Meet TED

› ELIZABETH GILBERT: SUCCESS, FAILURE AND THE DRIVE TO KEEP CREATING

Eat, Pray, Love’s author shares how she faced her fear of living up to her own success. What if her future work didn’t stand up to readers’ expectations? Turning back to what she loves, writing, keeps her balanced.

› BRENE BROWN: THE POWER OF VULNERABILITY

Brown discovers that people who feel connected to those around them aren’t afraid to be vulnerable in their relationships—whether they work out or not.

CHRIS HADFIELD: WHAT I LEARNED FROM GOING BLIND IN SPACE

Hadfield’s experience demonstrates the importance of staying calm in frightening situations—though we’re not too keen on his suggestion of walking through spider webs to overcome a fear of spiders.

› RITA PIERSON: EVERY KID NEEDS A CHAMPION

This late teacher talks about teaching kids in the classroom and focuses on the fact that everyone can leave a legacy— just like her mother, also a teacher, did with her students.

› ISABEL ALLENDE: HOW TO LIVE PASSIONATELY—NO MATTER YOUR AGE

Allende’s perspective on life is one you’ll want to hear. Though she has her own fears about aging, she keeps living passionately and thinks you should, too.

› KELLY MCGONIGAL: HOW TO MAKE STRESS YOUR FRIEND

The acronym for technology, entertainment and design, TED is the nonprofit organization behind TED Talks with one agenda: “to make great ideas accessible and spark conversation.” Most TED Talks inspire something—an action, motivation or conviction—in 18 minutes or less. Get to know TED with eight of the most inspiring ones.

› TOM WUJEC: BUILD A TOWER, BUILD A TEAM

Out of the CEOs, MBA graduates and kindergarten students Wujec observed, the kindergartners built the tallest marshmallow towers. Why? They didn’t fight for control, working together to reach the same goal instead.

McGonigal argues that stress is only bad if you struggle through it alone. Sharing your stress with others or being there for a stressed friend has positive health benefits.

› SHAWN ACHOR: THE HAPPY SECRET TO BETTER WORK

This psychologist turns the thought of working to be happy upside down. Looks like we need happiness first to be productive. And maybe a few cat videos.