First, I'd like to say that watching all 15 of these TED Talks for this article has made this week the most empowering and inspiring week I have had in a long time.

Women are truly brilliant, beautiful, and amazing beings. The kind words and wisdom these 15 women share are especially extraordinary and uplifting. Below is a compilation of 15 inspiration TED Talks for women, stemming from subject matters of feminism and gender equality to identity and difference, and personal self-care and compassion.

1. Embracing Otherness, Embracing Myself | Thandie Newton

In this talk, actress Thandie Newtown discusses the evolution of the “self.” She tells the story of discovering her own “otherness,” and then discovering that race, a concept she thought was legitimate, is actually one that we have created out of fear and ignorance. She explains the one thing that can give the self infinite connection.

2. The Power of Introverts | Susan Cain

In a “world that can’t stop talking,” introverts have a purpose and value, too. In this TED Talk, Susan Cain discusses the power of introverts with their own personal strengths, insights, and perspectives. An introvert herself, Cain steps outside her comfort zone to give this extraordinary talk about seizing the complexities and qualities and introversion.

3. We Should All Be Feminists | Chimimanda Ncozi Adichi

Focusing primarily on Nigeria, and Africa as a whole, Chimimanda Ngozi Adichi discusses gender. She discusses how gender inequality, as well as the negative connotations associated with the term “feminist,” are actually symptoms of the detrimentally narrow definition of masculinity. Cultural change begins with how we raise our children, especially our sons, as well as making the point to think about gender.

4. The Power of Vulnerability | Brené Brown

True companionship, compassion, and strength within the self and any relationship first comes from vulnerability. As Brene Brown explains, to open up and allow yourself to be vulnerable -- despite any shame, despite any fear -- allows for greater connection and personal fulfillment.

5. Your Elusive Creative Genius | Elizabeth Gilbert

In this TED Talk, Elizabeth Gilbert, author of "Eat, Pray, Love," touches on the unrealistically high standards and expectations we place on writers and artists. These expectations have actually killed creativity since they have societally manifested over the last 500 years. She asserts that we shouldn’t believe the most extraordinary aspects of an artist’s success come from them. Rather, we should believe creativity was loaned to them from some unimaginable source to be passed along to somebody else.

6. Why 30 is Not the New 20 | Meg Jay

As clinical psychologist Meg Jay explains in this talk, just because marriage, work, and kids may happen later in life doesn’t make our 20s a “developmental down-time.” They’re actually a “developmental sweet-spot.” Jay gives three pieces of advice for 20-somethings to seize this defining decade of adulthood.

7. Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders | Sheryl Sandberg

In this talk, Sheryl Sandberg looks at why there is a significantly smaller percentage of women than men at the top of their professions. Additionally, she offers three pieces of advice for women looking to move upward.

8. Listening to Shame | Brené Brown

As a follow-up to her TED Talk on vulnerability (above), Brown talks about shame as an epidemic and the importance of understanding it. For innovation, creativity, change, shame and vulnerability are the forerunners. Though organized by gender, everyone experiences shame, but it continues to thrive in silence and judgment. With empathy instead, shame can’t survive

9. Breathing Happiness | Emma Seppälä

Emma Seppälä discusses how to harness and control your state of mind to be happy and successful. We all posses the one tool we need to have this control.

10. Why Thinking You’re Ugly is Bad For You | Meaghan Ramsey

Trends promoting a singular type of body image for girls and women in today’s popular culture are teamed with stereotyping and objectification of women. Men are not immune to this either. Meaghan Ramsey talks about the damages of an image-obsessed culture and how it damages other aspects of our personal identities, such as academic achievement. She offers three key ways to end this reality.

11. The Art of Asking | Amanda Palmer

In this unique reflection, Amanda Palmer talks about her philosophy that artists shouldn’t make people pay for music, but let them. She tells her stories of traveling as a street performer and musician that gives her music away for free, and the personal connections she has made with her fans because of that.

12. Looks Aren’t Everything. Believe Me, I’m a Model | Cameron Russell

In reflection of her career, Cameron Russell discusses two sides of being a model: what you may hear or expect versus what is honest.

13. On Being Wrong | Kathryn Schulz

In this talk, Kathryn Schulz discusses how we are culturally taught that the way to succeed in life is to never make any mistakes, and those who do are dumb, lazy, or irresponsible. We are taught that getting something wrong means there’s something wrong with us. However, there is value of not only admitting when we are wrong, but embracing when we are wrong.

14. The Space Between Self-Esteem and Self Compassion | Kristin Neff

Kristin Neff talks about the difference between self-esteem and self-compassion, the problems in how we achieve high self-esteem by feeling better than others, and how relating to ourselves kindly, rather than judging ourselves positively, can truly enrich our lives. Compassion is not only important to have for others, but for ourselves. There is great power in self-compassion and treating ourselves as kindly as we would a good friend. Neff also discusses the three core components of self-compassion.

15. A Story About Identity: | Sara Nuru

In this talk, Sara Nuru tells the story of her identity. Now a German fashion model, this woman’s story extends from the first black baby of Erding to Germany’s Next Top Model, and finally, an ambassador for an Ethiopian aid organization. She stresses that identity may begin with how you look or what job you have, but it is important for everyone to recognize that identity extends far beyond those things.

All of these women have wise words that will benefit any and all women, and men, who hear them. Empowerment, enlightenment, and change starts with us.