being so brave in sharing your own story!

[@christineupchurch3714]

You're welcome. Thanks, Diana, for your positive feedback!

[@user-gn1jn1yb7s]

Oh my gosh I will listen to this over and over and over again🙃

[@daydreamdiosa]

This ted talk really spoke to me this is amazing 💌

[@SabrinaFritts]

Woohoo! Go, Chris. Loved your message and your authentic vulnerability. An insider in my own life? Absolutely count me in. I love it.

[@christineupchurch3714]

Thanks, Sabrina!

[@404probablymyfault]

I'm so relieved to know I'm amongst 14k other outsiders 🖤

[@joffremcclung3617]

Bravo Christine! Great job

[@christineupchurch3714]

Thank you, Joffre!

[@SuperBeth2011]

This is a breath of fresh air!

[@LaVonneTyneshaMUA]

Great job Christine! It was a pleasure of meeting you and doing your makeup. 💜

[@Transformationtalkradio]

Well spoken. Thanks Christine!

[@katekirkwood3692]

Thanks, Christine! What a great description of something we all feel! Thanks for making it ok!!

[@jiayi4898]

Thank you for your sharing coz this is really how outsider always think about and I just always ignore my feeling.

[@meridalight3852]

Love this!!!!

[@regineweibgen2820]

Having lived many years out of country plus a rare personality profile makes me feel different and out of place where people are not very friendly and open minded anyway. But living here is affordable and tied to work and family responsibilities

[@silviap9875]

Needed this - thank you

[@jamespeters9522]

Very well done!

[@theremycrocks6861]

I’m not really left out I have a lot of people who want to hang out with me but I still feel like I don’t belong anywhere and I can’t figure out why

[@h0nof]

I feel the same way. I think it's because as a kid and teenager I was very shy, and didn't speak much in social settings. So even if I'm much more social and can more easily speak with people now (I'm 33 now), I think my brain still remembers how it was when I was younger, and I easily and often get the same feeling as I had then. But I found out during the years that I thrive better when I'm social, than when I'm mostly alone. Even if being social, especially with people I don't know from before, can make me feel uncomfortable and feel like an outsider, it's better for me in the long run than isolating myself. I hope you will also find a way to deal with this yourself :)

[@PeggyF111]

Fantastic job, Chris! What an important message!

[@christineupchurch3714]

Thanks Peggy!

[@jessicam3555]

You know sometimes you just want to have a 1am dark dance party alone with no one around in the track and field field and people ask if you’re ok, I understand the sentiment, but sometimes I just want to dance in the wind in a field listening to men i trust and not be asked questions or looked at 😫 sometimes you just need to lay on the earth and be outside and look at the moon while listening to a song talk about watching tides. 😫😫😫 When people question you being yourself you begin to wonder if you are insane. I have never met someone as weird as me in the same way as me. Except maybe one person, except he is invalidating of others despite his weirdness too. I truly don’t know if there are people as weird, spontaneous, but kind, and harmful-drug free (weed and psychedelics are ok imo, but I’ve never done them) as me. I’ve felt like maybe artists might be like that bc they are expressionistic, but still I feel like an outsider (although artists are much easier to be around).

[@rubystevenschannel]

Yes

[@slayingtobetheslay]

Ngl literally only here for a school assignment 🧍‍♂️👍🏼