Réinventer le Cycle de la Vie : Reconnexion et Durabilité | Stéphanie Mathis | TEDxESTPParis

Introduction

• The concept of the cycle of life is introduced, with a personal connection to the song from The Lion King, as it was the first thing that came to mind when thinking about the theme (17s).
• The decision to approach the topic with a positive outlook, symbolized by wearing "lunettes roses" (rose-tinted glasses), is explained as a way to reassure oneself and bring optimism in the face of colossal challenges (50s).
• The importance of optimism is highlighted, as it is known to be a matter of attitude and will, and can provide a fresh perspective on things (1m46s).
• The objective is not to say that everything will be fine in the new cycle, but rather to approach it with a specific and optimistic mindset, acknowledging that it will be a challenging and surprising time (1m57s).

Reconnection

• The concept of reconnection is introduced, encompassing reconnection with oneself and others, and the importance of embracing this idea is emphasized (2m45s).
• The idea of reconnection is also linked to the need to slow down and decelerate, as the current pace of life is unsustainable and has led to stress, depression, and pollution (3m32s).
• There is a collective desire to enrich life through emotions and experiences, which is what is meant by reconnection, and this desire is driving a need to reassess priorities and slow down (4m13s).

Color of 2024: Pach Fuz

• The color of 2024, chosen by Panton, is Pach Fuz, a soft, rose-colored hue that evokes feelings of comfort, humanity, growth, and peace, especially during a period of instability (4m27s).
• This color represents a message of tenderness, benevolence, and gentleness, inviting individuals to reconnect with themselves and others, and to take time for self-care and healing (4m32s).

Desire for Reconnection

• People are currently feeling exhausted, disconnected, and are yearning to feel alive, experience joy, surprise, and inspiration, as reflected in the theme of Burning Man, "Curioser and Curioser" (5m41s).
• This desire for reconnection is also illustrated by the younger generation, who seamlessly transition between moments of high connectivity and digital retreat, as seen in the "Ludit Club" phenomenon, a group of adolescents in New York who celebrate liberation from social media (6m37s).
• The Ludit Club has become synonymous with the rebellion of Generation Z against the exhaustion caused by social media and technology, and this trend is reflected in the resurgence of "dumb phones" that only allow for phone calls, enabling users to switch to "ludite mode" at will (6m54s).
• This trend is not about reverting to a pre-digital or pre-technological era, but rather about having the option to choose when to be connected and when not to be, and to live a more conscious and slow-paced life (7m45s).

Slow Living

• The "slow living" movement invites individuals to reconsider their choices and live more mindfully, and is characterized by a desire to disengage from the economy of tension and to live a more peaceful life (8m22s).
• There is a growing trend of re-engaging in new activities and transforming skills into competitions, such as the first British Extreme Relaxation Championships held in London last year, where 30 contestants had to find serenity in stressful situations (9m7s).
• Many commercial centers now offer calm spaces for customers to disconnect from their noisy environment, and some companies provide rest rooms for their employees to isolate, reflect, and change their mental state (9m31s).
• Hotels are also positioning themselves as offering a chance for customers to completely escape the agitation of life with specially designed rooms, often underground, without distractions, gadgets, or TVs, and with soundproof walls and circadian-based lighting for deep rest and restoration (9m57s).

Prioritizing Well-being

• Well-being is now clearly valued as a priority, even over professional ambition, as seen in the case of former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who resigned in January 2023 due to lack of energy to maintain her position (10m53s).
• Other public figures, such as musician Drake, actor Tom Holland, and former Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon, have also taken breaks from their careers, highlighting the importance of rest and self-care (11m8s).
• Sleeping, slowing down, and being present are now seen as acts of resistance against incessant activity, and being present means living consciously and intentionally (11m25s).

Travel for Self-Discovery

• Travel, especially among Generation Z, is now often done to deepen self-discovery and seek personal growth and development, with the goal of finding a better version of oneself (11m51s).
• The idea is to create memorable moments by being present, disconnected from daily life, and using the experience as a catalyst for personal growth, whether it's for 3 days or 3 weeks (12m16s).
• Many companies now offer customized travel itineraries designed to help individuals address specific personal questions or goals, such as stimulating creativity through a road trip in Morocco or improving family relationships through immersion in a different culture in Mongolia, allowing travelers to adopt new perspectives and visions by being exposed to different communities (13m11s).

Reconnecting with Others

• The goal of these experiences is to facilitate reconnection with others and broaden one's horizons, which is essential in today's world where incivility and bad behavior are prevalent in daily life, from neighborhoods to public transportation (14m30s).
• Experts like Sarah Jane Ho, who created the Netflix show "Mind Your Manners," offer advice on etiquette and how to present oneself in the best possible light in all circumstances, highlighting the importance of good manners in modern society (14m58s).
• In Japan, after three years of social isolation and mask-wearing, there is a growing demand for smile lessons, with instructors teaching people how to smile authentically and warmly, demonstrating the value placed on genuine expressions in social interactions (15m28s).
• Many companies are also reintegrating etiquette lessons into their corporate culture, with nearly one in two American companies offering such courses to cover a wide range of topics, from workplace attire to conversations at the coffee machine (16m8s).

Collective Effervescence

• The foundation of living together in harmony is learning and adapting to social norms, which can ultimately lead to collective effervescence, a shared energy and harmony that arises from shared experiences, such as participating in a choir or attending a festival (16m43s).
• As a tourist, one can now purchase tickets to join large-scale experiences and feel a sense of joy and connection with others, highlighting the importance of shared experiences in fostering a sense of community and togetherness (17m11s).
• In India, people can attend weddings of strangers, and there are also mass meditation movements that gather thousands or even tens of thousands of people (17m19s).

Bringing People Together

• A Swedish retailer with blue and yellow colors, known for accessible design, explores new ways to bring people together in stores, such as creating nighttime events during design week (17m43s).
• There are many initiatives that bring people together to eat with strangers, reinforcing community ties, and the table has always been a vector for gathering family and friends, but now it serves as a support for creating connections (18m14s).
• In New York, individuals have started gathering strangers for homemade dinners, resulting in a 3- to 4-year waiting list, demonstrating the importance of learning to live together and gathering as a community (18m47s).

Intentional Communities

• The ultimate goal is to belong and create a sense of community, which is where intentional communities come in, offering mutual support, accompaniment, and a sense of extended family (19m12s).
• There are various types of intentional communities, including multigenerational communities based on sharing and mutual aid, and communities targeting specific population segments, such as single-parent households or women aged 58-94 (19m25s).
• Intentional communities can have a positive impact on the prosperity of streets and commercial neighborhoods, with examples of once-decrepit streets becoming flourishing areas with independent businesses and community services (20m34s).

Totality of Living Spaces

• There is a trend in living spaces and social gathering areas where entertainment, events, restaurants, and shops are combined, as seen in many places in Asia (21m21s).
• This concept of totality invites the community to gather in a place where people can be themselves, connect with others, and connect with nature (21m47s).

Reconnecting with Nature

• The relationship with nature is being rethought, revisited, and reinvented out of necessity, but also beyond that (22m20s).
• It is possible to reconnect with oneself by slowing down, adapting, and adopting a measured and sustainable approach to things (22m32s).
• This approach involves celebrating the beauty of impermanence and deeply accepting the fragility that is inherent to the human condition (22m49s).

Conclusion

• The speaker shared their own fragility and connected with the audience, hoping to have helped them in some way (23m2s).