Free your mind to evolve faster: reboot, rewire & rethink | Scott Ely | TEDxNorthwesternU

Scott Ely incorporates aspects of his project, “Evolve Faster,” in his talk which is geared to make you think differently about how your brain functions and how it is possible to maximize the brain’s functionality.
Since graduating NU (MSIT99), Scott Ely has been in nonstop evolution as an entrepreneur, author, explorer, musician and mind-hacker. His journey to over 50 countries, founding of multiple businesses, and conducting of over 100 challenging life-experiments now culminates in the creation of systems to help people rapidly reboot, rewire and rethink the way they live and work. His TEDx talk is themed around his book Evolve Faster, a manifesto to hit the philosophical reset button and free our minds in preparation for what he calls society’s Next Evolution. Scott lives in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood where he can likely be found reading, writing, performing with his band, hacking startup ventures, and constantly upgrading through life experiments and travel.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@sagebreezy]

i actually love my thoughts. I take walks without my phone meaning no music, i go to the salon without my phone, i read and watch tv without my phone. i don't believe gadgets should control us.

[@J0k3r4U]

Good for you! I turn my phone off very often and only started carrying it with me a year or two ago to avoid unpleasant people etc...

[@farhaanvalli4723]

Really well communicated and something i needed to hear. i'm very distracted by all these awesome TED videos and this talk convinced me that l need to cut down to two or three a day in order to unchain myself from chaos, to reduce my own decision fatigue and give my mind a little more freedom. What a great message for our information overloaded society.

[@MostafaAhmed-mp4bq]

This is really one of the best TedTalks I watched. I can relate to many of the points raised by Scott! Will be waiting for your book!

[@ClownTrader1]

I think this is a very needed topic once in a while. You need to remind yourself to strip some of your distractions away sometimes. Otherwise we completely forget and wonder, "where has the time gone?".

[@92jackbrown]

I feel like this is a wakeup call we all need. Or at least I'll speak for myself. I know I'm guilty of complaining about having no time, but I actually have no idea how much time I spend consuming netflix and social media...like right now! Ok, I swear I'll start tmw..

[@CzechRiot]

How did it work for you ten months later?...

[@Ho1yhe11]

Tomorrow never came I bet

[@J0k3r4U]

You guys are real wise asses...

[@linacomet]

3 months ago I deleted my TW account. Now after this talk (and some others that I watched before) I deleted my FB and Instagram account. I really hope to focus and do the work that I have to do in order to accomplish my goals. Seriously before social media I was more active and doing things all the time, then I become kind of addicted to SM and start been lazy most of the time. Thanks, TED talks! Maybe I will be back to tell if I changed or not ;)

[@rajivnayan4545]

Hi Lina

[@avinashdwivedi2015]

Soon u gonna go back...

[@MrRob4102]

6 months after deleting my social media accounts my life improved in every area. By disconnecting my identity formed on social media i was able to re-create and improve my life substantially.

[@Alex-ll4xm]

Great talk. please take the time to listen to this

[@imprvmntia7562]

I’m doing it pal! 🔥

[@daultonbaird6314]

Insidious Jedi mind tricks . I loved that one .

[@lugadama67]

Exelent information on my evolving journey, thank you😊

[@tamarahkerosene5978]

Great inspiration!

[@jakelee5845]

whoa i have a lot of purging to do

[@Rommerio007]

aren't we all

[@egodust11]

great talk.. i know the feeling of being faced with non-distraction, at least socially. i spent 7 years solitary in nature (not contiguous, but intermittent over the course of about 16 years). madness, laughter, tears, more madness, tons of meditation, contemplation, THC, a few dozen so-called miracles, anguish, and a sustained feedback loop of forlorn loneliness vacillating between effortless contentment, etc.. in short, a tour-de-force spiritual odyssey.

[@J0k3r4U]

In other words you tripped out in the woods and couldn't find your way home multiple times?

[@beverlyoliverrockspanninga8234]

Great talk...thanks!

[@jeffransom2977]

I like this guys methods, I stumbled into this same sort of process in my own life. NICE!! Validation Boo YA!

[@losraiders34]

Awesome presentation!

[@MrWater2]

Great video!!! I've been thinking the same ideas sice I was a teenager. I'll recommend this video to all of my friends!

[@SOSM209]

Great Advice!!

[@mzalt]

I kind of knew all that!! and was just looking for someone to confirm it. Great talk. Sometimes I wish I got to jail to have some free time to think... I love internet and I think social media (facebook, youtube..) is the new enemy.

[@mariakonstanta4857]

Thankyou. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@daultonbaird6314]

Is watching TEDs the same as cunsuming electonic media ? I have noticed that after watching other channels that aren't based on some kind of interesting educational tech , history, psychology , science etc I start to get an empty feeling and move back to TED .

[@daultonbaird6314]

My God , I couldn't read that without squirming .

[@smartcatcollarproject5699]

+Daulton Baird I suspect this is the case with TED/x talks ! Maybe because like most main e-medias, they do an intense work of selection so that the subjects and speakers are appealing to the audience, and that way, even if some of their talks are empty of any sense, they "sound" and "look" good ! you really need to use your brain over your emotions and subconscient to avoid coming back to them !

[@user-jz5kj3vi5b]

the same here

[@majncriftgamapleys9928]

That depends on how you watch them. If you watch them just to feel like you have accomplished something then it's waste of time. If you watch them to get knowledge and apply it as your benefit then it's less waste of time.

[@patricknassar3790]

i understand you

[@Kumuthapoorvi]

VERY NICE TALK,CLEAR,DIRECT,MEANINGFUL,THANK YOU.

[@samelliot3496]

An impressive talk.

[@Robert08010]

I'm on Facebook for about 30 minutes, every other month. I noticed early on that having Facebook on your mobile device made you appear available all the time and I decided then and there I'm not available. I'm not going to submit myself to anyone and everyone's schedule. So I have steadily refused to have that app on my phone. And I find that I can sit alone for hours and continually shock myself... with good ideas!

[@Kill--alllll---IDF]

Me too g all prestonians mad about Facebook lol

[@GMack333]

My band Ego Destruction is playing...you should come out.

[@dimashusemahu3636]

sound so useful.

[@Opeth1991]

I loved this! 👌 :-)

[@barbaralammi4088]

I noticed right away that you started with a few questions:) and you would probably know that asking questions means that our brains will look for the answer all day. It doesn't matter if we forget your talk because we will be unconsciously looking for more out of our lives:)

[@smartcatcollarproject5699]

I tried to do that some times ago, disconnecting from the internet for a week, and some ideas, some projects came out (see my username !) but after some efforts it didn't go any further... I think it's a good idea for people who already have enough wealth for a real evolution, if you have too many constraints, you can't change your life like that ! you need to eat, pay your rent or your mortgage, etc or just find a job or something to eat ! But this is the case for most TED and TEDx talks, usually they are not aimed at a general public,...

[@CzechRiot]

They are aimed at a general public, but the thing is, TED talks are mostly entertainment. It is more scientific, technological, educational or psychological entertainment, but it is still entertainment. The vast majority of "ideas" are either older than dust knowledge (or common sense) or a biased perspective on how life works. That's why most topics and titles are about "believing" or "trying harder" or any abstract concept that can be fit into existing real world things if you do it selectively. There's also the self-realizing bias, since all TED speakers are already people that are in "successful" positions, and all TEDx speakers are also somewhat wealthy or reasonably successful in some way. Not to mention many, if not most, speakers pay to be a part of it. If you break down to the principles, most of these talks are simple saying common sense things, but masked with personal anecdotes lived by the speaker.

[@ianking7638]

Barbadian and former Kolij boy Gary Lewis who is currently serving as the UN Resident Coordinator in Iran (the only Bajan currently holding such a designation), shares his vies on Human Security. It goes beyond borders and weapons to basic human needs and the changing global climate - definitely worth watching

[@jenrich111]

100 Habit Upgrades. That's cool.

[@NavjinderAneja]

Actually I during listening to this talk , ideas started hovering around mind to do something right now

[@CzechRiot]

They normally hover away a couple of hours later though...

[@sarthakmohapatra3738]

In short, start removing distractions one by one, u will find some free time, which was earlier consumed by those worthless distractions. Then use those free time for something meaningful and important activities which cud potentially improve your life.

[@garethhancock8525]

So your saying all those distractions are " worthless " ?

[@sarthakmohapatra3738]

@@garethhancock8525 Yes, worthless if u let those distractions take over ur present life activities and emotions. If thats not happening then have party with them as such as u like.

[@garethhancock8525]

@@sarthakmohapatra3738 I never said anything about them taking over your life, I was meaning in moderation, I mean they do make certain things in life easier don't you think?

[@sarthakmohapatra3738]

@@garethhancock8525 u have answered ur own question very efficiently my friend.

[@garethhancock8525]

@@sarthakmohapatra3738 OK yes that's fair enough so let me ask you directly as I want to know your answer...... Do you think all the distractions mentioned in the video are really worthless? Regards

[@TheGohbomba]

I just use a face book and tv for paranormal but not so addicted I can stay away any time when I wanted too , I focus on gardening that not so success but I continue experiments some methods so I can grow beautiful organic veggies and safe to eat

[@yosemartin73]

I Love it

[@lauravargas9240]

Amazing talk °

[@birgulaslan6863]

jj

[@Hejabibani]

good man

[@darksidebomer7920]

I LIKE IT

[@an9513]

favorite

[@williamshaw2362]

Things are only a distraction if you let them be. Self discipline is what helps you manage your life and focus.

[@rickysword3945]

This is a really good experiment...a real chance to change... im starting now. :) see you cyber-bros

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

The Venus Project will refresh your mind :D

[@dubbzd8853]

IT'S ALL WHAT U TAKE FROM IT THAT MATTERS..

[@kravenofspider]

If studies show that I'm bound to forget this talk then thank you studies.

[@michellezareas8276]

💯

[@jills578]

When does the book come out?

[@joegodin2417]

It's straight out of The One Thing

[@Zenikai_]

how do you watch 3 whole series in 2 days?!!

[@mariacolaco6218]

I guess each one has,own personal life motivation so be it,just follow your heart its okay ,waste is part and parcel if life except Life

[@ArthurIdrisov]

This talk definitely should be watched at 1.5X speed. It's only bearable like that. And I wish there was 1.75X speed up. Cuz 2X is to much. XD

[@elizabethtanner5803]

What did the environment of the room look and feel like?

[@tednorton5150]

you spelled distraction wrong in the graphic. it was very distracting.

[@leetaodana535]

meditate. if you think you don't have time for it-you really need it.

[@fuatkurban353]

what articles is he citing?

[@rhryrtu]

"mmr is just a number" -Dendii

[@AlJay0032]

How can you quote a murderer like Che in a video like this?

[@vishalvishkrisssharma2277]

👍

[@zudma]

I think the idea is right, but i've tried things like this before, and I think there is a problem with it. When you do things that waste your time, usually, you do it because they are easy, you don't have to pay atention to them or really care about them, if i waste my time, its because im too tired to do otherwise, freeing time isnt really the issue, the big problem is how to get back the will to do more relevant stuff.

[@CzechRiot]

This is all trickery semantics. What is "relevant stuff"? To some people might be worshiping God, to other might be teaching kids math, to other might be surfing, to others might be playing the violin, to others might be building corporate conglomerates, to others might be doing internet comedy... Anyone's time is "wasted" when they spend it doing something they don't like. What is the point of "working hard"? Working hard doing what? There are police officers working hard to arrest people working hard at producing cocaine. There are many people "working hard" in order to make others stop working hard, and then many others get caught in the middle, and have to work hard to prove they have nothing to do with all that shit. Many people define quite precise goals for themselves, and work towards it as if they were absolute truths. Many become slaves to an abstract idea and all their work is around that idea as if it were really something important, when if you microanalyze it, you may see the idea is nothing but a fictional intangible concept. What's tangible is just surviving, avoiding pain, having feelings of pleasure. The ways may change, the methods may change, but the main idea is always quite mundane.

[@atommindproject9060]

No goals, no dreams, no mission, no desires... you would certainly would be afraid to think... you would have nothing to think about except things that are not important to you... the generic, mundane topics that surround you, that you actually deep down don't care about and really don't like... It's like trip to the unknown, and most of you are afraid of that, therefore fear thinking, therefore avoiding it.

[@J0k3r4U]

Wut?

[@Kareem_Magdy]

Can anyone summarize what he says cause Im not good at English? I don't understand anything from him

[@iartymaleksandr3749]

No

[@sainarayanan7705]

I want to make a change in my life and now i am going through a bad time now nobody listens to me always am like a lonely guy no friends isolation and every one quote me a fool why is that the reason i don't know what to do am only 15 how will I change it ? any suggestion

[@waking-tokindness5952]

Good times , & bad times ; having lots of friends or admirers , & having none ; being thought well of , & being thought poorly of ; being rich , & being poor ; being happy with circumstances , & being saddened by them ; being comfortable, & being in pain ; being entertained, & being bored ; etc etc . . These are all _mundane_ concerns , which -apparently- come & go , & come & go, from one long phase of lifetimes to the next . They are the vagaries of causality [karma] , each of which , -apparently- , throughout each soul's countless phase-changes through Infinity past & future , each one of us has already gone through , countless times . ( This apparently includes even all the highest, most-awakened & most inter-loving & most-inter-coordinated ever-saving saints [buddhas] , through each of their infinite pasts . ) Apparenty, until causality [karma] enables one to wake up enough to 'rise above' such concerns ( & then to join w/ others already awakened , in enlightened joyful mega-communion , a constant multi- co- rescuing of as many other wanderers as possible , in turn ) , then one will continue be suffering through them , on & on , & on & on . . . (- __Apparently__ . -) -------I write this for you , in hopes that this brief effort of mine becomes at least a tiny part of all the causality required to enable you to rise above your current passing concerns , & to resolve to from now just keep heading toward the very -_-most-_- continual further awakening ~ enlghtenment that is possible for you . I (& surely some also reading this) hope to meet you eventually , {-- no matter who you are --} , as true friends in true communion , & to join w/ you in constant joyful co-rescuing of as many other lost wanderers as we can ( to join us in this if they like) , in turn . (- We _hope_ . -) Meanwhile, right now, i (& probably other readers too) would be glad to try to help you find true friends , who will do their best to remain friends with you as together we strive toward much more awakening , no matter how many eons & eons it might take for most of us to really make much true progress . ( RSVP to me if you wish , via BodhiServices at 'G-male' . )

[@esenakyapi1499]

LIFE IS COOL mindfulness training.

[@rajivnayan4545]

Life is simple Say in your mind It's u mk it dffclt

[@jamesanton3000]

Go play a sport go to the gym and get in shape do things that you like and you’re going to be with other people that like doing those things too. You’re just 15 how can life be bad they force you to be around people making you go to school. Just don’t overthink things and have fun!!!

[@dennydavila9407]

Work and money is a major hinderence. Can't remove that, can I? O well, gonna go check my email!

[@zetetick395]

"Purge the chaos" ?? Pehh!! *Nothing* is more destructive to the _enjoyment_ of Living than excessive orderliness! I swear many still make the _primary_ error of mistaking 'Being happy with yourself' with 'Being pleased with yourself' - Not the same thing at all at all.

[@J0k3r4U]

Hey! Good point...

[@mariaking81]

I would love to do this.. just walk away from technology and the social media.. the hours I would get back would be amazing, remembering how to fill this time would too! The worrying thing for me would be.. school, we are expected to be on call in case something happens to kids during the school day. I have five kids.. what if they need me and are trying to call me.. I'm a home help, what if my clients are trying to contact me to pick them something up or cancel? In the UK we have to have constant access to use the universal credit system or we are sanctioned. How on earth did we get here, to this abyss of reliance on mobile phones and computers. How did I survive for at least 30 years of my life without them? Perhaps doing it bit by bit, leaving it at home to pop to the shop, then to work might work, weaning myself off gradually. But what if my grandkids or other family, some on the other side of the world that we don't see ,want to share, say, a celebration or some good news? Oh the joy of a walk in the woods without constantly checking messages but then would panic set in? Would I rush home in case something has happened to someone? In case someone was looking for me? This was a great talk, bringing to mind something that has bothered me for quite some time - so thank you. Time to find solutions! :-)

[@noyes9885]

what i got out of it: watch out for the chaotic decision point. kinda wasnt payin attention doe so don quote me 😪

[@noyes9885]

and also theres a lot of shit clouding your mind so purge chaos to hear your inner voice more.

[@tednorton5150]

the guy who shocked himself a hundred sixty times was Bart Simpson. DOH !

[@J0k3r4U]

It's Homer that says "Doh!"

[@mariacolaco6218]

I don't have Instagram or fb

[@mothgirlx6707]

I agree with this in terms of work maybe pure purpose of what you do and what you want to be or possibly toxic relationships, but you lost me as soon as you applied it to relationships including friendships. For me this is always where the main challenge lies. I don't feel people that we've chosen to have any form of relationship should be discarded just like that. That's pretty much like giving up being human.

[@CzechRiot]

A lot of "speakers", or people who engage in activities where speaking to audiences is the thing, have more narcissistic or overachieving personalities. that may not be necessarily bad, but people like this normally feel like others are a hindrance. It's a natural thing, since most people are happy enough with getting a job, getting married, and staying in their home city. Those who want to seek "success", explore the world, create new things, etc. will tend to move around looking for "new things". But even "normal people" tend to drift apart from "friends", only they do that in a way that doesn't seem like they're actually doing it. They just occupy their time with their job and immediate family, and automatically "friends" get sided off (although actually I have never used or seen this expression "sided off", but it should exist, meaning put off to the side... anyway...).

[@axlrosea675]

Yes. The advice you mentioned usually comes from people who don't give a shit about others and only care for themselves. They feel their friends manipulate them all the time.

[@vivianeb90]

Taking a vacation to Guatemala while your company is having problems makes you look pretty selfish. I wouldn't say that this is the right way. You got responsibilities like everyone else in the world that you can't just take a vacation from. But cutting out distraction is a good way.

[@joji683]

Facebook and other social media's are the cause of most problems!

[@Jasperdejongg]

+Emerging tech No, it's the people that decide to use them.

[@joji683]

+Jasper de jong like a candy in front of a child ..... What would he do.

[@erfho8y]

+Emerging tech the kid didnt yet learn to resist

[@susanherbert4151]

Yeah, there were no problems until Facebook. It was a utopian society until social media mucked everything up, right? I completely agree that overuse of social media is a huge problem but overstating its importance is really annoying.

[@jamesanton3000]

Facebook is only a problem if you can’t get in and see what you want and then close the app. It’s the person using social media that makes it a problem to their life or using it responsibly. Don’t just linger on it check what you want and leave. It’s simple I don’t use those sites every day because I don’t like browsing when I don’t have a purpose. I remember back when Al Bundy said alcohol was the cause of and solution to all of life’s problems. lol those were the days!!

[@Didoh_]

Interesting but i dont understand what he calls chaod

[@Didoh_]

chaos*

[@gradingterminal807]

+Funny Guy not classify as such :');

[@linacomet]

The input of information from social media, from relationships that have not value in our lives, the time that we spend doing things that are not helpful for the goals that we have.

[@stifledvoice]

a bit ironic at one point he's advocating getting rid of electronic distractions, and yet here he is, an electronic distraction

[@Diannako1]

[@haido4116]

101

[@sinisavuksanovic7537]

Interesting, but I jast found that this footage is my distruction in this verry moment :-) I need to work something else :-)

[@sinisavuksanovic7537]

And not to mention some swimwear models on tv right now!!!

[@seangcheng1716]

sinisa vuksanovic

[@haladysheelaprabhuprabhu3024]

sinisa vuksanovic it's sad when someone says the truth ...it's boring and a waste of time but some who tells fibs and leads u on ....oh ya it's interesting . we have got so used to a load of rubbish with noise and a glib fancy attired liar that we cannot listen to the simple truth anymore we cannot face it that's what part of this video is as well ....we prefer to keep our minds busy with bulls hit rather than something more profound thing ie thinking really thinking ok???

[@sheepherderify]

The message is a good one - Scott's delivery is a little monotone.

[@J0k3r4U]

A LITTLE?

[@HarishKumar-uq5ml]

Oh well people try so badly to be Peaceful but they don't realize that JESUS is the source.

[@Adrian-yi8fl]

18 minutes to say turn off the tv.

[@williama3600]

And catch up tv, and Netflix, and Facebook, and toxic friendship. And also to focus on what you need/want/ dream to do. But obviously you already knew it and are experiencing it, right? Don't be gready and enlight us on the benefits you gained from it :)

[@jioa3341]

A lot more than that, buddy...

[@WhirledPublishing]

"I'm gonna try to make you think" wow Does he assume he's the only one who knows how to think?

[@zorabtl]

Just listen to the way he uses the verb "to evolve" and you will understand why so many people have a misconception about evolution.

[@fecnc537]

I'd like to reboot this talk and make it 5 minutes. There's about 13 minutes of meaningless redundant junk in the talk.

[@sexybeast7728]

There is a positive correlation between the amount of time you spend thinking about an idea and its effect on you..

[@antnyholden4999]

After just 5 mins of talk would you ingest what has been said or would it have just been forgotten

[@EclipseOfGod]

X2 Speed is a thing too.

[@kimberlyhoward4032]

Tedx 😳 I’d be at the gym right now, not watching you. I just removed Netflix yesterday that counts 😁

[@MW-sw7so]

Then we also have the ability to reject what you want to do to our brain because remember we don't have to and you can't make us no law no government no individual person or entity or company could ever make me get one think I'm kidding I'll be waiting

[@behzadnourani3195]

I think you are talking about one of the most interesting and crucial things about our brains, but the way you talked about it in this video was not good; Not even compared to the importance of the topic.

[@marianag843]

Please show me a TedTalk that actually can have an impact, all of the others are just trying to sell you something or common knowledge.

[@mrsntbrown]

This is difficult to listen to because of the swallowing sounds.

[@scottk1525]

Jesus fucking christ this guy can ramble. The ENTIRE talk is this: pick things that are a distraction in your life (tv, social media, bad relationships, etc) and try to live without them. Literally nothing else of value happens in this 20 minute talk.

[@williama3600]

Yep. Which is life changing. Did you even try?

[@Isaharif]

Thanks

[@CzechRiot]

this shock the brain thing sounds like a lie.

[@haladysheelaprabhuprabhu3024]

CzechRiot really ....we are all distracted and wearing out our brain with nonsense ... and what is the lie he is saying ???people always shy away from the truth

[@CzechRiot]

I was specifically addressing the example he gives at around 7:00, regarding people shocking their brains in an experiment. I'm not affirming it is actually false, but sounds like a distorted reduction of some actual experiment, which he used as some sort of anecdote to make things "more interesting".

[@rentefald]

You are a living example of what he is saying. When you think about it, you should probably have done some research yourself :)

[@KevinWood44]

His public speaking sucks, I cant even listen

[@J0k3r4U]

Yeah at the beginning when he was asking if it would be great if we could get thru this without checking my phone I was like "It would be if you weren't so dreadfully boring!"

[@MW-sw7so]

What do you mean our Collective way of thought we're individuals not a collective you trying to make us act like a collective and we're going to turn into idiots remember ,"the masses are asses",

[@fredjones1076]

The neighborly christmas typically rain because plough legally sack regarding a overjoyed glass. trite, tacky arithmetic

[@winslowdog8448]

Nothing new here.

[@lightuponlight6024]

What is about? Very repetitive, republished, refurbished info of 20 minutes telling you to reduce and minimize distractions. Same stuff, different guy- free up your time and think.

[@megaraouf2370]

Boring

[@SaveManWoman]

He lost me as soon as he said more! He shouldn't be teaching !

[@Covenant-qo6fr]

Good content but uses that droolly emotional voice that teenager american girls use....erck

[@jenrich111]

Covenant3016 harsh.

[@ArthurIdrisov]

Set speed to 1.5 and you'll be fine. It's actually how I watched this video. XD

[@Covenant-qo6fr]

Not harsh, sort of mooshy...

[@thegreentreengo782]

very boring

[@mrjimmbo]

Evolve faster? Individuals cannot evolve

[@Ethannesss]

HOLLER