Whenever I’m going on a mental health cleanse, one of the first things I rid my life (or day, week, or month) of is social media. Social media, a platform meant for people to share their lives with one another and remain in contact, has so many different connotations for different people. For many, it’s a place where hours go to waste, and comparing yourself to others is the easiest. This is personally the experience I’ve had with apps like Instagram and Snapchat, but of all the platforms I feel this the least, it’s TikTok.
I surprised myself even just typing that since TikTok is hands down the most popular app right now, meaning much of today’s entertainment, drama, opinions, ideas and content stems from there. Yes, I definitely cross by videos that I could have gone my entire life without seeing or videos that make me question myself in ways I shouldn’t, but for the most part, I’ve successfully curated my “For You” page to deliver content that uplifts me. I’ve liked, shared, commented and interacted with certain videos just so I could stay on Dog TikTok, Mental Health TikTok, Fashion TikTok, Fitness TikTok, Catholic TikTok and Wholesome TikTok.
So it’s not seldom that I encounter a TikTok that inspires me in one way or another. The best ones are the videos that teach me a new perspective on the way I live life, view myself and view my circumstances.
If you want to start getting some of the same types of videos I get on my For You Page, I’m passing on a few of my favorite inspirational TikTok messages that have stuck with me! Just click on the usernames to see which of their posts have left an impact on me and thousands of others. Because if we’re going to spend so much time on social media, we might as well make sure it’s a positive atmosphere that we curate ourselves.
- @Yuyi_Chua
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The dialogue of this video is everything. It’s basically a fake it ‘til you make it approach to gaining confidence in how you look, which is often the starting point people need to begin viewing their own outer beauty in a positive light.
- @ThePhilosophyGuy
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This life lesson is actually from South Park, but I wouldn’t have discovered the scene if it weren’t for Brenden Weber on TikTok. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from Winnie the Pooh, “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” - @VictoriaGarrick4
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At the start of 2021, people took on the challenge of using the first 20 seconds of Yung Baby Tate’s song “I Am” and reciting it as their daily affirmation. I took on that challenge myself and started singing it while getting ready to go out or while working out at the gym.
- @Cosmic860
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While this isn’t the original clip where I first discovered this quote, it’s actually been used quite a few times on TikTok. I’ve thought about it a lot since I first watched it, and I love that it teaches you to trust in yourself rather than your circumstances. We’re bound to experience so many lows in life that may knock us down, but these experiences force us to rely on ourselves and how we rise above it. This is definitely something I’m still working on, and it’s definitely where I want to be.
- @AsToldByZozo
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This account is full of aesthetic clips paired with inspirational quotes. I love this one because it fills you with hope and reminds you that even in your bleakest moments, you have future moments that will make you feel more alive and happier than you ever had before. You’re still going to meet new people, make new friends, visit new places, grab new opportunities, eat new foods, discover new songs and so much more.
My FYP is loaded with videos similar to this, and I believe that it’s because I’ve trained my social media to be a more positive atmosphere to spend so much time on. The great thing about TikTok is that you can absolutely do the same! So next time, be intentional with the videos you like, comment on, and share with others, as this will dictate what media and ideas are being fed to you on a daily basis.