TedxNashville - Ashley Judd - My Life's Work as an Act of Worship

Ashley speaks about making one's life's work an act of worship and integrating one's activities on the soul level-and the wonders that occur when we have the guts to show up from our hearts and souls.
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In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@melslose548]

Love Ashley.. She has so compassionate.. so darn intelligent.. This story is so heartbreaking.., I can’t fathom 😢

[@chrolli247]

She did this a long time ago. If anyone has gone through personal healing knows, they know that it happens in stages. She also said that you can't nourish others until you first nourish yourself.

[@babydee114]

Ashley, I am so grateful to you for your willingness to share and help others who so need to hear your story. God Bless You always!

[@CalmVibesVee]

I’m thankful I heard your talk Ashley. May God strengthen and encourage you.

[@daughterofthemosthigh3366]

Ashley is so intelligent, articulate, and well spoken. This is a great TED Talk.

[@karstensbran1751]

AMEN, and Beautiful!

[@grandmanancy4719]

And, Ashley constantly feels the need to remind us of how smart and talented she is.

[@nvwcj22]

This was so inspiring. I will find some causes to support & pray for those who are suffering from the hands of mankind. This has reminded me that I have way more than enough & others are struggling to get a little. It's time to look beyond ourselves & help others 😢

[@cece8095]

I have come to the conclusion that Ashley Judd is one of the most underrated people in film. Let’s not forget.. this is the woman who gave voice to so many women & who launched the ultimate end of the entire Harvey Weinstein empire, in result ending his career. The lady deserves a standing ovation. & everything she’s done in humanitarian work & everything she’s currently going through within her family (& so painfully publicly). There is an unmatched strength & bravery inside of this woman that I have never seen before in another human being. I know she’s a Christian but dang.

[@nihilo888]

Negativity is too easy. She does good, hard work and is speaking from the heart. I think she's wonderful, brave and intelligent.

[@moira6443]

Me too

[@lesd1923]

Ashley Judd is my heroine! I've read her book, followed her career, watched her during the unbelievable Trump election season and found her full of honesty, credibility and a strong sense of what is right and wrong about the way women and the disenfranchised are being treated. She speaks well and draws the verbal pictures that we all can see. Thank goodness she hasn't let Weinstein get away with his horrible mistreatment of those that can't fight back. I admire her and wish her well.

[@MonalisaCerrutti]

Ashley is phenomenal! She has a beautiful soul and is very articulated. Her movies are mesmerizing: Bug, Come early morning and Helen are among my favourite ones. She is an unique person, because only an unique one would leave all Hollywood's glamour and fame behind to pursuit a life that makes sense. God bless her!

[@prettykiray]

after i listened to every word.. i felt grateful enough for my life to have food and job ..i was never aware until i listened to this great clip

[@johnnyrocketz7808]

Why can't we have this ashley judd back 😭😭😭

[@celestemergens4185]

What a remarkable soul. So grateful to have heard your heart and commitment today Ashley.

[@agailframe6590]

Ashley Judd has profoundly touched me today. It's July 21, 2022, midnight, and I can't sleep. Her words will stay with me for a long time to come. I'm 79 years old and am going to ponder this for a long time.

[@jdw420jdw]

Ashley proves her brilliance, her compassion, her Christian faith and her political abilities to move this country- I pray she starts with KY!

[@pamabbott586]

This is the first time ever of getting to see something like this. Amazing no wonder you love this kind of work. Ashley thank you. Very well spoken I had really no idea about what was going on. So sorry for what they have to go through that should not be like that. God bless your children worldwide they need you so very much. Hold them give them strength and courage father God show them the way. I also ask that you keep blessing Ashley as she gets out there and speaks to these people. In your son's name Jesus. Amen

[@steinway33]

Ashley, you are a truly beautiful and courageous spirit, an inspiration to us all.

[@cwarren9449]

Wow wow wow I have a healthy new respect for that young woman. How intelligent but how compassionate. Her voice is her Talent and her gift to all of us

[@lovingmayberry307]

Ashley, BLESS. YOUR. SOUL.

[@joylopez2735]

Thank you Ashley! Thank you for opening your mouth so we can hear your voice, and the voice of many others who might very well never be heard again-- for many of us DON'T share the opportunities of celebrity .....TO BE HEARD. THANK YOU, ASHLEY.

[@panamacmillan]

Joe Dokes- Ashley Judd was raised in extreme poverty, neglected as a child, passed around to various relatives, sexually abused and raped twice. She has suffered from crippling depression and has put a gun to her head more than once. She grew up hearing her mother and step fathers sexual escapades through very thin walls. She earned her money..the old fashioned way..through hard work.

[@MegaAcca123]

True

[@verasmith4767]

Wow. I liked her but now I have major respect.

[@paulalane8638]

Trauma is actually stored in our cellular memory. I'm 65 and deal with it still. Ashley is an inspiration. It makes you strong or kills you.

[@gloriamaryhaywood2217]

@@paulalane8638 What cannot be Fixed... must be Carried.

[@bridgetc.marinaccio8024]

The gift of empathy ❤️

[@ghettocountry8678]

To me she's had a hard life, & fixed her way in life by working hard. Something I myself wouldn't mind doing, myself being through a lot of hardships. But I turned away from fame at 14 thank God I did because it messes a lot of good people up but some people that do get there used it to everyone's benefit like she's doing by telling these people's story.

[@envisionthat]

Thank you for sharing your heart and the stories of these precious people with us, Ashley! God bless you for doing His work around the world! I cried throughout your entire talk. Best one ever - you truly touched our hearts. My heart, thoughts, and prayers are with you and yours always! ❤️🙏

[@Jules-6022]

Thank you, Ashley Judd and TEDx Talks, for sharing! Just started reading your book, Ashley, and so far, it's quite the eye-opener; I look forward to learning more about myself in the process and thank you again for sharing your journey. Much love to you!

[@lauriejillstrickland7302]

What a light.

[@outdoormirrorist3404]

toast.

[@moohoward]

Very easy to talk about yourself. She is very good at it. Well done.

[@cjoybe4448]

Thank you Ashley Judd. Tender compassion to you.

[@susanwenner8738]

Just finished her book and boy she just braved on through these horrors month after month and even put herself into a Rehab Clinic for a month and a half in between to fix her brokenness. Incredible woman.

[@lanchparty]

We have very different politics, but I have so much respect for the humanitarian work she is doing.

[@gwenhwyfarreaganhardy]

This is life changing for me. Thank you Ashley Judd---just thank you---witnessing these beings you witnessed with my own tears---you shared their stories so well with so much heart and truth---I am forever changed for the better---my heart is opened for a deeper purpose---thank you

[@karenlittlefield]

My hero. Love Ashley so much.

[@stevenrobinson1989]

I've admired and respected Ashley for decades, however, I do pray for her and all of the others that serve others because in the vertical journey she refers to, Christ has been, is, and always will be Lord and King.

[@richcountyratrodsjrod2329]

Rip Naomi Judd. Your daughter is truly amazing.

[@unsilencednattolie]

I feel your heart Ashley. AND, your heart ache... The PInk Room is a documentary about the sex trafficking region she mentions. There is a safe house helping these children recover called Rahabb's House. They offer on the ground support which is so awesome.

[@Hakgstv]

Love her so much. I want to be just like her!

[@npjm.99]

Wow i had not realized she was so amazing!!

[@cathyphegley7414]

Phenomenal! 🙏

[@davidhutchinson5233]

She is still a total babe. I know it's patriarchal and sexist...but goddamn.....in any event, I respect her as a professional and an outspoken advocate for those who are on the fringes. Much Respect.

[@rhymeandreasoning]

LOVE HER LOTS

[@JourneyforEarth]

You are so eloquent Ashley, and spoke so beautifully and from the heart - Thank you for sharing the heart and soul of what you experienced. In knowing we certainly do have a responsibility...

[@nancymosby7369]

Family, choice and chance!

[@michaellawson4819]

Good Job Ms. Judd

[@dracosm747]

Asley Judd for president. This is my movement for here. Please share and post everywhere that you can.

[@jag5798]

I enjoy listening to her voice. Its comforting. My fav movie of hers was “Double Jeopardy”.

[@bridgetc.marinaccio8024]

Most valuable Ted Talk ever!

[@sammy6484]

I love her

[@franceswelch5834]

Your mother raised 2 gifted children.. Your so smart

[@andriamariesurles2079]

Awesome🙏

[@toughtaurus7270]

I love that the people who have the worst things to say on here are conveniently the ones who've blocked the ability to reply directly to them. Cowardly much?

[@panamacmillan]

M.r. Moon- Ashley Judd recited "Nasty Women" poem at a Feminist gathering. That does not make her" crazy"....just a really...really good actress.

[@MrMoonlight222]

"A dysfunctional family system that at times didn't work very well." Does this make sense to you?

[@fmlAllthetime]

The sentence is kinda shit.

[@pauljung3534]

"I carry meaning. I care for family. I care for society. I care for environment, all life. I care for their future. I cannot just live for I. I came to be, because of what came before. And thus, I am now, for what will be -- meaningfully." "What now? What now, would the ultimate - in love be? Would it not be, to do what you can, so others can live, what you've come to love? Would it not be?" "In taking care of each other, we affirm our human nature, our collective strength and wholeness, our societal and ecological stewardship, our future. This is our soul.. our sole raison d'etre." "Hold tenderly... chime lovingly... children all before, & all to come." "Each child loved in whole, comes to light upon angel's wings -- for every child receives a parent, as if God." "Whether in your child, or those of another -- deliver angels, and agents of change." "To have a heart, is a blessing. To have a heart, allows one to care. And to care for life, beyond your life, is a love that is ultimate - for it is boundless and knows no death." "Love's fulfillment.. it is gut & grace, coming into place." ~ Paul Jung

[@tana5098]

Beautiful statement. I would add that through God, He can heal the heart and mind recover bit by bit. Philippians says, "I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me." This is what helps me to go on. It is no small feat to recover from abuse, but only through Jesus Christ is anything possible. God Bless Ashley Judd for telling the stories of people who have suffered horrific crimes against humanity. I sincerely hope we all will help to make humanity more loving and less violent. 💕 🙏🌍🙌⛪️🕊

[@peterdurkin1499]

She could be the best paid speaker. If she could put politics aside. Excellent speaker

[@gloriamaryhaywood2217]

Politics are very important. Politicians are our law makers and represent us all.

[@mrwoodrow73183]

ASHLEY JUDD SAID," IT'S THE BIRTH RIGHT FOR EVERY CHILD TO BE LISTENED TO" I GUESS THE KEYWORD HERE IS "BIRTH RIGHT" BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T AFFORD THAT SAME RIGHT TO THE BABY INSIDE THE WOMB. AS A CHRISTIAN WOMEN SHE SHOULD HAVE LEARNED THAT LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION AND NOT AT BIRTH AND WHAT SHE IS DOING IS VALIDATING THE MURDER OF INNOCENT BABIES. AND I AS A CHRISTIAN WOMEN CANNOT SQUARE THE TWO.

[@suesheification]

far better to be aborted than a sex slave, sick puppy

[@MrsRebekah45]

Thought the same thing!!!🙄

[@maryhakkinen6936]

Amazing work - and completely heartbreaking.

[@ElsjeMassyn]

Ashly is my role-model ... I aspire to be even an inch like her.

[@Irish_Clan]

I can't believe she started off by apologizing for how she looked. Who cares???

[@jennydoucette2538]

ashley is thouroughly well intentioned

[@chrolli247]

I don't think she had walked many steps yet, but thought she had.

[@longboredterrie]

poor girl !!! she needed to be a victim shes made it a true Victim !!

[@misstmemrs]

So. Dads mom was “safe place”. The book is the Bible obviously.

[@moonlightmelodrama]

She must be a great actress. All this time we thought she was normal.

[@godoggo407]

Powerful.

[@Tr0nzoid]

She was still an A-list actress being used to pull audiences.

[@nitaweitzel822]

Thank U

[@94123Serendipity]

PS typical Ashley Judd, in the first two minutes of her speech she reminds us that she was once one of the highest paid actresses in hollywood. I seriously doubt that. IMDB shows that she received $4 million in 2001 for "Someone Like You" (a forgettable rom com)... at the same time as other actresses such as Julia Roberts, Demi Moore and Halle Berry were pulling in $12-15 million for their roles. And that was just ONE movie where she got that. The rest were much less.

[@daughterofthemosthigh3366]

She says SO many important things in this talk and you come away with this???

[@moohoward]

Yes, a Hollywood legend in her own mind.

[@94123Serendipity]

lots of new-agey psychobabble in there, a little self-consciously delivered like an actress' monologue. And did she actually offer any concrete ways for people to get involved? newp. also, INCREDIBLY irritating at the start where she got annoyed with them for not saying "hello" loud enough and she went "take two - HELLO" and made them repeat it.

[@mayzo51184]

Oh see I saw that as her trying to make light of things where this topic was about to be quite a heavy one; not that she was annoyed at all.

[@sharlynmcbride4116]

I believe she has since been an advocate for abortion. I saw her give a speech at the capital in Washington. That confuses me when I listen to her here in this video. Is she confused about what is life and ehat isn't Its easy to assume that a baby in the womb is not a human.

[@jklynb]

An act of worship to self ?

[@ritabowles293]

you criticize the US. WHAT DID YOU DO?

[@mariesummers2485]

If she was doing all this good why have there not been any media coverage on what a hero she is or interview. Just remember she is a actress there taught to make you believe what she is saying they live in fantasy land it makes them feel powerful to to capture you in there story.

[@KimRadlo]

♥♥♥

[@nosferatu5626]

So... after all her world travels and the horrors she's seen... she eventually comes to the point where speaking out against nasty anonymous tweets and video games she doesn't understand has become her priority? Well... I'm sure the child sex slaves of the third world would understand her shift in slacktivism and guilt driven virtue signalling themes.

[@oliviamae3281]

Oops, thought she was someone else. No idea who she is.

[@mrwoodrow73183]

I FEEL SORRY FOR ASHLEY JUDD BECUAUSE SHE IS ONE SICK PUPPY. SHE NEEDS A PSYCHIATRIST BADLY BECUASE SHE IS SICK IN THE HEAD FROM ALL HER EXPERIENCES

[@pryorbishop2957]

What is she talking about?? It just sounds like word salad.

[@blackroses8342]

Why doesn’t she have an accent like her mom

[@susanwenner8738]

She went to acting school for years to undo that accent.

[@Greyrey1000]

Bad singer ,bad actor , victim mentality obsessive, the perfect democrat.

[@Polarcupcheck]

She wins either way. If republicans come in, she gets tax breaks. lol

[@MB-mb3856]

Uh....I do like Ashley....but in no way was she EVER one of the highest paid women of Hollywood even taking into account inflation. . Her networth is under $20,000.000 and that includes MANY films. . Why she would say that is beyond me. The highest paid women of Hollywood are worth $100,000,000 plus.

[@mudwiser1391]

I'm sure Ashley believes in everything she says but at the same time she comes off as being a little self righteous. She likes to think of herself as an independent woman and a modern thinker. I put more trust in people who think less and just ''roll up their sleeves'' and get things done. Seems to me she is to concerned about being 'politically correct'. Granted I could be miss-reading her completely... but this seems like politically positioning and posturing. If it is? That's scary.

[@suesheification]

you're wrong

[@DaBlaccGhost]

Mud Wiser nah you were right 4 years ago watch her newest Ted talk.

[@neilstahulak5520]

Careful you'll be blinded by the fakeness. Never the champion always the victim!

[@sheri4673]

And just what has she accomplished after whining about tax free tampons on a world platform stage......

[@superrookie-1]

she is a bad presenter, she has confidence, and good speaking skills, but she doesn't know how to make a straight point, instead she just talks a lot of unnecessary speech.

[@ozdunstan8850]

ill take her for a coffee

[@DaBlaccGhost]

Wonder when she met this sex worker, was it next to her Hollywood home? Or maybe in the resort she was staying at on vacation? Hmm. TED do you plan on silencing this comment section too?

[@steelhurricane4041]

Flake Ashley, shallow Ashley.

[@bonniebeck4068]

Family of chance. Lord has humor. Wonder what she thinks now her one part of her humorous family and dysfunctional family is gone

[@debbiejohnson7758]

Well, that's quite rude of you. Bet you don't have many friends.

[@ms.bkaraokeb4307]

Always beautiful... Ashley Judd. This was very sobering.

[@gypsyemerald]

Ashley, you matter to me ;) and my matter is more self valuable because you are here:)

[@55555annie]

Ashley you are amazing! Just finished your book today! I've been to Belize, Mexico, and Guatemala so I've seen some poverty. You're a hero and I love what you're doing. I AM SO ON BOARD TO HELP IN WHATEVER WAY I CAN!!! You go girl!! And thank you SO much for sharing your life, your work and your brilliance!!

[@GreenTara2010]

Love you Ashley, so sorry for all those haters who harass you on the internet. It must be so hard for them to deal with their own negativity.

[@jrstrange123]

That was a bit arrogant!

[@thebiscuitrose]

Thank you. Eloquent. Creative.

[@neilstahulak5520]

After watching this me and my friend have come to the same conclusion that Ashley Judd and Hillary Clinton must have the same coach for giving speeches.

[@jenniferknight1511]

Her stories do not ring true?

[@tommywilliams4307]

Love her a natural beauty I'd love to marry her