What if you had to become nothing to become everything? | Ruth Harris | TEDxDoncaster
Ruth Harris takes us on a powerful journey into the world of recovery, ego death, and the quiet revolution of community healing.Through the lens of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, she shows how over two million people worldwide have transformed their lives not through experts or systems, but through shared humanity and radical honesty.Her talk is both vulnerable and disruptive. Ruth invites the audience to imagine what society might look like if we embraced anonymity not as erasure, but as liberation, if we learned to become nothing in order to become everything. It’s a call to re-examine identity, belonging, and the ego’s grip on our lives. Recovering addict turned tech entrepreneur & Mindset coach. I transformed my life and now support others to do the same. Passionate about the power of the very programme that gave me life again, I believe developing this method could change the lives of millions of people. 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
More from TED
- 7:59The faces of Poverty and Inequality | Saanvi Tripathy | TEDxSolitaireGlobalSchoolsAttapurAims to shed light on the faces that often go unnoticed. Keen interest in International relations and economics. 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
- 15:56The Science of Burnout — And How Your Brain Rebuilds You! | Agastya Sharma | TEDxYouth@JGISWhat really happens to your brain when you’re burnt out? In this insightful TEDx talk, Agastya Bhuvnesh Sharma dives deep into the neuroscience of burnout — explaining how chronic stress rewires our brain, silences motivation, and weakens emotional control.But there’s hope. Through fascinating research and relatable insights, Agastya reveals how the same brain that breaks down under pressure is also wired to rebuild itself — through rest, reflection, and resilience.From the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex to the dopamine system, this talk explores how understanding our mind’s biology can help us move from breakdown to breakthrough. Agastya Sharma, a 16-year-old IBDP student at JG International School, is passionate about science, education, and social impact. With a strong academic focus on Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, he aspires to become a neurosurgeon, inspired by his curiosity about the human brain and its healing potential. Agastya has led community outreach initiatives with organizations such as Hamari Pahchan and India Recycles, championing education and social equity. A seasoned public speaker and MUN awardee, he is fluent in five languages and is currently authoring a research paper on BDNF-mediated neurogenesis. Balancing academics with badminton and guitar, Agastya envisions opening a hospital that provides affordable healthcare for underserved communities. 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