Library of facilitation techniques

Positive Psychology Workshop Activities

15 results
Thiagi Group

Social Virus

We all know how quickly the cold or flu can spread through the office, but we don't often think about how contagious our emotions can be. This exercise provides a brief simulation of how quickly both negative and positive emotions can be transmitted. One participant is selected to be the Negative Infector General and asked to infect others with a negative emotion. During the next round, you pretend to select another participant to be the Positive Infector General. At the end of the second round, participants are surprised to find out that they became more positive even though no one initiated the emotion.
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Mirna Smidt  from Trainers Toolbox

Whose Strengths?

A playful and reflective group exercise that helps participants recognise and appreciate both their own and each other's signature strengths.

By anonymously sharing top character strengths and guessing which list belongs to whom, the group engages in a positive exchange that promotes self-awareness, team bonding, and mutual appreciation.

This activity is based on the VIA classification of character strengths developed by Peterson & Seligman (2004), and is ideal for team-building, coaching, or personal development workshops.

Mirna Smidt  from Trainers Toolbox

Strengths Spotting

Strengths Spotting is a reflective coaching exercise in which participants uncover personal strengths by engaging in deep, meaningful conversation with a partner. Using guiding questions, each person interviews the other and listens for clues about their natural talents, motivations, and flow states.

This coaching-style activity boosts self-awareness and is particularly useful in personal development, team-building, or coaching sessions.

Mirna Smidt  from Trainers Toolbox

Finding Your Ikigai - Longer version

A Japanese concept that translates roughly as your reason for being; the sweet spot where four core dimensions of a meaningful life overlap: what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.

Note: While the naming for this exercise is a bit off from it’s original meaning, it is the name under which this concept is known.

This exercise guides participants through a structured 4-circle Venn diagram reflection to explore these four life dimensions, identify overlaps, and uncover areas to develop toward a meaningful, purpose-driven life. Ideal for personal development, career coaching, or team wellbeing sessions.

Mirna Smidt  from Trainers Toolbox

Identifying & Activating Your Own Strengths

A personal reflection activity designed to help individuals discover their core strengths and intentionally apply them in daily life. Using one's strengths is proven to enhance well-being, boost confidence, and increase motivation.

This short but powerful exercise helps participants reflect on their talents and brainstorm meaningful ways to use them more regularly.

Note: You can also replace the first with a quick brainstorm to name 3-5 their strengths, without the list, and it will make a full exercise very short - 3 minutes or so - yet still effective.

Ideal for self-coaching, wellbeing programs, and strengths-based personal development.

Mirna Smidt  from Trainers Toolbox

Best Possible Self

Best Possible Self is a reflective visualization and journaling exercise coming from positive psychology that puts in the spotlight participants' positive orientation towards themselves and their best characteristics.
It
invites participants to imagine themselves in the future, living their most fulfilling and meaningful life; a life aligned with their values, strengths, and passions.

This activity helps boost optimism, motivation, positive perspective towards self and clarity on values.


It is great in the context of personal development, coaching, goal-setting, personal strengths or wellbeing workshops, as it encourages participants to make a vivid and inspiring picture of their ideal self and to consider what daily actions might help bring that vision closer to reality.
It
can be followed by e.g. step-by-step plan towards that future, or goal-setting exercise.

Mirna Smidt  from Trainers Toolbox

Self Check-in

A short daily reflection practice that boosts self-awareness, emotional clarity, and inner balance. By focusing attention on the body, emotions, thoughts, and energy, participants learn to recognize their needs and regulate their internal state more effectively.

Ideal for daily routines, mental well-being programs, and resilience-building workshops, this exercise supports emotional intelligence and mindful presence.