Maya shares three pieces of wisdom in her commencement address at Juilliard School. Topics include imaginative courage, pursuing passion, loss of identity and finding purpose, power of emotional connection and awe, and seeking awe and concert tour advertisement.
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Quick takeaways
Imaginative courage can open up unexpected opportunities and possibilities in life.
Anchoring our identities to our underlying motives and passions helps us remain resilient in the face of change.
Deep dives
Lesson 1: The Power of Imaginative Courage
The speaker shares the story of how her mother's imaginative courage led her to have the opportunity to audition at Juilliard. The lesson learned here is that by envisioning possibilities and being unafraid to ask questions and take bold steps, we can open up opportunities that we never thought possible.
Lesson 2: Anchoring Identity in Purpose
The speaker recounts her experience of losing her ability to play the violin due to an injury and how it caused her to question her identity. She emphasizes the idea of anchoring our identities not to what we do, but why we do it. By truly understanding our underlying motives and passions, we can weather the storms of change and remain resilient.
Lesson 3: Making Space for Awe
The speaker reflects on her journey as a musician and how she lost sight of the awe-inspiring beauty of music due to self-consciousness and competition. She emphasizes the importance of allowing ourselves to be moved by the extraordinary and cultivating a sense of wonder. She explains that feeling awe can enhance our connection with others and help us tap into our best selves.
Maya was honored to deliver a commencement address at the Juilliard School earlier this year. As an alumna of the school’s pre-college division, Maya shared three pieces of wisdom with new graduates that she wished she’d known at the time. She thought you might like to hear them too!
We’ll be back with new episodes later this October! In the meantime, you can connect with Maya on instagram @DrMayaShankar.