Recently, I received a question from a new listener who I met at a storytelling event. This person, a fellow storyteller, wanted to learn more about public speaking and memorable storytelling. They asked me: How can I share serious stories while keeping my presentation positive?
This is an excellent question because, sometimes, to convey an important concept, it’s necessary to tell stories about how issues affect individuals or groups—or even how they’ve affected you personally. However, the overall tone of your talk still needs to be uplifting or motivating. You don’t want to overwhelm your audience to the point that they check out or give up. Instead, you want them to leave inspired to take action.
I encounter this balance frequently in my work around personal finance. I discuss topics like economics and class, which can be heavy and emotionally charged. My goal, however, is not to depress people but to take an honest look at these issues and use storytelling to create a sense of uplift.
I love this question and want to give you some tips on how to share serious stories while maintaining a positive tone in your presentation. Here are three strategies:
- Pick your moments.
- Use confident vulnerability.
- Test it out.
Pick Your Moments
The story that inspired this question came from one I’m working on about my experiences with the healthcare system. Let’s face it—American healthcare can be a terrible experience for most people. While I want to address this topic, I also feel a responsibility to do so productively.
Drawing on my comedy background, I decided to approach this story with humor—not to be disrespectful or trivialize the difficulties I’ve faced as someone with pain and medical needs, but to create some lightness around a heavy topic. Humor helps me connect with the audience before leading them to a more serious moment.
For example, in my story, I start by sharing funny observations about navigating healthcare: the absurd lengths we go to avoid expensive doctor visits, pretending bills don’t exist, or feeling oddly proud when we understand insurance premiums. These relatable, humorous anecdotes build a connection with the audience while hinting at deeper systemic problems.
Once the audience is engaged and laughing, I introduce the heavier part—a devastating healthcare experience I went through. This moment resonates deeply, but because I’ve built trust and connection first, the audience is more willing to go there with me. After that, I bring them back up, ending the story on a note of hope or empowerment.
Use Confident Vulnerability
Vulnerability, as people like Brené Brown have shown us, is a powerful tool. It’s about being authentic, admitting you don’t have all the answers, and sharing things that are hard to say because they’re important. However, as a speaker, you must pair vulnerability with confidence.
If you’re overly vulnerable, the audience may worry about you—whether you’re okay, whether you’ll break down—and they’ll stop focusing on your message. Confident vulnerability means you acknowledge the emotional weight of your story while showing the audience you’re in control.
You set the tone with your body language: stand tall, make eye contact, and smile where appropriate. Show that you’re okay, even while sharing something difficult. This lets the audience stay engaged with your message without feeling uneasy or distracted by concern for you.
For example, I often use confident vulnerability when talking about money mistakes. By framing them as money lessons, I shift the narrative from shame to empowerment. When I share a personal mistake, I smile, keep my shoulders back, and show through my tone that it’s a productive conversation—not a pity party.
Test It Out
The third essential step is testing your story before presenting it to a larger audience. Comedians do this all the time—they test material at open mics to see what resonates, what falls flat, and what needs adjustment. You can do the same as a speaker.
Find a practice audience—friends, colleagues, or even a small group at an open mic. Share your story and pay attention to their reactions. Where does the energy dip? Where does it soar? Their feedback will help you refine your story and understand how it’s landing.
Returning to my healthcare story, the listener who inspired this episode commented that it seemed so polished for a first telling. Here’s my confession: it wasn’t the first time. It was the second. That first time, the story was raw and messy, but testing it with a small audience gave me valuable insights. I learned where the energy shifted and how to manage the emotional journey I was creating for the audience.
Why It Matters
One of my favorite quotes about public speaking comes from Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.”
This is so true when it comes to storytelling. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is that the idea you want to communicate lives on in the minds of your audience. Managing their emotional experience is key to achieving that.
Final Thoughts
If you’re struggling to balance serious stories with positivity, don’t let fear stop you from sharing them. But don’t share them without a strategy either. Use these three steps:
- Pick your moments to balance lightness and heaviness.
- Show confident vulnerability to keep the audience engaged without making them uneasy.
- Test your story with a practice audience to refine it.
These tools will help you connect deeply with your audience while leaving them inspired and motivated to take action.
Good luck—and let me know how it goes!
