Get comfortable with being uncomfortable | Luvvie Ajayi Jones | TED

Luvvie Ajayi Jones introduces herself as a "professional troublemaker" whose purpose is to critique shoddy systems and inspire change. She believes in leaving the world better and achieves this by speaking up and being the "domino" – the first one to take a stand, encouraging others to follow. She clarifies that those who speak truth are not fearless, but feel compelled to act due to a lack of others willing to challenge the status quo, often despite significant personal fear.

Jones recounts her journey, from aspiring doctor to discovering her calling as a writer after failing chemistry. She admits it took her nine years to claim the title of 'writer' due to fear of financial instability. Recognizing that fear prevented her from pursuing her purpose, she committed to a "Do it anyway" year, actively pursuing things that scared her, from ziplining and swimming with dolphins to skydiving. She likens the act of speaking truth to power to falling out of a plane, scary but ultimately rewarding, and asserts that comfort is overrated because it maintains the status quo.

Jones states that her core values of honesty, integrity, and justice compel her to speak the truth. She argues that speaking truth shouldn't be reserved for professional troublemakers; everyone has a role in challenging injustice. She encourages people to disrupt situations when they hold positions of power, or to band together with others to create power. She emphasizes that everyone's well-being is community business.

Jones shares personal experiences of being a "domino," including her public confrontation of a conference that practiced discriminatory pay against Black women speakers, which sparked a wider conversation about pay inequality. She also details writing a critical piece about a public figure's memoir, knowing the career risks, but ultimately initiating a discussion about mental health. She acknowledges the "Me Too" movement, ignited by Tarana Burke, as a powerful example of many people becoming dominoes against powerful men.

Jones concludes by stating that silence allows people and systems to maintain the status quo. She advocates for authenticity, noting that being oneself can be a revolutionary act in a world that encourages conformity. Before speaking a difficult truth, she asks herself three questions: "Did you mean it?," "Can you defend it?," and "Did you say it with love?" If all answers are yes, she speaks, believing it's an obligation to speak truth, especially when it's difficult, to build lasting bridges to common ground.