Why 'thank you' matters more than 'I love you' in your relationship | Etel Leit | TEDxCherryCreekHS
What if “I love you” isn’t the glue that keeps couples together? What if it’s “thank you”?
In this raw, funny, and deeply personal talk, Dr. Etel Leit, TEDx speaker, 5x author, and PhD in Psychology, reveals the moment everything changed for her, when love failed her at the exact moment she needed it most. What followed wasn’t just heartbreak, but a radical shift in how she understood emotional intimacy, communication skills, and attachment patterns, and how we try (and fail) to feel close in modern relationships.
If you’ve ever felt ignored, unloved, blamed, or emotionally shut down by your partner
If you’ve been called too sensitive, too much, or too needy
If you're single and afraid to trust again, or stuck in relationship patterns that feel confusing or one-sided
If you’ve been hurt by narcissistic behavior, gaslighting, or a toxic relationship
This talk is for you.
Through storytelling, neuroscience, and powerful client stories, Dr. Leit shares how small shifts in language, especially the practice of gratitude and positive bragging, can rewire the brain, heal emotional wounds, and transform how we love. Backed by UC Berkeley research, this relationship advice is rooted in science, not clichés.
Whether you’re in a long-term marriage, recovering from a breakup, or learning to love again, this talk will change the way you think about self-worth, appreciation, emotional safety, and what truly builds trust in relationships.
Featured on CNN, FOX, NBC, and the LA Times, Dr. Etel Leit teaches at the doctoral level and has helped thousands of individuals and couples repair communication, rebuild trust, and reconnect in a world wired for distraction.
Dr. Etel Leit is a TEDx speaker, 5x author, and PhD in Psychology, helping people repair love, rebuild trust, and communicate with clarity. Seen on CNN, FOX, and NBC, she works with individuals, couples, and organizations to replace disconnection with emotional safety. Her work blends science and story, helping people speak differently—so they can finally feel close again. 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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