How a Single Word CAN Rebuild Your Life | Risa August | TEDxJeffersonU
Risa August faced a brain tumor diagnosis that upended her identity and life as an athlete. In this powerful TEDx talk, she reveals how one question, “What CAN I do?” sparked a 1,845-mile bike journey and a radical reinvention. Her story shows how to reframe adversity, reclaim agency, and turn setbacks into purpose. Risa August is an award-winning author, speaker, and transformational coach who turned a brain tumor diagnosis, a cross-country bike journey, and the unraveling of a former life into a story of radical reinvention. With a foundation in the modality of Gestalt and an inherent calling for patient advocacy, Risa is redefining the doctor-patient dynamic and reframing the language we use around healing. In her talk, Risa declares that sometimes the most life-changing shifts begin with one small word and the courage to believe in it. Through her creative and coaching work, she empowers others to transform adversity into purpose, and reminds us that thriving is always possible. 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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