My TEDx Talk is LIVE, and I'd LOVE for you to watch it.

The Journey to My TEDx Talk: A Story of Healing, Self-Love, and Facing the Tough Stuff

Nov 19, 2024

Heyy everyone!

I can’t believe it’s finally here —my TEDx talk. After months of preparation, countless hours of writing and rewriting, and an emotional rollercoaster of memories and realisations, it’s been such a surreal experience to stand in front of a crowd and share the story I’ve been carrying with me for so long.

You know, this talk isn’t just a speech for me —it’s a culmination of years of growth, healing, and a whole lot of self-discovery. So, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on this journey and share how I got here. Because, trust me, it wasn’t easy.

How It All Began

When I first got the invitation to speak at TEDx, I felt a mixture of emotions. On one hand, I was thrilled —this was a dream come true! I’ve spent my life writing, sharing my healing journey with my community, and reaching millions of people online.

But to be given the opportunity to speak at TEDx? It was like all of my hard work had led to this moment.

On the other hand, I was TERRIFIED. I’m talking about the kind of nerves where your hands shake, your heart races, and you question every word you’ve ever written. I had to remind myself that this was the moment to be authentic, to share the raw, unfiltered truth about my journey.

But that didn’t make the nerves go away.

As I stood there on the TEDx stage, just a few days away from my 30th birthday (yep, I’m officially 30!), I couldn’t help but think about how far I’ve come. From the little girl who lost her mum at just four years old, to the woman who’s spent her life navigating childhood trauma, to finally being able to say, “I’ve figured out what self-love really is,” it’s been a long, winding road.

Why TEDx? Why Now?

You might be wondering —why TEDx?

Well, the answer is simple. Over the years, I’ve shared my healing journey with my community through my writing, my books, my blog, my YouTube channel and now my podcast. But when I started looking at the concept of self-love, something felt wrong. I realised that we’ve been getting it all wrong. The way we think about self-love is shallow, it’s surface-level. And I’ve had to learn —the hard way— that self-love is much more than just meditating, chanting affirmations, or going for a spa day.

Don’t get me wrong —those things are important, but they’re not what will save you from yourself. They’re not the key to your healing.

So, I wanted to share this revelation. I wanted to stand in front of an audience, face my fears, and show people that self-love is not about painting your outer walls; it’s about going inside and healing your foundation. I wanted to challenge the conventional idea of self-love and offer something deeper, more meaningful, and real.

Watch my TEDx Talk Here!

The Nerve-Wracking Process

Writing this TEDx talk was a challenge in itself. It wasn’t just about writing a script —it was about revisiting painful memories, facing my trauma, and confronting the parts of myself that I had avoided for years. This wasn’t a “feel-good” journey. It was tough. And I’ll be honest —there were days when I didn’t think I could go through with it.

But here’s the thing: healing isn’t meant to be easy. It’s messy, it’s uncomfortable, and it’s downright painful at times. And in order to truly heal, we have to face the tough stuff. We can’t keep slapping on a fresh coat of paint and expect our foundations to be sturdy. I’ve spent years doing exactly that —focusing on the external stuff, trying to fix what was broken on the inside with temporary solutions. And guess what? It didn’t work.

So, in this talk, I want to give people the permission to stop running from their trauma, to stop hiding behind “feel-good” practices, and to start doing the hard work that will really make a difference. Because tough self-love is what will lead you to the life you deserve.

The Moment of Truth

The day of the talk arrived, and let me tell you —I was sooo nervous. I had practised my script a million times. I had gone through every detail, every word, and every pause. But standing there in front of the audience, I knew that what I was about to share was so much more than just a script. It was my story, my truth, and a message that I hope will resonate with everyone who’s ever felt stuck, broken, or misunderstood.

When I spoke those words —“self-love is more than just self-care”— I meant every single one of them. I’m not just talking about the “quick fixes” we often turn to. I’m talking about doing the deep, emotional work that truly heals us. It’s about asking the tough questions, confronting your past, and letting go of the things that no longer serve you.

I’m proud of the talk I gave. I’m proud of the message it carries, and I’m excited for the world to hear it. I truly believe that if we all embraced this tough self-love, we could live more fulfilling, authentic lives.

Watch My TEDx Talk Here!

Now, It's Your Turn

I’m so excited for you to watch the talk. I poured my heart into it, and I can’t wait to hear what you think. Please, take a moment to watch it, share it, like it, and leave a comment. I’d love to hear how the talk resonates with you, and what your own self-love journey has been like.

You can watch the talk here.

Thank you for being part of my journey. Thank you for supporting me through this entire process, from the first drafts to the final standing ovation. And most importantly, thank you for being open to hearing the truth about self-love. It’s time to stop getting it wrong and start doing the deep work that truly heals us.

Let’s build those strong foundations together. Let’s make self-love real.

Lots of love,

Ruby Dhal xxx