Ideas worth spreading

"Everything happens for a reason" -- and other lies I've loved

8,650,351 views | Kate Bowler • TEDMED 2018

In life's toughest moments, how do you go on living? Kate Bowler has been exploring this question ever since she was diagnosed with stage IV cancer at age 35. In a profound, heartbreaking and unexpectedly funny talk, she offers some answers -- challenging the idea that "everything happens for a reason" and sharing hard-won wisdom about how to make sense of the world after your life is suddenly, completely changed. "I believe that in the darkness, even there, there will be beauty and there will be love," she says.

In life's toughest moments, how do you go on living? Kate Bowler has been exploring this question ever since she was diagnosed with stage IV cancer at age 35. In a profound, heartbreaking and unexpectedly funny talk, she offers some answers -- challenging the idea that "everything happens for a reason" and sharing hard-won wisdom about how to make sense of the world after your life is suddenly, completely changed. "I believe that in the darkness, even there, there will be beauty and there will be love," she says.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Listen to Everything Happens, a podcast with Kate Bowler. In warm, insightful, often funny conversations, she talks with people about what they've learned in dark times.

About the speaker

Kate Bowler

Divinity professor, author

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Kate Bowler is reexamining her perspective on the "prosperity gospel": the belief that good things happen to good people.

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This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Listen to Everything Happens, a podcast with Kate Bowler. In warm, insightful, often funny conversations, she talks with people about what they've learned in dark times.