How square pegs too can find their place in a world full of round holes

TED talks have been a source of inspiration for many for a long time now. While not everyone can attend a TED talk, they can seek inspiration and learn things through ideas that the different TEDx talks have at different communities.

At TEDx Bangalore at Infosys recently many people walked away with ideas on life, existence and truly believing in yourself.

Changing mindsets

Ideas aren't restricted to a few, but as Sonalde Desai, Senior NCAER Fellow, said, equal opportunity for everyone comes from breaking mindsets.

And that's very difficult when everything is simultaneously true and false. There is enormous poverty and enormous wealth and sometimes they live side by side,” says Sonalde.

While there are changes in income levels, material possessions, and children in rural and improvised backgrounds go to school, they cannot be treated the same way as children from other backgrounds. This is because their circumstances have been different.

Even today, when surveys are conducted we realise that some form of differentiations and biases are held against people of impoverished backgrounds. And equal opportunity means giving the same opportunities in every aspect of life irrespective of caste, creed, gender religion and faiths.

Also read: Magic is beyond your comfort zone – Natalie Di Luccio

Can you say I can in a world that says I can't?

To bring in equality, barriers we aren't even aware of need to be broken. We like to belong and find a comfort zone but we limit ourselves. "Does data in your brain determine your gender," asks Ashwini Iyer Tiwari, Director Nil Baatey Tin. Our definitions of ourselves and lives are determined by labels.

Irrespective of gender, every human being is capable of creativity and innovation, as it is seen in the daily ‘jugaad’ we do. Creativity isn’t restricted to one person, class or form of training. Man, woman, child, engineer, actor, model or entrepreneurs our lives are guided by what we do and not who we are.

Also read: Aditi Gupta putting an end to a period of taboos with Menstrupedia

Lives are governed mostly by what people assume to be right, or wrong, all based on the different labels societies have created. As human beings, we have become very used to structure and labels, which makes it all the more difficult for us to break free and truly express our inner self.

"And to truly un-label yourself you need to understand yourself better,” says Bani J, VJ and actor. But for that you need to disassociate yourself from all the 'shoulds.' Designers Manil and Ronit say for that you need to be able to break from your comfort zone, one should explore the world beyond its structures.

How much of your inner data have you mined?

Skill has no connection with creativity, it has everything to do with the mind, which has no barrier. While Swati Subodh, Co-founder, 1M1B Foundation, believes that creative imagination is what makes one create scientific breakthroughs, Tirthankar Dash, Founder of Quantum360, believes to truly know yourself, you need to be aware and have your subconscious and inner data mined.

Every day, we add data deep in the recesses of our minds, whether it is through observations, thoughts or experiences, it is that data that determines our likes, dislikes and wants. When you ask yourself what you really want, it is that inner data that you have created that determines who you are.

"None of your true nature is truly revealed to you. To unbox yourself you need to dig deeper and truly understand the data you've stored over years of experiences,” adds Tirtankar.