Prepare to be educated, energized and inspired.
This is a great section for you if you’d prefer to learn about the art and science of Flourishing by watching and listening, rather than reading.
Let’s start with an example: in the 30-minute lecture below, the father of Positive Psychology, Martin Seligman, discusses the concept of Flourishing – a new understanding of wellness.
The multimedia resources below are organized as follows:
- Documentaries on happiness and positive psychology
- Movies and movie clips illustrating strengths
- Songs and musicals
- TED Talks
- TEDx Talks
- Youtube Videos – Experts
- Youtube Videos – Everyday Heroes
For the documentaries, we provide a direct link to the multimedia resource. In all other sections, use one of two options to track down the specific resource:
- Your favorite general search engine (Google, Yahoo, Bing)
- The specific search engine at sites mentioned (YouTube, TED)
if the resource is by a well known expert, the listing will begin with that person’s first and last name. That way, if you like the expert, you can search for and find many more related resources!
Let’s get started!
Documentaries on Happiness & Positive Psychology
- Happy: Directed by Roko Belic (2011), takes us on a journey from swamps of Louisiana to the slums of Calcutta in search of what really makes people happy.
- The Happiness Formula: Six-part BBC documentary aired in April 2006
- Happiness – How to Find It, Understand It and Achieve It: ABC’s 20/20 episode aired on January 11, 2008
- In Pursuit of Happiness; Find Happiest Canadian, documentary by Sarah Spinks
- Introducing Positive Psychology: by PBS Montana
Movies Illustrating Strengths
- Dangerous Minds: There is no victims in this planet
- Gandhi: His triumph changed the world rorever
- Hugo: What is your purpose?
- Life is Beautiful: On playfulness and humour – search “favourite scene”
- Pay it Forward: On mentorship – Part 1 (14 minutes)
- Pursuit of Happiness: Protect your dreams
- Scent of a Woman: Al Pacino’s artful speech
- The Blind Side: The Real Story
- The Emperor’s Club: Part 10
- The Shawshank Redemption: On forgiveness – Morgan Freeman scene
Songs & Musicals
- African Children’s Choir: Walking In The Light
- Free Hugs Campaign: Official Page
- Israel Kamakawiwo’ole: Over The Rainbow
- Pi’s Lullaby (Official Music Video)
TED Talks
Search by topic or speaker on www.ted.com
- Shawn Achor: The happy secret to better work
- Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: Flow, the secret to happiness
- Angela Lee Duckworth: The key to success? Grit
- Dan Gilbert: The surprising science of happiness
- Malcolm Gladwell: Choice, happiness and spaghetti sauce
- Ron Gutman: The hidden power of smiling
- Graham Hill: Less stuff, more happiness
- Daniel Kahneman: The riddle of experience vs. memory
- Matt Killingsworth: Want to be happier? Stay in the moment
- Michael Norton: How to buy happiness
- Matthieu Ricard: The habits of happiness
- Louie Schwartsberg: Nature. Beauty. Gratitude
- Barry Schwartz: The paradox of choice
- Martin Seligman: The new era of positive psychology
- David Steindl-Rast: Want to be happy? Be grateful
TEDx Talks
- Shawn Achor: The Happiness Advantage: Linking Positive Brains to Performance, TEDxBloomington
- Brad Meltzer: How To Write Your Own Obituary, TEDxMIA
- Tayyab Rashid: What Are You Good At? Strengths in Use, TEDxUTSC
YouTube Videos – Experts
- Tal Ben-Shahar: Educating the world
- Hannah Brencher: Love letters to strangers
- Victor Frankl: Search for Meaning
- Barbara Fredrickson: Positive Emotions
- Shelley Gable: Build Love
- John Gottman: The Magic Ratio
- Carl Honore: Savouring Slowness – Slowing down in a world built for speed
- Randy Pausch: The Last Lecture on Oprah Winfrey Show
- Tayyab Rashid: What Are Your Character Strengths?
- Barry Schwartz: Maximizing/Minimizing: The Paradox of Choice
- Martin Seligman: Active Constructive Responding
- Martin Seligman: Gratitude Journal: Three Blessings
- Daniel Tomasulo: Virtual Gratitude Visit
YouTube Videos – Everyday Heroes
- Britain’s Got Talent: Paul sings Nessun Dorma
- Britain’s Got Talent: Susan Boyle
- CBS Notebook: On optimism
- CorStone Children’s Resiliency Program for Girls
- Girls Softball Miracle: Central Washington vs Western Oregon
- Hold The Door For Others: A nonprofit inspired by September 11th
- Team Hoyt: World’s Strongest Dad (also search Dick and Rick Hoyt)