The next time you’re faced with something that’s unexpected, unwanted and uncertain, consider that it just may be a gift.

Stacey Kramer is best known for a widely viewed TED talk in which she recounts receiving an unexpected medical diagnosis and being forced to confront fear, uncertainty, and unwanted change. In that talk, she reframes the experience as a “gift” that altered her priorities and perspective, arguing that difficult disruptions can carry hidden value. The quoted line functions as her concluding exhortation to the audience: when life delivers circumstances you did not choose, you can still choose the meaning you assign to them and the openness with which you meet them.

The sentence proposes a deliberate shift in interpretation: instead of treating the “unexpected, unwanted and uncertain” as purely negative, Kramer invites us to see such moments as potential catalysts for growth. Calling adversity a “gift” does not deny pain or difficulty; it suggests that disruption can reveal what matters, prompt courage, and expand empathy. The quote’s power lies in its practical counsel—“consider”—which frames the reappraisal as an option rather than a demand. It aligns with resilience thinking: meaning-making can transform how we endure and respond to hardship.