Ideas change everything

How to make hard choices

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Ruth Chang |

TEDSalon NY2014

• May 2014

Here's a talk that could literally change your life. Which career should I pursue? Should I break up -- or get married?! Where should I live? Big decisions like these can be agonizingly difficult. But that's because we think about them the wrong way, says philosopher Ruth Chang. She offers a powerful new framework for shaping who we truly are.

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

Here's a talk that could literally change your life. Which career should I pursue? Should I break up -- or get married?! Where should I live? Big decisions like these can be agonizingly difficult. But that's because we think about them the wrong way, says philosopher Ruth Chang. She offers a powerful new framework for shaping who we truly are.

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

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Ruth Chang asks why some choices are so hard — and what that means for the human condition.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

Read our curation guidelines.