Boasting more than four million followers, the ‘Note For Self’ Instagram account was started by a psychology student who wanted to share the information they learned with other people. In an interview with Bored Panda for our previous edition on the account, the founder shared that it allows them to provide entertainment with a message that should receive more spotlight on social media.
“People always have trouble in their life, and they always will. So when they open their phone and scroll through the page, it can provide some relief or a quick perspective change, or show that they’re not alone, as there are other people agreeing with the quote,” they said.
In an earlier interview, the founder of the Instagram account shared that providing support to internet users is the thing they love most about it. “I enjoy getting messages from people that say that I’ve helped them overcome something or that it’s something positive for their mental health. Over the years I’ve received countless direct messages like these,” they said.
It’s no secret that positive messages—whether shared online or face-to-face—can have a positive impact on many people. Even making positive comments to ourselves can make a difference, largely thanks to the power of positive thinking.
According to the Mayo Clinic, positive thinking, which often starts with self-talk, can help a person lower their levels of stress and even improve their health. Some benefits reportedly include lower rates of depression, greater resistance to illnesses, better cardiovascular health, reduced risk of death from infections, and better coping skills, among other things.
Mayo Clinic notes that positive thinking doesn’t mean that you don’t experience or pay attention to the negative things in life. It's focused more on how you deal with them and whether you see the glass as half empty or half full in certain situations in life.
“Positive thinking just means that you approach unpleasantness in a more positive and productive way. You think the best is going to happen, not the worst,” the source reads.
In addition to numerous health benefits and lower stress levels, having a positive attitude can lead to more passion and determination. A study involving close to 1,600 participants aged 13 to 77 found that there were large differences in regard to passion and determination when the researchers compared the five percent of respondents with the most positive attitude versus the five percent with the least positive one.
Another study found that positive attitudes can especially benefit children. Researchers from Stanford University have reportedly discovered a brain pathway that directly links positive attitude with achievement, which means that encouraging children to think positively can significantly influence their achievements, too. According to the study, being positive increased the children’s memories and enhanced their problem-solving skills.
“We saw that if you have a strong interest and self-perceived ability in math, it results in enhanced memory and more efficient engagement of the brain’s problem-solving capacities,” said Vinod Menon, Stanford professor and senior author, as cited by CNBC.
Whether it’s a pep talk from a friend, an inspiring message on Facebook, or an uplifting quote on someone’s T-shirt, they all have the power to make your day just a little bit better. But you yourself can positively influence not only your day, but your life, too, so make sure to engage in positive thinking and always see the glass as half full rather than empty.