I Feel, Therefore I Am | Leonor Varela | TEDxFrutillar

At TEDxFrutillar, actress and activist Leonor Varela responds to Descartes' "I think, therefore I am" with the idea "I feel, therefore I am." The talk is an intimate reflection on grief, vulnerability and the courage to feel what we fear most. Varela argues that moving through pain, rather than avoiding it, can bring us back to life. The talk draws on her personal journey, also presented in her memoir "Ir al cielo y Volver".

• A personal response to Descartes' idea
• Grief, vulnerability and the courage to feel
• Moving through pain rather than avoiding it

In response to Descartes' “I think, therefore I am,” this talk proposes another idea: I feel, therefore I am. An intimate reflection on grief, vulnerability and the courage to feel what we fear most, and on how moving through pain, rather than avoiding it, can bring us back to life. Leonor Varela is an internationally recognized actress and dedicated activist. She is also a prominent Chilean cultural figure and mother. Varela is the author of the memoir, "Ir al cielo y Volver" (Go to Heaven and Back), sharing her profound personal journey. 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