Don't Be Yourself... | Santhosh Sundaresan | TEDxTIPS Salem Youth

Core Argument - The traditional advice of "being yourself" may be limiting and can hinder personal growth [1][2] - The speaker advocates for actively "leading yourself," which emphasizes change, stepping out of one's comfort zone, and rectifying mistakes to become a better version [10][11] Supporting Evidence & Examples - The speaker's personal experience of missing opportunities due to procrastination and self-doubt when trying to "be themselves" [3][4][5] - A survey indicated that over half (more than 7 out of 13) of teenagers surveyed lacked self-confidence, and 11 overthink about the future, highlighting a common issue [6] - Basketball legend Kobe Bryant's transformation into his "Black Mamba" alter ego as an example of changing oneself to overcome challenges and achieve success [7][8] Psychological Concepts - "Being yourself" can induce a fixed mindset, hindering the ability to embrace change and acknowledge mistakes [8][9] - Leading yourself allows a person to take full control and rectify mistakes [11] Alternative Advice - The speaker suggests "Lead yourself" as an alternative to "Be yourself," emphasizing change and personal growth [10][11] - A quote from Roomie, an ancient Persian poet, "Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world Today I'm wise, so I am changing myself," reinforces the idea of self-improvement [12]