6 Inspiring Positivity Talks To Brighten The Mood

There are times in life when we face challenges and difficult periods. That is part of life and the way in which we live. This can include difficulties in the workplace, failing to get that dream job, or you receive news that sets you back. Whatever it might be, there is no doubt that it can leave you feeling deflated. However, picking yourself back up is not always as easy as it sounds. Taking some time out and listening to inspiring positivity talks might just be the boost you need.

Sometimes, trying to ride out the bad times is not an option. Of course, it can work, but there are instances where we need that little nudge in the right direction. If we leave ourselves feeling uninspired, it can make us feel demotivated and, at worst, impact our state of mind and mental health.

In our search for a meaningful life and a more positive attitude inspiring positivity talks can make a difference⁴. They can lift your spirits, inspire you and leave you feeling as though you can achieve something more. These talks should be seen as a tool. A tool that can bring you happiness, help you be more mindful of the present and allow you to stay focused on the positive aspects of life⁶.

The following talks are designed to inspire positivity. As positivity can come from many different aspects of life, it is always worth finding something that works for you.

Just one short talk can offer you that bite-sized glimpse of inspiration that can set the wheels in motion. Trying to go it alone is not always the answer when we seek inspiration. Sometimes, listening to others can give us the boost we need.

6 Inspiring Positivity Talks:

Thankfully in today's internet age, there’s a great deal of really good positivity talks out there that you can listen to for free. Have a browse around, make a hot drink, find somewhere quiet, and listen to our picks below:

Related: For more inspiring talks, check out our lists of mental health and mindfulness talks.

Or, to inspire your next talk, check out some of the best positive words you can use throughout the alphabet and our compilation of positive energy quotes.

Your Elusive Creative Genius - Elizabeth Gilbert

This talk from Elizabeth Gilbert is simple yet effective. Its aim is to help those who struggle with creativity⁹. Therefore, it discusses how people should not look at creativity as a trait but as something else. And therefore seeking that elusive creative genius and inspiring you to get into a creative mindset.

Sometimes it is difficult to explain where inspiration comes from. However, Elizabeth Gilbert talks about how to show this in a creative way. This way of thinking alone can lead to a wider level of creativity.

Gilbert is also the author of Eat, Pray, Love (Amazon). This book provides examples of how people view their own creative processes. Some see it as something that they have to catch before it passes them by. They view it as something they have to chase and capture. If they miss it, then their ideas and creativity are lost. It explores a unique and different way of thinking; in turn, it can inspire positivity & people to think creatively.

Watch on Youtube.

The Psychology of Positivity - Shawn Achor

We all find ourselves surrounded by negativity at times in our lives². Whether this is in our personal lives or our careers, it is something everyone has to face. We can sometimes tend to focus on negativity, but this talk shows how that can lead to dissatisfaction.

Here, Shawn Achor focuses on highlighting how a negative attitude can have a detrimental impact on many situations we face in life.

He bases his talk on a specific study whereby it was found that positivity underpins professional success. It discusses the way in which those who focus on positivity are more likely to achieve their goals.

The benefits of positive thinking are clear to see⁵, and as they say, “Positivity breeds positivity.” Therefore, if you can find negative thoughts that bring you down, listen to equip yourself with the knowledge and tools, such as a growth mindset, to turn them into more positive outcomes. This will enable you to inspire yourself and achieve your goals.

Watch on Youtube.

The 3 A’s of Awesome - Neil Pasricha

Happiness undoubtedly plays a role in success, regardless of what you are trying to be successful in³. Bad times come to us all, but the ability to remain positive and upbeat can directly influence the success you achieve in many areas of your life.

Neil Pasricha discusses his own experiences candidly in this talk. He explains how the things that happened to him would have negatively impacted others. So, instead of suffering, he began documenting 1,000 things that he thought would come under the category of awesome.

As such, to inspire positivity, he shows how he was able to change his attitude and focus on small victories. These victories could be small things such as finding parking in a car park or getting the last remaining item on the shelf. The talk can inspire you to change your attitude and awareness, promoting a more positive outlook.

Watch on Youtube.

Neil Pasricha's Books About Awesome (on Amazon) include You Are Awesome: How to Navigate Change, Wrestle with Failure, and Live an Intentional Life & The Happiness Equation: Want Nothing + Do Anything=Have Everything

Try Something New For 30 Days - Matt Cutts

Too often, we look in the wrong places for inspiration when we have the ability to inspire ourselves. Matt Cutts talks about a simple yet effective idea which involves trying something new for 30 days. In doing so, you can try new things and enhance your confidence⁸. What’s more, you could even change your life, Or help you explore your entrepreneurial mindset towards a new business or project idea,

The talk aims to inspire people to try something different. It could be as simple as cycling more or even writing a book. What it shows is that you can overcome challenges and self-doubt. You can give yourself the courage to try it and commit to it. Eventually, it shows you that you can do something better than you thought was possible.

Watch on TED.

The Gift and Power of Emotional Courage - Susan David

Susan David bases her talk on emotional agility. She shows how we are not our emotions and that, quite simply put, our emotions are a source of data. Therefore, if we can take all our negative and positive emotions, we can become more flexible. This can give us resilience and courage to face up to life¹.

The goal is for people to identify emotions for what they are instead of classifying them as good and bad. Inspiration can be taken from the fact that all emotions are valuable in some form.

Watch on TED.

Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are - Amy Cuddy

Our body language can say a lot about who we are. When we meet people, whether it is for the first time or not, our body language can have an impact on the way in which people perceive us. Body language can result in people making judgments, and that can result in a range of outcomes. This can range from being successful in job interviews to the way in which we perceive ourselves⁷.

Amy Cuddy is a Social Psychologist, and her research on body language has shown how we can change the way in which people see us. We can achieve this by altering our body positions, which this talk calls “Power Posing.”

This is about committing to a posture that displays confidence, even if we are lacking in confidence. This has been found to have an impact on the levels of cortisone and testosterone in the brain. Therefore, she speaks about doing this for two minutes at a time and how it can alter how we feel, impacting success.

Watch on TED.