How David Larbi became the internet's most joyful poet

I used to think that writing, specifically writing literature for people to read, was what felt truest to me. And I used to really not like attaching my personality to things. I wanted people to just read the things I wrote and get what they wanted to get out of the words, rather than having me attached to it.

But over the last few years, I've definitely become a lot more comfortable with being actually intertwined with and being seen in my work, such as my videos, which I think shows a lot of personal growth for me, a lot of self acceptance. But also I feel like one of the reasons that people enjoy my work is because they feel related to and connected with, and you can only connect with other people to that extent by being personally present.

No, I don't think so. I think what is the case is that negative and difficult things have more of a lasting impact than positive things do. If you read or see something that hurts you, you then have to work towards healing that feeling, whereas if it's positive great, you can move on. Negativity cuts more deeply.

I think it's a conscious practice to make sure you are paying as much attention positive things that you see, or the things that actually affirm you or make you feel good, that you're paying as much attention to those, if not more attention, than you are to the negative stuff. Being optimistic, especially in a time or place where most stuff isn't, can seem like 'toxic positivity' – 'I'm just gonna be happy no matter what'. But I don't agree with that at all. Positivity gives you hope, and it reminds you what all of this is for. What's all the fighting and pushing through for if not at some point to enjoy, love and be happy?

A few years ago, when I first started posting things on TikTok, which I'd always thought I was too old for. There was one night where I posted a poem called I Believe in You, which is kind of a lesson to myself about believing in all the work that I'd done to feel happier, and believing that I can continue to feel happy. I posted it, I'd put my phone down immediately because I felt like I'd over-shared. I've been too vulnerable. And I came back to it the next day and it had gone quite viral, and people were people commenting and messaging me and saying, thank you so much. This really helped me.

Essentially, that made me feel like, okay, wow, I actually might have something to offer in this space if I keep sharing the things that I'm feeling. I feel like I've just constantly grown with it, rather than having everything together – it's actually me working through things in real time and sharing that with people that's brought the real connection.

Hugely. I think the positives of having big platforms online are clear in terms of, it's literally what earns my living, what gives me a job and gives me it gives me access and opportunities that I wouldn't have otherwise. But with numbers and metrics, you can forget that every individual number is an individual person with a life as rich and complex as my own.

Online, you can get to a point where you're used to posting to loads of people and things stop performing, and you suddenly think, oh, this isn't worth it anymore, because only 100 people like it. But if I was in a room of 100 people, I'd be nervous to speak.

So offline experiences have been so wonderful and grounding in terms of just reminding me that, yeah, the whole point is that I want just one person, if possible, more, but at least one person, to be positively affected by the things I'm doing. For example I went on my book tour this year, and people told me how much they enjoyed the book. Actually talking to people who have sat down and read words I've written is so humbling and encouraging. This is what makes me want to do this forever.

Write down three things that made you happy today. Do them again tomorrow.