WEBVTT 00:00:01.167 --> 00:00:05.518 We are all trapped 00:00:05.542 --> 00:00:07.643 inside our own heads, 00:00:07.667 --> 00:00:11.643 and our beliefs and our understandings about the world are limited 00:00:11.667 --> 00:00:13.393 by that perspective, 00:00:13.417 --> 00:00:16.583 which means we tell ourselves stories. NOTE Paragraph 00:00:17.583 --> 00:00:21.351 Right? So here we are in this infinite data source. 00:00:21.375 --> 00:00:24.351 There's an infinite number of things that we could think about, 00:00:24.375 --> 00:00:26.684 but we edit and delete. 00:00:26.708 --> 00:00:30.143 We choose what to think about, what to pay attention to. 00:00:30.167 --> 00:00:31.458 We make up a story ... 00:00:35.333 --> 00:00:36.917 to make sense of what's going on, 00:00:38.125 --> 00:00:40.184 and we all get it wrong. 00:00:40.208 --> 00:00:43.434 Because we're all trying to navigate with our own skewed compasses, 00:00:43.458 --> 00:00:45.059 and we all have our own baggage, 00:00:45.083 --> 00:00:48.268 but the stories themselves are utterly convincing. 00:00:48.292 --> 00:00:49.601 And we all do this, 00:00:49.625 --> 00:00:52.518 and a lot of the stories that we live by aren't even our own. 00:00:52.542 --> 00:00:55.268 The first ones we inherit at a young age from our parents, 00:00:55.292 --> 00:00:57.393 who of course have their own skewed beliefs, 00:00:57.417 --> 00:01:00.167 their own frustrations, their own unlived lives. 00:01:01.375 --> 00:01:03.714 And for better or worse, we take all that onboard, 00:01:03.724 --> 00:01:05.309 and then we go out into the world 00:01:05.339 --> 00:01:08.643 thinking maybe we have to be successful to be loved; 00:01:08.667 --> 00:01:12.309 or that we always have to put other people's needs first; 00:01:12.333 --> 00:01:16.393 or that we have some big terrible secret we couldn't possible tell people. 00:01:16.417 --> 00:01:18.393 And it's just fiction, it's just stories, 00:01:18.417 --> 00:01:21.309 and we'd worry a lot less about what other people think of us 00:01:21.333 --> 00:01:23.726 if we realized how seldom they do. NOTE Paragraph 00:01:23.750 --> 00:01:26.226 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:01:26.250 --> 00:01:33.393 So I feel that magic is a great analogy for how we edit reality and form a story 00:01:33.417 --> 00:01:37.059 and then mistake that story for the truth, 00:01:37.083 --> 00:01:40.309 and I've had a 20-year career in the UK 00:01:40.333 --> 00:01:44.684 staging big psychological experiments on TV, 00:01:44.708 --> 00:01:46.351 and now that's on Netflix. 00:01:46.375 --> 00:01:48.268 I also have a stage show. 00:01:48.292 --> 00:01:52.059 I've got my first Broadway show actually coming up, called "Secret." 00:01:52.083 --> 00:01:54.086 Just throwing that out there. No pressure. NOTE Paragraph 00:01:54.110 --> 00:01:55.101 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:01:55.125 --> 00:01:57.309 That should be this year. NOTE Paragraph 00:01:57.333 --> 00:02:02.184 And I try to do something new with mentalism, mentalism, 00:02:02.208 --> 00:02:07.375 which is the dubious art of getting inside your head. NOTE Paragraph 00:02:09.792 --> 00:02:13.059 So there was a heyday for this kind of stage mind-reading, 00:02:13.083 --> 00:02:14.726 which was the 1930s. 00:02:14.750 --> 00:02:16.976 That's why I'm dressed like this, 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:19.000 in my most un-TED-like garb. 00:02:20.292 --> 00:02:23.601 And there was an act, an act known as the Oracle Act. 00:02:23.625 --> 00:02:25.851 And in the Oracle Act, members of the audience, 00:02:25.875 --> 00:02:27.476 as I know you have done, 00:02:27.500 --> 00:02:29.393 would write down secret questions, 00:02:29.417 --> 00:02:32.059 the sort of questions you might ask a psychic, 00:02:32.083 --> 00:02:35.184 seal that question into an envelope, 00:02:35.208 --> 00:02:38.351 and on the outside of the envelope they would write their initials 00:02:38.375 --> 00:02:41.792 and then roughly where they sat in the audience. 00:02:43.417 --> 00:02:46.976 And then the Oracle, the mind reader, would take an envelope one at a time, 00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:48.309 he wouldn't open it, 00:02:48.333 --> 00:02:52.268 but he would attempt to divine what question was sealed inside. 00:02:52.292 --> 00:02:55.393 And if he got that right, he would try and answer the question 00:02:55.417 --> 00:02:56.851 for the person too. 00:02:56.875 --> 00:02:59.309 And the act spread like wildfire. 00:02:59.333 --> 00:03:02.934 It's a testament, I think, to the seductive appeal 00:03:02.958 --> 00:03:06.768 of some powerful figure offering you easy, simple answers 00:03:06.792 --> 00:03:09.268 to life's complex and subtle questions 00:03:09.292 --> 00:03:10.976 and anxieties. NOTE Paragraph 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:13.143 So thank you all of you that wrote questions. 00:03:13.167 --> 00:03:15.726 I haven't seen these. I know somebody's guarding them. 00:03:15.750 --> 00:03:17.059 Thank you so much. 00:03:17.083 --> 00:03:19.809 I will take those now. Thank you all of you that did this. NOTE Paragraph 00:03:19.833 --> 00:03:25.726 I should say, probably, a couple of things before I start. 00:03:25.750 --> 00:03:27.125 In absolute honesty, 00:03:28.042 --> 00:03:30.351 first of all I can't see through these envelopes. 00:03:30.375 --> 00:03:32.643 They are sealed. They are thick black envelopes. 00:03:32.667 --> 00:03:35.268 You'll know if you wrote one. I can't see through them. 00:03:35.292 --> 00:03:37.768 Secondly, importantly, I don't know any of you 00:03:37.792 --> 00:03:39.809 and nobody is playing along. 00:03:39.833 --> 00:03:41.458 That's not what this is. 00:03:42.542 --> 00:03:43.792 Thirdly ... 00:03:45.542 --> 00:03:50.309 I don't believe for a second that I have any special psychological gifts, 00:03:50.333 --> 00:03:52.625 let alone any psychic ones. NOTE Paragraph 00:03:53.750 --> 00:03:55.000 So let's begin. 00:04:00.542 --> 00:04:01.809 Nope. NOTE Paragraph 00:04:01.833 --> 00:04:05.042 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:04:08.375 --> 00:04:09.643 OK, this -- 00:04:09.667 --> 00:04:11.309 Oh, nice. 00:04:11.333 --> 00:04:13.726 OK, this one's interesting. There's a couple here. 00:04:13.750 --> 00:04:15.559 I will start with maybe this one. 00:04:15.583 --> 00:04:18.559 This one's interesting, because the writing undulates. 00:04:18.583 --> 00:04:20.476 There's a sort of an up and down thing, 00:04:20.500 --> 00:04:22.684 which normally -- not always -- normally means 00:04:22.708 --> 00:04:25.893 that the person doesn't know the answer to the question themselves, 00:04:25.917 --> 00:04:28.393 so it's normally a question about the future, right? 00:04:28.417 --> 00:04:30.059 That sort of suggests uncertainty. 00:04:30.083 --> 00:04:32.393 So I would say it's a lady, 00:04:32.417 --> 00:04:35.809 age-wise it's a little difficult to tell from this minimal handwriting, 00:04:35.833 --> 00:04:39.601 but I would expect maybe 30s, maybe 40s, but let's find out. 00:04:39.625 --> 00:04:41.724 It says -- and a question about the future -- 00:04:41.738 --> 00:04:45.184 it says, "JN, center." 00:04:45.208 --> 00:04:48.143 So it's going to be somebody in this big central section here. 00:04:48.167 --> 00:04:50.226 If you think this is you, if you wrote one, 00:04:50.250 --> 00:04:51.518 could you make a fuss? 00:04:51.542 --> 00:04:53.851 It's a bit difficult for me to see in the center. 00:04:53.875 --> 00:04:55.143 Hi, give us a wave. 00:04:55.167 --> 00:04:56.476 So J ... 00:04:56.500 --> 00:04:58.018 Jane? Jessica? NOTE Paragraph 00:04:58.042 --> 00:04:59.309 Jessica: Yes. NOTE Paragraph 00:04:59.333 --> 00:05:01.308 Derren Brown: Which one? Jessica: Jessica. NOTE Paragraph 00:05:01.322 --> 00:05:04.434 DB: Thank you. Just a guess. Little murmur of approval, thank you? NOTE Paragraph 00:05:04.458 --> 00:05:06.059 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:05:06.083 --> 00:05:07.333 I'll take it. 00:05:08.583 --> 00:05:10.559 Alright, so Jessica, I won't ask your age, 00:05:10.583 --> 00:05:12.934 but is it a question essentially about the future? NOTE Paragraph 00:05:12.958 --> 00:05:14.226 Jessica: Mhm? DB: Yes? NOTE Paragraph 00:05:14.250 --> 00:05:15.518 Jessica: Yes. DB: Yes. OK. 00:05:15.542 --> 00:05:20.518 Alright. So what did we ask? What did Jessica ask about the future? 00:05:20.542 --> 00:05:24.976 So am I OK with late-30s, early-40s? NOTE Paragraph 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:26.809 Jessica: I'll take it. I'm taking it. NOTE Paragraph 00:05:26.833 --> 00:05:29.125 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:05:30.708 --> 00:05:32.018 DB: OK, so it's important, 00:05:32.042 --> 00:05:34.893 because we ask different questions depending how old we are. 00:05:34.917 --> 00:05:36.934 Just say, "I'll take it" again. NOTE Paragraph 00:05:36.958 --> 00:05:38.726 Jessica: I'll take it. NOTE Paragraph 00:05:38.750 --> 00:05:41.809 DB: Virginia? You're from Virginia? Jessica: Yes, I am. NOTE Paragraph 00:05:41.833 --> 00:05:43.518 DB: Yeah. So -- NOTE Paragraph 00:05:43.542 --> 00:05:44.809 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:05:44.833 --> 00:05:46.559 I think this is a lady, 00:05:46.583 --> 00:05:51.934 I think this is a lady who wants to leave Virginia. 00:05:51.958 --> 00:05:54.518 I think you're looking at plans, 00:05:54.542 --> 00:05:57.601 it's whether or not things are going to come together to get out. 00:05:57.625 --> 00:05:58.875 Just show me your hands. 00:06:00.042 --> 00:06:01.833 Other sides so I can see fingernails? 00:06:04.125 --> 00:06:07.059 OK, I think you have a farm 00:06:07.083 --> 00:06:10.809 and it's whether or not you're going to sell your farm and get out of Virginia? 00:06:10.833 --> 00:06:12.101 Is this right? NOTE Paragraph 00:06:12.125 --> 00:06:14.101 Jessica: Absolutely, that's the question. NOTE Paragraph 00:06:14.125 --> 00:06:16.851 DB: Alright. Great. Thank you. It's a great question! 00:06:16.875 --> 00:06:19.809 What was the actual question? What did you put? NOTE Paragraph 00:06:19.833 --> 00:06:21.934 Jessica: "Will I sell the farm in Virginia?" NOTE Paragraph 00:06:21.958 --> 00:06:23.268 DB: Will you sell the farm? 00:06:23.292 --> 00:06:26.893 Alright, so look, it's a great question if you are pretending to be psychic, 00:06:26.917 --> 00:06:28.393 because it's about the future, 00:06:28.417 --> 00:06:30.643 which means I can give you a yes or no on this. 00:06:30.667 --> 00:06:33.042 It means nothing. You have no way of verifying it. 00:06:34.458 --> 00:06:35.934 And a dangerous thing to do -- 00:06:35.958 --> 00:06:39.068 and if I say yes or no, it'll just stick in the back of your mind, 00:06:39.082 --> 00:06:41.518 and it can't not start to affect decisions you make. 00:06:41.542 --> 00:06:43.393 So a dangerous thing to do. However -- NOTE Paragraph 00:06:43.417 --> 00:06:45.768 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:06:45.792 --> 00:06:47.792 Yes, I think you will sell the farm, 00:06:49.500 --> 00:06:51.476 because I think you're the sort of person 00:06:51.500 --> 00:06:53.684 that in the nicest way will get what you want. 00:06:53.708 --> 00:06:58.059 I think when there are things you want, you tend to focus on them 00:06:58.083 --> 00:06:59.559 at the expense of other things 00:06:59.583 --> 00:07:02.143 that you know you probably should be focusing on more, 00:07:02.167 --> 00:07:03.458 would you agree? 00:07:04.708 --> 00:07:08.018 Educated, you spent a few years in -- NOTE Paragraph 00:07:08.042 --> 00:07:10.518 Say yes again, the word "yes" quickly? Jessica: Yes. NOTE Paragraph 00:07:10.542 --> 00:07:12.309 DB: No? Jessica: No. NOTE Paragraph 00:07:12.333 --> 00:07:14.726 DB: California? Berkeley? A bit of a guess, but ... NOTE Paragraph 00:07:14.750 --> 00:07:17.643 Jessica: I went to Berkeley, yes. Stop doing this! NOTE Paragraph 00:07:17.667 --> 00:07:19.309 DB: So it's a yes. 00:07:19.333 --> 00:07:21.518 Oh, and you've been to India recently as well. 00:07:21.542 --> 00:07:24.851 There's just a tiny, tiny little thing going on there. Yes? No? NOTE Paragraph 00:07:24.875 --> 00:07:26.851 Jessica: Yes, I just got back from India. NOTE Paragraph 00:07:26.875 --> 00:07:30.768 DB: It's a yes from me, I just don't want to say it like it's written in the stars 00:07:30.792 --> 00:07:33.809 because it isn't, and you need to take responsibility for it. NOTE Paragraph 00:07:33.833 --> 00:07:36.143 DB: Have a seat. Thank you. Let's do another one. NOTE Paragraph 00:07:36.167 --> 00:07:39.625 (Applause) NOTE Paragraph 00:07:41.625 --> 00:07:44.934 AH, also in the center? AH. 00:07:44.958 --> 00:07:48.601 This will be a man, a little older, maybe late 40s, I would say from this. 00:07:48.625 --> 00:07:51.500 AH, center, stand up for me if you think this is you. 00:07:52.375 --> 00:07:54.559 AH. Hi, let's get a microphone to this guy. 00:07:54.583 --> 00:07:57.101 Quick as we can, on camera would be amazing. 00:07:57.125 --> 00:07:59.684 Oh, look at that! Freeze. Don't move. Don't move. 00:07:59.708 --> 00:08:01.393 Keep absolutely still. 00:08:01.417 --> 00:08:02.976 Are you standing? Where are you? NOTE Paragraph 00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:04.893 Man: I am standing. I'm not that short. NOTE Paragraph 00:08:04.917 --> 00:08:06.167 DB: OK. 00:08:07.375 --> 00:08:09.684 Alright, now you changed that. 00:08:09.708 --> 00:08:11.934 There was just something you did as you got up. 00:08:11.958 --> 00:08:14.976 Yes or no, have you put something on here -- 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:17.726 you're not doing it now, but you did it as you stood up -- 00:08:17.750 --> 00:08:22.268 to do with your left or your left leg or your left foot, yes or no? NOTE Paragraph 00:08:22.292 --> 00:08:23.559 Man: Yes. NOTE Paragraph 00:08:23.583 --> 00:08:26.768 DB: Alright. He was giving us a nice clear signal as he stood up. 00:08:26.792 --> 00:08:29.309 Put your weight on your left-hand side and say "yes." NOTE Paragraph 00:08:29.333 --> 00:08:30.601 Man: Yes. NOTE Paragraph 00:08:30.625 --> 00:08:34.101 DB: Take your hand out of that pocket, put your weight on the other side, 00:08:34.125 --> 00:08:36.313 change hands with the mic and say "yes" again. NOTE Paragraph 00:08:36.317 --> 00:08:37.476 Man: Yes. NOTE Paragraph 00:08:37.500 --> 00:08:42.457 DB: You have a dislocation 00:08:43.707 --> 00:08:46.351 in the big toe on your left-hand side? NOTE Paragraph 00:08:46.375 --> 00:08:47.643 Man: Yes. NOTE Paragraph 00:08:47.667 --> 00:08:50.768 DB: Thank you so much. Great. Good one! Take a seat. Take a seat. 00:08:50.792 --> 00:08:53.934 Can I get the microphone? I'm going to change microphone for this. 00:08:53.958 --> 00:08:55.500 Can I grab a mic up? Thank you. 00:08:56.625 --> 00:08:58.768 Thank you so much. That would be great there. 00:08:58.792 --> 00:09:02.184 I'm going to change mic because, 00:09:02.208 --> 00:09:03.917 hopefully you can now still hear me? 00:09:05.208 --> 00:09:06.792 So I'm going to blindfold myself. 00:09:09.625 --> 00:09:14.518 And I'm doing this now so I don't have the clues as you stand up. 00:09:14.542 --> 00:09:16.351 I can't see where you put your hands. 00:09:16.375 --> 00:09:18.601 I can't see how you respond to what I'm saying. 00:09:18.625 --> 00:09:21.309 I can't see what the people next to you are doing either. 00:09:21.333 --> 00:09:24.601 If they know the answers to the question, that's always very helpful. 00:09:24.625 --> 00:09:26.101 I won't have those advantages, 00:09:26.125 --> 00:09:27.417 but strangely, 00:09:30.292 --> 00:09:32.309 this frees me up, 00:09:32.333 --> 00:09:34.226 and I want this to free you up as well, 00:09:34.250 --> 00:09:35.851 so if you didn't write a question 00:09:35.875 --> 00:09:38.643 but you wish that you had done, 00:09:38.667 --> 00:09:39.934 you can still take part. 00:09:39.958 --> 00:09:43.143 The point of writing the question is only that it just kind of gets 00:09:43.167 --> 00:09:45.893 a nice, clear, succinct wording in your head. 00:09:45.917 --> 00:09:48.601 So if you can just find a question in your head, 00:09:48.625 --> 00:09:50.829 make it clear and succinct, just send it to me, 00:09:50.853 --> 00:09:53.643 and I'll try and do this now without anything written down. 00:09:53.667 --> 00:09:56.601 So just start to form questions but send me your name as well. 00:09:56.625 --> 00:09:58.684 "My name is," whatever that last guy was, 00:09:58.708 --> 00:10:02.518 and "what's strange about my feet," or whatever the question was. 00:10:02.542 --> 00:10:04.768 So name and question. 00:10:04.792 --> 00:10:08.018 There is somebody already, I'm guessing you're quite near the front, 00:10:08.042 --> 00:10:11.976 because your name is quite clear. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:14.143 Feels like you're in the center at the front. 00:10:14.167 --> 00:10:15.809 OK, let me just ... Allan? 00:10:15.833 --> 00:10:17.226 Feels like there's an Allan. 00:10:17.250 --> 00:10:20.559 And you're going to be quite near the front, vaguely central, I think. 00:10:20.583 --> 00:10:22.518 Feels like it's coming from right there. 00:10:22.542 --> 00:10:25.268 There's like a man, maybe early 60s, something like that. NOTE Paragraph 00:10:25.292 --> 00:10:26.559 Allan: Yes. NOTE Paragraph 00:10:26.583 --> 00:10:28.476 DB: You've got a mic? Great, thank you. 00:10:28.500 --> 00:10:32.518 Allan, just say "stop" when I get to you so that I know where you are, 00:10:32.542 --> 00:10:33.792 where to face. NOTE Paragraph 00:10:35.417 --> 00:10:36.667 Allan: Stop. NOTE Paragraph 00:10:37.292 --> 00:10:39.958 DB: You a Capricorn? Allan: Yes. NOTE Paragraph 00:10:41.458 --> 00:10:44.625 DB: So Allan has something in his head. 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:48.476 Now, did you hear it, hear the reserve in his voice? 00:10:48.500 --> 00:10:50.476 It's going to be something really tricky. 00:10:50.500 --> 00:10:52.809 I think with you ... Just say "yes" again for me? NOTE Paragraph 00:10:52.833 --> 00:10:54.083 Allan: Yes. NOTE Paragraph 00:10:56.042 --> 00:10:57.476 DB: It's going to be either -- 00:10:57.500 --> 00:10:58.768 no it's not. 00:10:58.792 --> 00:11:03.268 It's access, it's a password or access to something. 00:11:03.292 --> 00:11:06.559 Have you got something, just yes or no, with a password in your head? NOTE Paragraph 00:11:06.583 --> 00:11:07.851 Allan: Yes. NOTE Paragraph 00:11:07.875 --> 00:11:09.976 DB: A computer password, that sort of thing? NOTE Paragraph 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:11.268 Allan: Yes. NOTE Paragraph 00:11:11.292 --> 00:11:12.559 DB: Excellent! NOTE Paragraph 00:11:12.583 --> 00:11:14.268 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:11:14.292 --> 00:11:17.101 In that case, I'm going to finish on this one. Let me --- 00:11:17.125 --> 00:11:18.976 If I get this right, 00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:22.434 they're all going to know what it is, and millions of people potentially. 00:11:22.458 --> 00:11:23.934 You will change it, won't you? NOTE Paragraph 00:11:23.958 --> 00:11:25.268 Allan: Of course. NOTE Paragraph 00:11:25.292 --> 00:11:28.000 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:11:28.958 --> 00:11:31.434 DB: Just say "of course" again? Allan: Of course. NOTE Paragraph 00:11:31.458 --> 00:11:34.559 DB: Alright. If it's a word -- I imagine it's a word, right -- 00:11:34.583 --> 00:11:36.768 just see the password written in front of you, 00:11:36.792 --> 00:11:38.684 big clear block capital letters, 00:11:38.708 --> 00:11:42.809 and as you look at it, think for me of a letter somewhere in the middle, 00:11:42.833 --> 00:11:44.351 don't say it out loud, 00:11:44.375 --> 00:11:46.851 just get a letter in your head that's in the middle. NOTE Paragraph 00:11:46.875 --> 00:11:48.309 Have you got one? Allan: Yeah. NOTE Paragraph 00:11:48.333 --> 00:11:49.842 DB: OK, stick with that for me. 00:11:50.875 --> 00:11:53.268 Ah, you changed it, OK. 00:11:53.292 --> 00:11:54.684 You changed your mind there. 00:11:54.708 --> 00:11:56.000 I think you settled on a -- 00:11:56.833 --> 00:11:58.333 I think that's a "B", yes? NOTE Paragraph 00:11:59.125 --> 00:12:00.375 Allan: No. 00:12:01.625 --> 00:12:02.893 I didn't. NOTE Paragraph 00:12:02.917 --> 00:12:04.601 DB: Then it's an "I"? Allan: Correct. NOTE Paragraph 00:12:04.625 --> 00:12:06.309 DB: But you had a B. Allan: Yes. NOTE Paragraph 00:12:06.333 --> 00:12:08.768 DB: Yeah, he changed his mind. He changed his mind. NOTE Paragraph 00:12:08.792 --> 00:12:10.101 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:12:10.125 --> 00:12:13.059 So see it written there. 00:12:13.083 --> 00:12:15.893 Just keep saying it to yourself in your head. 00:12:15.917 --> 00:12:17.375 Oh, you play drums, don't you. NOTE Paragraph 00:12:18.167 --> 00:12:19.434 Allan: I do. NOTE Paragraph 00:12:19.458 --> 00:12:22.393 DB: Just get that out of your head, get that out of your head, 00:12:22.417 --> 00:12:24.184 just focus on this one thing for me. NOTE Paragraph 00:12:24.208 --> 00:12:26.393 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:12:26.417 --> 00:12:28.226 My job is to sell you a story, right? 00:12:28.250 --> 00:12:31.101 I try and do this to all of you, to get you to pay attention 00:12:31.125 --> 00:12:34.101 to one thing that I want you to find important, 00:12:34.125 --> 00:12:36.309 ignore other things that I want you to ignore, 00:12:36.333 --> 00:12:38.143 and then join up those narrative dots 00:12:38.167 --> 00:12:40.726 to tell yourself a certain story about what I'm doing, 00:12:40.750 --> 00:12:43.684 and this only works because we are story-forming creatures, 00:12:43.708 --> 00:12:45.309 which means we do this every day. 00:12:45.333 --> 00:12:48.101 We go out into this complex and subtle world 00:12:48.125 --> 00:12:50.934 full of a complex and subtle people like you and me, Allan, 00:12:50.958 --> 00:12:54.000 and we reduce them to these neat characters 00:12:55.083 --> 00:12:57.351 that fit whatever story we're telling ourselves, 00:12:57.375 --> 00:13:00.934 and we say, "She's insecure," "He's arrogant," "They can't be trusted." 00:13:00.958 --> 00:13:07.476 And these are just stories like the story that I can somehow read your mind. 00:13:07.500 --> 00:13:11.059 You're thinking of selling your company as well, aren't you, at the moment. NOTE Paragraph 00:13:11.083 --> 00:13:12.351 Allan: Correct. NOTE Paragraph 00:13:12.375 --> 00:13:15.018 DB: Which is something to do with skin? NOTE Paragraph 00:13:15.042 --> 00:13:16.309 Allan: Yes. NOTE Paragraph 00:13:16.333 --> 00:13:18.143 DB: Skin care or something like this. NOTE Paragraph 00:13:18.167 --> 00:13:19.434 Allan: Uh, yes. NOTE Paragraph 00:13:19.458 --> 00:13:21.726 DB: And I think the reason why I love doing this 00:13:21.750 --> 00:13:24.809 is that it reminds me at least to try and be more alive and alert 00:13:24.833 --> 00:13:27.184 to the complexity and the subtlety of what's real, 00:13:27.208 --> 00:13:30.351 that there's always other stuff going on that we don't know about, 00:13:30.375 --> 00:13:33.309 and it means we can get less stuck, we can be kinder to people 00:13:33.333 --> 00:13:36.434 because we can recognize there's always fear behind their stress, 00:13:36.458 --> 00:13:38.518 so we don't need to meet it as defensively, 00:13:38.542 --> 00:13:41.059 and we can start to see the stories for what they are 00:13:41.083 --> 00:13:44.518 and recognize that life isn't all about us. NOTE Paragraph 00:13:44.542 --> 00:13:45.792 Oh! 00:13:50.708 --> 00:13:53.143 Your password, where are you? Where are you? Where is he? NOTE Paragraph 00:13:53.167 --> 00:13:54.476 Allan: Right here. NOTE Paragraph 00:13:54.500 --> 00:13:57.351 DB: Stand up for me. Your password is "ariboy." 00:13:57.375 --> 00:14:00.518 A-r-i-b-o-y? Is that right? Allan: That's correct. NOTE Paragraph 00:14:00.542 --> 00:14:03.143 DB: Then thank you so much. Thank you very much indeed. NOTE Paragraph 00:14:03.167 --> 00:14:04.476 Thank you. NOTE Paragraph 00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:08.625 (Applause)