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Selfish Altruism? Why Your Next Act of Kindness is Actually Selfcare | Aline Silva | TEDxDelrayBeach

In this inspiring TEDxDelrayBeach2025 talk, Aline Silva takes us on a journey from her own battle with depression to the front lines of extreme altruism, sharing how fostering children transformed her life. Through the snow-bound rescue organized by Louisville’s Sharon Stevens, she shows how one person’s kindness can spark a tidal wave of cooperation. Blending neuroscience (“doing good feels as rewarding as chocolate”), evolutionary insights (from chimpanzees to our own cells), and pop-culture callbacks (Taylor Swift’s “covert narcissism”), Aline unpacks the paradox of “selfish altruism,” the burnout risk of over-giving, and why our instincts actually favor collaboration.Ready to unlock a sustainable source of happiness? She issues a simple challenge: if you can’t help a hundred people, start by helping just one. Let’s ride the kindness wave—because in lifting others, we discover the best version of ourselves. Aline Silva, holds an MBA with a focus on Marketing and Communications. Originally born in Brazil, she grew roots in South Florida where she explored first hand, the power of kindness, doing good not only lifts others but also fuels our own happiness—creating a beautiful, endless loop where joy begets more joy. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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