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TED Talks Daily

The daily practice that could rewire your brain | Timm Chiusano

with Timm Chiusano

Published November 27, 2025
View Show Notes

About This Episode

Emotional intelligence coach Timm Chiusano shares how noticing a manhole cover on one of the worst days of his career led him to realize he is 'addicted to appreciation.' He explains what appreciation is, how it differs from gratitude, and how consistently noticing and valuing everyday things and people has transformed his life and work. He offers simple practices for cultivating appreciation and argues it can make us happier, more present, and better able to connect and create change together.

Topics Covered

Personal Development Mindfulness Happiness Gratitude Habits Emotional intelligence Relationships Perspective shift Cognitive biases

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Quick Takeaways

  • Timm Chiusano realized on one of the worst days of his career that he habitually shifts from stress to curiosity and appreciation, even about something as mundane as a manhole cover.
  • He defines appreciation as noticing and valuing the good in our world and seeking to better understand it, distinct from gratitude, which he describes as transactional and tied to receiving something.
  • Chiusano argues that being 'addicted to appreciation' means defaulting to seeing the good and giving others the benefit of the doubt before cognitive biases kick in.
  • He cites research from a Rutgers professor showing appreciation is a disposition with multiple components, of which gratitude is only one.
  • Practicing appreciation can start with simple exercises like reflecting on a light bulb's impact or considering that you could not confidently have done better than another person given their life circumstances.
  • Consistent appreciation, he says, brings more energy, joy, presence, and wonder, and helps people take less for granted.
  • Chiusano's appreciation-focused outlook unexpectedly attracted an audience of 1.5 million to his daily corporate-life vlogs on social media.
  • He believes that appreciating even difficult people and situations can give you an advantage in relationships and help you understand what is needed for change.
  • He contends that a world that better understands and appreciates how and why things happen would be more capable of collective positive action.

Podcast Notes

Show introduction and context

Host introduces TED Talks Daily and the day's idea

TED Talks Daily positions itself as bringing new ideas to spark curiosity every day[2:26]
• Elise Hu identifies herself as the host and frames the show as a daily source of ideas
Framing question about mindset[2:29]
• Elise asks whether one simple mindset can change the entire way you see the world
Introduction of guest and central concept[2:34]
• Elise describes emotional intelligence coach Tim Chiusano and notes that he believes such a mindset shift is possible
• She previews that his talk shares how a random glance at a manhole cover during a dark period in his life led to a powerful revelation
• She says he has since inspired millions to slow down, find joy in the ordinary, and, in his words, get addicted to appreciation

Timm's realization of being addicted to appreciation

Opening declaration and promise to the audience

Timm identifies his 'addiction'[3:05]
• He introduces himself by saying his name is Tim and that he is addicted to appreciation
Acknowledges the phrase sounds strange[3:06]
• He concedes that saying he is addicted to appreciation sounds really strange
Sets expectation for the talk's impact[2:38]
• He promises that if he does his job over the next eight minutes, listeners will not look at anything the same way again

Context: a terrible day in 2018

Ranks the day's difficulty[3:11]
• He says the realization was triggered by a manhole cover he saw on a terrible day in 2018
• He describes it as literally one of the top three worst days of his entire career
Work responsibilities and stressors[3:21]
• He was managing a team of 270 people at the time
• On that day, everybody on the team seemed to have a meltdown at the same time
• He endured eight hours of what he calls unnecessarily contentious meetings
• There were pending layoffs coming that spring, which he was one of the few people in the company who knew about
• The knowledge of the layoffs created a sense of dread and overwhelm hanging over him
End of the day and ominous email[3:57]
• He gets off the subway late again for dinner
• He immediately checks his phone and sees an email from his boss
• The email instructs him to be in the office at 9 a.m. the next morning and to be prepared for that meeting to 'suck'
• He reacts internally with sarcasm, thinking 'great' about this added burden

The manhole cover moment

Shift in attention to a mundane object[5:02]
• As he is walking home, he suddenly notices a manhole cover and reacts with 'ooh, a manhole cover'
Curious thoughts about the manhole cover[4:04]
• He thinks it is pretty cool that somebody figured out manhole covers would be safer if they were circles instead of squares
• He notes he is pretty sure they are made in India, which he finds interesting given that he is in New York City
• He tells himself he should look that fact up later
Self-questioning about his mental process[4:18]
• He internally exclaims, 'Tim, what the F?' in reaction to his own thought pattern
• He sincerely wonders how his brain moved from overwhelming thoughts on such a terrible day to focusing on a manhole cover
• He questions whether he is an idiot and whether this part of his brain is holding him back in his serious corporate job
• He asks himself if this tendency is distracting him or preventing him from growing further in his career

Realizing an addiction to appreciation

Naming the pattern as appreciation[4:54]
• He concludes that what he is experiencing is a realization that he is addicted to appreciation
Impact of appreciation on his enjoyment of life[4:54]
• He notes that without this tendency, life was remarkably less enjoyable
• He connects his enjoyment to seeing mundane things, like the manhole cover, in an appreciative way

Defining appreciation and contrasting it with gratitude

Definition and scope of appreciation

Formal definition of appreciation[5:11]
• He defines appreciation as the act of noticing and valuing the good in our worlds
What it means to be addicted to appreciation[5:11]
• By definition, being addicted to appreciation means being addicted to recognizing and enjoying the good qualities of someone or something
• It also includes simply wanting to have a better understanding of the world around us
Implications for daily life[4:59]
• He invites the audience to think about what such an addiction would mean for their day-to-day life
• He says it encompasses being present, enjoying activities and people around you
• He emphasizes it also covers small things, such as a round manhole cover in New York City

Appreciation as a lens before biases

Appreciation preceding cognitive biases[5:46]
• He realized that before any cognitive biases could arise, he was addicted to seeing the good and giving the benefit of the doubt
• He feels this outlook unlocked an entirely different level of life and enjoyment for him
Effects on energy and joy[6:01]
• The more he leaned into appreciation, the more it gave him energy
• It also gave him a lust for life and day-to-day joy beyond what he could have imagined
• He notes that this was true even on a day as gloomy as that 2018 day
Personal aside about his suit[6:18]
• He remarks that he is wearing the same exact suit on stage that he wore on that terrible day, which he calls the craziest thing

First articulation of the idea on social media

Posting 'be addicted into appreciation'[6:28]
• He says that of course he put this realization on social media that night as a four-word Instagram-only story: 'be addicted into appreciation'
• At that time, his followers were really just friends and family
Why he was really saying it[6:34]
• He explains he was really saying it for himself, as a message that it was okay to see life this way
• He describes it as a freeing moment where he decided to lean harder into appreciation and see what it would do

Clarifying appreciation versus gratitude

Appreciation as a practice[7:00]
• He asserts that appreciation is an act you can practice that will bring you joy in ways you cannot imagine until you start doing it
Anticipating confusion with gratitude[7:00]
• He acknowledges that listeners might think appreciation and gratitude are the same thing
Foundational versus transactional[7:10]
• He argues that appreciation and gratitude are two very different things
• He characterizes appreciation as foundational
• He characterizes gratitude as transactional
• He explains that to show gratitude, you are actually receiving something
• In contrast, appreciation can layer into everything you do and your day-to-day existence

Living with constant appreciation, even when it's annoying

Acknowledging the 'annoying' side[7:22]
• He admits that it can be annoying to see life through appreciation on a consistent basis
Example: appreciating rainy days[7:28]
• He gives an example of it raining for the third day in a row and reframing it as maybe good for the reservoirs
Example: appreciating a work nemesis[7:33]
• He mentions having an arch nemesis at work who gives you a pit in your stomach
• He suggests viewing that person as someone to understand better
• He advises showing up where that person needs to be met
• He claims that by appreciating them more, you then have the upper hand in the relationship
• He asks the audience to trust him that this approach works very well

Research support and social media impact

Academic support for the concept of appreciation

Rutgers professor's findings[8:00]
• He notes that it felt good when appreciation was just his opinion but that corroboration took it to another level
• He cites a professor from Rutgers who made appreciation a core part of her studies
• She concluded that appreciation can be a disposition and is not the same as gratitude
• He says the professor found that gratitude is just one of eight components that make up appreciation
• He emphasizes that simply by noticing things day to day, you can develop a mindset of appreciation

Growth of his social media audience

Unexpected scale of following[8:16]
• He says this mindset led to him having an audience of a million and a half people on social media
• He describes it as super weird to say that at 48 years old
Content of his daily vlogs[8:33]
• He made daily vlogs of his corporate life
• He characterizes his schedule as maniacal, from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m., scheduled in 15-minute time-blocking increments
• Viewers found these vlogs cool and super soothing to watch
Surprising hook that resonated[8:51]
• He mentions using 'This is a dope-ass Monday in your 40s' as an opening hook on social media
• He never thought such a hook would take off, but it did
Feedback from his audience[8:24]
• He started seeing comments like 'you make growing up less scary'
• Others commented that even though they came from completely different worlds, they loved the way he looked at life
Connection between appreciation and his current path[9:09]
• He says he had no intention of that path leading him to the TED stage
• He frames his presence there as something appreciation has done for him

Practical ways to practice appreciation

Starting with appreciating a 'thing': the light bulb

Choosing a common object[9:12]
• He proposes starting with a thing and chooses the light bulb as an example because it is around them at that moment
• He calls the light bulb omnipresent in today's world
Not typically an object of gratitude[9:28]
• He notes that we do not typically stop and express gratitude for a light bulb
Ways to appreciate a light bulb[9:36]
• He suggests thinking about the progress that light bulbs have made over time
• He mentions thinking about what light can do for our mood
• He invites the audience to look at the stage and see what lighting can do, calling it remarkable
• He says that even thinking 'wow, that's dope' as a passing thought makes a huge difference
• He adds that a light bulb simply lighting up a room when needed is also something to appreciate
• He suggests that when going to bed that night, thinking about the light bulb for just a second will make a difference

Appreciating a person

Everyday interpersonal annoyances[9:58]
• He proposes turning to appreciate a person next
• He gives examples such as the person sitting next to you having stolen the seat you thought you were going to sit in or having cut you off in line
Thought experiment for empathy and appreciation[10:06]
• He offers a question to help appreciate others more: could you ever look at someone and honestly say you would have done better with their circumstances and their entire life up to this moment?
• He calls it an impossible question to say yes to
• He describes this realization as the easiest way to appreciate someone else more

Benefits, limits, and collective potential of appreciation

Appreciation is not absolute or naive

Example from his marriage[10:36]
• He shares that his wife despises mayonnaise and says that is fine
Recognizing horrible things[10:42]
• He states that the world is full of horrible, horrible things
• He clarifies that appreciation is not absolute and does not deny bad realities
Using appreciation to understand and change[10:52]
• When it comes to horrible things, he says the more we can understand and appreciate what is happening, the more we can appreciate what we are capable of in terms of change together

Positive outcomes of practicing appreciation

Personal benefits[10:58]
• He asserts that appreciation will make you happier on a consistent basis
• It will bring more wonder into your life
• It will make you more present
• You will take less for granted when you show appreciation consistently
Relational and societal benefits[11:08]
• Appreciation will allow you to encourage others
• It will help you see the differences between us as reasons to believe in each other

Closing questions and affirmation

Does the world need more appreciation?[11:12]
• He asks rhetorically if a better understanding of the how and why of everything is something the world needs right now
• He wonders if it might be better for us to look at things skeptically from a different perspective
• He asks whether it might be better to take a bit less for granted on a day-to-day basis
His vote and belief in collective capability[11:30]
• He says he votes yes to those questions
• He affirms that he firmly believes in what we are capable of collectively when we wholeheartedly lean into appreciating the world we exist in together
Conclusion of the talk[11:57]
• He closes his talk with 'Thank you'

Outro and production credits

Identification of the event and talk

TED Next 2025 mention[11:38]
• The narrator notes that the talk was by Tim Chiusato at TED Next 2025

Information on TED curation and credits

TED curation guidelines[11:53]
• Listeners are told that if they are curious about TED's curation, they can find out more at ted.com slash curation guidelines
Sign-off for the episode[12:10]
• Elise Hu says that is it for today on TED Talks Daily
• She notes that TED Talks Daily is part of the TED Audio Collective
Fact-checking and production team acknowledgments[12:01]
• She states that the talk was fact-checked by the TED Research Team
• She lists the producers and editors: Martha Estefanos, Oliver Friedman, Brian Green, Lucy Little, and Tansika Sangmarnivong
• She notes that the episode was mixed by Christopher Faisy-Bogan
• She mentions additional support from Emma Taubner and Daniela Balarezo
Host's closing[12:17]
• Elise Hu says she will be back tomorrow with a fresh idea for the listener's feed and thanks the audience for listening

Lessons Learned

Actionable insights and wisdom you can apply to your business, career, and personal life.

1

Consistently noticing and valuing the small, mundane details around you can shift your default mindset from stress and dread to curiosity and appreciation, which in turn makes daily life more enjoyable.

Reflection Questions:

  • • What are three ordinary objects or moments in my daily routine that I usually ignore but could choose to notice and appreciate today?
  • • How does my mood change on days when I consciously look for things to find interesting or 'dope' compared to days when I stay focused on problems?
  • • What small, recurring cue (like turning on a light or walking outside) could I use this week as a reminder to pause and practice appreciation for a few seconds?
2

Appreciation is a foundational disposition, distinct from transactional gratitude, and cultivating it means looking for understanding and value even when nothing obvious is being 'given' to you.

Reflection Questions:

  • • In what situations do I only feel thankful when I receive something, and how might I reframe those moments to practice appreciation even without a clear benefit?
  • • How could separating appreciation from gratitude change the way I approach my work, relationships, or daily habits?
  • • What is one routine activity I do every day where I could start layering in appreciation, simply by noticing its complexity or impact?
3

Choosing to appreciate difficult people by trying to understand their circumstances can reduce your emotional reactivity and give you an advantage in navigating relationships.

Reflection Questions:

  • • Who currently feels like an 'arch nemesis' in my life, and what might their life story and pressures look like from their perspective?
  • • How would my reactions change if, before responding to someone difficult, I silently acknowledged that I probably could not have done better given their circumstances?
  • • What is one concrete way I could 'show up where they need to be met' with a challenging colleague or family member this week?
4

Appreciation can coexist with an honest recognition of horrible realities; by seeking to understand and appreciate what is happening, you better position yourself to contribute to meaningful change.

Reflection Questions:

  • • Where in my life or community am I tempted either to ignore a hard problem or to despair about it, instead of trying to understand it more deeply?
  • • How might approaching a difficult situation with the intention to appreciate what is actually going on change the actions I choose to take?
  • • What is one troubling issue I care about where I could spend time this month learning more about the 'how and why' so I can respond more effectively?
5

Making appreciation a daily practice can increase happiness, presence, and a sense of wonder, while helping you take less for granted and see differences between people as reasons to believe in one another.

Reflection Questions:

  • • Which parts of my life do I most take for granted right now, and how might that be dulling my sense of joy or possibility?
  • • How could a habit of consciously appreciating the differences between me and others improve a specific team, friendship, or family relationship?
  • • What simple daily ritual (morning, commute, or bedtime) could I turn into a brief appreciation practice to build this disposition over the next month?

Episode Summary - Notes by Cameron

The daily practice that could rewire your brain | Timm Chiusano
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