5 Lessons on Happiness - from Pop Fame to Poisonous Snakes | Mike Posner | TED

Singer-songwriter Mike Posner took a break from his music to take a walk - a very long walk, across the entire United States. He shares five lessons he learned from his epic, eventful trek (snakes might be involved) and how it helped him find the key to happiness. (He also performs two hit songs: "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" and "Could You Do the Same.")
If you love watching TED Talks like this one, become a TED Member to support our mission of spreading ideas: ted.com/membership
Follow TED!
X: / tedtalks
Instagram: / ted
Facebook: / ted
LinkedIn: / ted-conferences
TikTok: / tedtoks
The TED Talks channel features talks, performances and original series from the world's leading thinkers and doers. Subscribe to our channel for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design - plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit TED.com to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.
Watch more: go.ted.com/mikeposner
• 5 Lessons on Happiness...
TED's videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (or the CC BY - NC - ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy: www.ted.com/about/our-organiz.... For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at media-requests.ted.com
#TED #TEDTalks #happiness

[@Slippyslope_]

Lessons he talks about ... 1.) Not all crazy ideas are great, but all great ideas are crazy. 2.) Take one step. 3.) Reasons to not do something are excuses in disguise. 4.) True happiness comes from inside growth. 5.) Do not wait.

[@josephmarchese2591]

Thank you

[@coocat231]

@@josephmarchese2591if you were too lazy to actually watch this and not have relatively similar takeaways, you are the problem.

[@dangnguyetthienngan]

My dad also passed away in 2017 when I was just 26 yrs. We did not have a chance to travel together. 😢 I almost cried when you had talked about your father. "Papa, I miss you so much"

[@ozgrappla]

"GET FAMILIAR!!" followed Mike since the early college days.. love his growth and the man he is now.... His Dad would be proud..!

[@andrewpontikes1143]

Same ! It’s been so cool to grow along side Mike in my own life and watch his journey too

[@GloryThruHarmony]

So beautiful to think that it was actually his dad who was with him and guiding him in spirit the whole time he was on the walk... So not only did he get to see him happy, he was part of the strength behind him that lead him to achieving his happiness! I'm not crying you're crying :')

[@daveling676]

It didn't matter your dad didn't live to see you achieve your biggest dream because your dad loved you with all his heart while he was alive. Your dad loved you. Your regret, while heartbreaking, takes nothing away from your dad's love for you.

[@krishnawagh2010]

This is something that can't be described in words

[@akash25446]

Certainly one of the best TED talk 😊

[@dipin6744]

I'm so inspired by Mike Posner

[@Mruiiiz]

This was amazing. Truly a push and a reminder to do what makes YOU happy. Love the message.

[@madame__bizarre]

This was so emotional and inspiring. I've been a fan of this guy's music for years now. His albums "At Night, Alone" and "A Real Good Kid" are my favorites. Thanks, Mike. Also, congratulations - you've reached happiness and it shows 😊

[@OnaWo]

One of my favorite humans did a Ted Talk! Exciting times 🙌🙌

[@BoudiceaG]

I am absolutely touched by this story, touched to my tears...🥺, first, thank you so much for sharing your valuable experience, your sincerity and your personal growth and your wonderful songs..I hope they can shoot a movie based on your story❤.

[@dondoodat]

Too many people miss out on contentment in a futile search for happiness.

[@zell6108]

I started bawling after he said #5. So inspiring. Thank you so much Mike.

[@kevintunstall6418]

Hugely inspiring for all the right reasons. Happiness is intrinsically achieved and cannot be found through ‘things’ plus we can’t expect anyone else to make us happy as apart from being an unrealistic expectation it’s only going to create more unhappiness. I’ll watch this talk again. Huge fan of Mike.

[@stephanienorwood6222]

Such a beautiful human being. I love to see his journey and growth.

[@buithimyvan2095]

I admired his passion for traveling almost around the world. He used to be a shy and depressed person. And if he is happy, everyone will like him. Yes of course. He became so famous that everyone screamed and they took his shirt off. When he worked in the music industry, everyone gave feedback that his ideas were crazy and bad, and he couldn't make albums ruined his career. And five lessons on happiness that he has always been encouraged: - Not all crazy ideas are great, but all great ideas are crazy. - Step one is to take one step. ( He was bitten by a rattlesnake into his legs and trunk elephant trunk. He gonna die and thanks to medical care, he got better. He could taste the happiness and be the best version of himself). - Reasons are excuses in disguise. -True happiness comes from growth. - Don't wait. ( In 2017, his father passed away and he never got to see him achieve his biggest dream and accomplishment by the wishes of " NEXT YEAR". And it was too late...) This is the best TED talk that I have ever heard before. His performance was outstanding and thanks for coming here and giving everyone meaningful lessons.🥰🥰🥰

[@OnaWo]

That song at the end was truly special 🥹🥹

[@FunInTheSun808]

I’ve followed for Mike for years, so proud of him!!! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@EnebishMajigragchaa]

So inspiring. Thank you for making my morning meaninful6

[@saimakhan4852]

Highly inspirational, don't wait❤

[@Mytruth603]

This was AWESOME

[@Bestof257Official]

Early to this classic TED talk. Don't wait to take action.

[@leleamor7366]

I love his energy. I remember watching him on Impaulsive(😂), and I loved his energy from there. He seems super genuine. What a gem.

[@nachtigaller]

Can't wait for this song to drop❤

[@danielgnecco1662]

This was amazing. 🙏

[@jennifersjourneys5559]

Beautiful song ❤ Amazing episode 🫶

[@thevxsion4137]

watching this video was lesson 1 for me. thank you

[@landonmario]

He is a great speaker

[@peymanbouye8426]

amazing!

[@reliablechild]

This is awesome ❤

[@amycardwell4224]

@mikeposner lets go!!❤

[@omidafrasiabi5336]

I like that😍 How awesome speech👌

[@farhanaabtal8668]

A true Inspiration for me...I will not wait again.

[@lyricallygames]

Impactful is an understatement.

[@benw5691]

You're a legend mate.

[@zhishp]

一个人最快的成长不是读书，也不是旅行，而是那个最关心你的人离开之后

[@nhuquynh3614]

sad but true

[@TrueCrimeQueen]

So inspiring!!

[@timkiemdautu]

❤I really like this video. Thank you❤🎉

[@nachtigaller]

Keep going mike

[@karlareyes4688]

Very inspirational 😊 great lessons for life

[@muhammadilham3662]

Such an inspiring story,

[@Raghav-1701]

00:09 Mike Posner shares lessons on happiness and personal growth 02:26 Struggling with happiness despite fame 04:07 Not all crazy ideas are great, but all great ideas are crazy. 06:02 Walking journey led to a life-changing decision 07:59 Facing challenges head-on leads to growth 09:55 True happiness comes from growth. 12:21 Lessons on happiness and not waiting 15:27 Acceptance and self-discovery

[@thutrangnguyen9290]

His story makes me cry 😭😭😭

[@mariaantoniettamontella9173]

bravissimo

[@pvtpain66k]

For anyone freaked out by the Rattlesnake bite. "Rattlesnake bites are rarely fatal with less than 1 in 600 resulting in death, and approximately 33 percent not containing injection of venom at all."

[@FunInTheSun808]

Except he was in the middle of nowhere and had to be transported out by a helicopter

[@lilgnomey]

I only know one song from Mike Posner (This is what a sad song sounds like), but does he rap? I kept getting caught up in how he builds up the important moments and it reminded me of a rap song 😍

[@grantmaiorana9741]

He got started as a rapper, mostly

[@OnaWo]

He’s an incredible rapper too, check out the mixtape “Keep Going” !

[@thecommentator6694]

❤

[@Ribberflavenous]

I agree on the lessons/rules - they are vital and the presentation was indeed great. Please forgive me for not understanding the coast to coast walk, I see these kinds of events done to bring attention to a cause pretty effectively, but I don't see how this was needed for his personal happiness. Was it just to overcome a seemingly insurmountable goal on a 6 month obstacle course? I am not trying to be glib, truly, this seemed to have meant a great deal to him. I just don't know if it is like the Harley thing - "if you don't understand, I can't explain it to you".

[@Rnue]

Don't really understand it myself. Seems humans throughout time do things because they can and for no other reason then that. They climb mountains, cross oceans and deserts and get into all kinds of shenanigans simply because the opportunity is there. Maybe there's no definitive or more profound answer beyond 'because I can'.

[@omgdelimarie]

I think the significance is that it’s something he dreamed about doing. Putting his body to the limit and choosing to keep going forward. Testing the mindset of “I can’t do this anymore” and still choosing to do it anyways. I think that’s where the happiness came from, the accomplishment.

[@FunInTheSun808]

He raised millions of dollars for cancer research

[@jenniferyanni5735]

What’s the song at the end??

[@duckfowl5327]

Could you do the same

[@jackeewoodman4472]

Icon

[@Fonix870]

Happy

[@austincausey6417]

Just get going

[@gothicboy9467]

I did this in 2019 may I walked cross ks

[@gothicboy9467]

I missed that snake on the highway thank God it missed me.

[@rashidabaakza8554]

👌✌️👏👏👏

[@user-en8mc3ec7x]

S

[@andycordy5190]

Ever seen a great preacher?

[@Fonix870]

l 🎉🎉🎉

[@user-ew8xj5pg7y]

God loves you and takes care of you so that this message reaches you. God is the one who created this great universe and has complete control over it. And the greatest loss that a person loses in this life is that he lives while he does not know God who created him, knowing the Messenger of Muhammad, the last of the messengers, and the Islamic religion, the last of the heavenly religions. The great intelligence, before you believe in something or not, is to read it, study it, and understand it well, and then you have the choice to believe in it or not. I advise you on this now before you do not have time to do that.

[@dondoodat]

It's good for YOU that that is what YOU have chosen to or been conditioned to believe, I hope it helps YOU in YOUR life. Telling others they are missing out for not buying into your highly selective belief system, is not helpful to anyone. Religions are a barrier to spirituality as they create divisions and conflict. The word 'god' is a synonym for good. Don't believe in gods, just follow the path of good. Fewer people get harmed that way. Imho.

[@sarahedwards4592]

@dondoodat perfectly said 😊

[@harrypearle9781]

HELP BIDEN SAVE AMERICA, Mike! Perhaps your inspiring story and your music can help to wake people up, now TNX ===================================================================

[@guenfoudsohaib]

From tbe rivers to tge sea Palestine will be freee

[@trashtvinternational]

Stand with ISREAL 🙏🙏✌️☮️☮️🕊️❤

[@henrystrauss168]

Stay on point. This is not political. 🙄

[@AverageWhiteGuy101]

This dude doesn't even know the difference between venomous and poisonous snakes. 🙄

[@XU23]

Ignorance is bliss.

[@AverageWhiteGuy101]

​@@XU23Ignorance is the norm more like.

[@ATAP...AnotherTime]

He still lives a better life than you, by almost every measure. Except using poisonous correctly, but you go on and focus on that little part of something that makes you better. Must be great to be friends with you.

[@hj656]

What’s the difference?

[@moonmaiden4197]

Hope you’re happy being average. Genuinely. ❤