It’s hard to pinpoint when the ‘Good Vibes Only’ mantra became the unofficial wallpaper of the internet, but you’ve seen it: “Good vibes only!” plastered on Instagram captions, neon signs, and aggressively cheerful coffee mugs. The irony isn’t lost on me. I’m literally wearing a ‘Good Vibes Only‘ t-shirt as I type this.

When “Good Vibes” Aren’t So Great

Just to be clear, optimism isn’t the enemy. Positivity, gratitude, and finding silver linings all have their place in mental well-being. But when positivity is used to dismiss or invalidate real emotions, it can get a bit tricky.

Toxic positivity is the relentless pressure to be a ray of sunshine, even when life’s pelting you with lemons and forgotten the sugar for the lemonade.

It’s sentences like:

“Just stay positive!”

“At least you have a job!” or

“Everything happens for a reason!”

Spotting Toxic Positivity in the Wild

Toxic positivity minimizes real struggles. When you are dealing with stress, grief, or anxiety, forcing a positive spin on everything can make you feel guilty for having emotions in the first place.

You end up thinking “Why can’t I just be happy?” or “Maybe I’m overreacting.” But the truth is, YOU’RE NOT!

Research consistently demonstrates a stark reality: suppressing emotions amplifies them. This forced ‘positivity’ ironically breeds more stress in the long run. So, by forcing “good vibes only,” we’re not creating happiness but bottling up stress that will explode later. (Which will probably happen at the worst time.)

Beyond the mental gymnastics, the physical toll of this forced positivity is just as concerning. There is extensive research that suggests that emotional suppression can lead to increased stress, higher inflammation, and even a weakened immune system. In other words, pretending everything is fine under a gigantic pile of “good vibes” is not good for your mental well-being.

Embracing Your Inner “Meh” (And Other Real Emotions)

You don’t have to be happy all the time to be mentally healthy. Real emotional well-being means allowing the space in your mind and body for all kinds of emotions.

Yes, that means even the uncomfortable ones. Why? Because these are the emotions that tell us when something needs to change, when we need rest, or when we need support.

What It All Boils Down To

There’s nothing wrong with looking on the bright side. But the problem is that toxic positivity can be quite sneaky. “Good vibes only” sounds well-intentioned but it’s not really doing anything good or helpful for you other than telling you to be happy no matter what.

Where as, real support is about being there for yourself and others through the highs and the lows.

Mental health isn’t only positive affirmations. Sometimes it can look like anger, sadness, crying in your parked car. And sometimes, it’s saying, “I’m not okay” without looking at the silver lining.

The goal isn’t to force happiness but to create a little bit of space in your being for all feelings. That means the good, the bad, and even the ones that don’t fit neatly on a coffee mug.

Read more on how to take better care of your mental health here!

The post Is “Good Vibes Only” Actually Bad for You? first appeared on SUNGJEM AIER.