Hello friends. Everyone wants good vibes but how can we create a life that is filled with good vibes? I have contemplated who I want to be and the life I want to live. One thing I strive for is a good vibe life. What that means to me is peace ultimately, and yes, I know I will still face challenges, but do I have the bones, the foundation of a good vibe life to buoy me through those challenges? Some days are a struggle but I keep at it. There is a song called "The Bones" by Maren Morris - that song is a love song I sing to myself to remind myself that to get the good vibe of life, to get peace, I have to build that strong foundation. I have to have good bones.
Building a good vibe life is like building a house or making a cake—there are ingredients that make it easier and better. So, let's dive into how to make our lives a 'good vibe' life.
What are good vibes?
Good vibes are positive energy feelings. Good vibes give you cozy, smiley feelings, sometimes butterflies or that amazing gratitude for everything and everyone. Good vibes feel — well they feel good.
Everything is made up of energy. Our own energy extends from our bodies. This means we are affected by other’s energy fields and they are affected by ours. You probably experience this throughout your day. Someone walks into the room, and instantly, there is a shift - it might be positive, or it might be negative. We are all carrying vibes. These vibes fluctuate depending on how much we are affected by others or affected by something internally.
Good vibes only
I am advocating for good vibes but I am not saying good vibes only. It can’t be good vibes only because you are a human living a life that can be like a roller coaster with trauma and pain mixed in. Good vibes are great and I seek to feel them every day, to give them everyday but I also have learned that I need to recognize and respect my feelings whatever they are.
I spent most of my life not allowing myself to feel “negative” feelings and I bet you have done the same. I had some trauma and tough experiences, and like most people, I didn’t process them. My coping strategy was to be positive, but I took positivity to a not-so-good level.
I either ignored my “negative” feelings or shamed myself for feeling them. This was the absolute worst thing to do and I paid for it dearly. I developed a number of physical health issues and dealt with serious bouts of depression that were so bad I had days I wasn’t sure I would get through. So while I advocate for good vibes, I don’t want you to think your other feelings are bad. When you feel a hard feeling from your past or present - feel it, breathe through it, and hopefully, you can release it.
At this point in my journey, when I handle my hard feelings in a healthy way I am creating good vibes. I believe we all have a piece of God or the Universe inside so we are all connected. This means that if one of us can be healed, if one of us can release trauma and come out the other side okay, then everyone, all of humanity, benefits.
Good vibes help
There are many benefits from good vibes or good feelings. Studies show how positive thoughts actually affect the shape, structure and function of our brains. Feel good thoughts
- Release feel good hormones like dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins - we all know how great these feel and they feel good to every part of us
- Improve mental health - when you have those feel good hormones your outlook on life is better which means stress and anxiety lessen
- Builds resilience - this allows us to push through obstacles and keep the faith in ourselves
- Enhance your relationships with yourself and others - we are human and we want to be connected to ourselves and others. You are spending your life with one person ultimately - yourself. You want to have good things going on inside which can help you be more open to healthy relationships with those around you
- Improve physical health - have you ever heard of the placebo effect? Just believing something positive can actually heal your body. Research shows that positive thoughts boost your immune system as well
How to make a good vibe life
As I said earlier, I am not promoting good vibes only because we are humans having a ton of experiences and some of those experiences can be very challenging. But I do believe in doing your best to build a life that overall has a solid, healthy foundation. A life with a solid, healthy foundation is oozing with good vibes.
- Cultivate a positive mindset
- First off, be mindful of your thoughts and feelings but don’t beat yourself up when you do have those more difficult feelings. When you take it easy on yourself, you promote positivity and a healthy inner world. When you allow yourself to recognize what is happening inside and find a way to work through it and release it, you are changing your future in a positive way. Being kind to yourself, to all the parts of yourself creates a positive mindset.
- Use affirmations and mantras daily. Maybe it’s something very specific because you are struggling with something in particular. If you are giving yourself a hard time for being human then you could try - “I am kind to myself and accept all parts of me”. If you need to remember you are amazing then use a Rumi quote - “I am not one drop in the ocean, I am the entire ocean in one drop”. Find your words. What lifts you up? It could be song lyrics or poetry or just a single word. Make a list on paper or on your phone and go to it regularly.
2. Surround yourself with positive people
- You may not have anyone in your life who is healing or trying to be a better version of themselves so pick anyone who inspires you - even if you never meet them. When I really started my healing journey I looked at the authors I was reading as my tribe. Louise Hay and Wayne Dyer were the first two people that I claimed as part of my tribe then Dr. Joe Dispenza joined. So if you don’t have positive people in your everyday world, then create a tribe with those authors, researchers and teachers who inspire and help you from a distance.
- You can also find groups online or in person in your area that are on your path. There are apps like Meetup that can help you find people who share your interests.
- Find a mentor or make a new friend. Do you know someone who is brimming with health and well-being? Ask them to grab a coffee and cultivate a friendship – you will get the inside scoop about their journey and you may find some inspiration for your own.
3. Make your spaces feel good
- Is your house tidy? What about your car or your desk? Studies show that clutter negatively affects your ability to focus. A clean space leads to more positive moods and behaviors. So take time to organize and clean your spaces, even if it’s just one area at a time.
- Decorate your spaces with bright colors and things that make you laugh or smile. This could be anything from wall art to pillows or even the mugs you drink from. Put inspirational words and phrases on your front door - so every time you go out into the world you have some positive words on your mind.
- Bring plants into your home.
- Buy a super soft blanket for your couch or a big stuffed animal - having something soft to snuggle on is lovely.
- Make your bedroom a sanctuary for sleep and sex only.
4. Healthy life choices
- Feel your feelings whatever they are - breathe, relax your body and release it.
- If you have experienced trauma and haven’t dealt with it, find a way to heal that part of you either through your own work or with a therapist.
- Get outside - nature is the ultimate healer.
- Limit screen time.
- Sleep – you know it’s critical to everything, make it a priority.
- Make better eating choices - even if it’s just adding one salad a day or drinking water over a pop/soda.
- Move your body - walking, dancing, stretching - whatever you can do, do it.
- Read.
- Take breaks when you need them - if you are going through a hard time, be sure you purposefully plan something fun either alone or with others. Pressing pause is so good for us especially when we are facing something challenging.
- Laugh, laugh, laugh and laugh some more - watch or read something that makes you laugh out loud at least once a day.
5. Discovering your passions
- Get to know yourself more - take all the personality quizzes, do the values exercises, write down your goals and what you enjoy doing.
- Find something you enjoy doing - it could be knitting, gardening, tree hugging or taking photos.
- Try something new.
- Learn something new.
6. Spread good vibes
- Volunteer - it could be a one-time thing or a regular thing.
- Smile and say hi to strangers when you are out and about.
- Compliment someone - maybe the cashier is wearing red, you could say, “That color is great with your complexion.” You interact with so many people during your day, make someone feel good.
- Be grateful even for the little things.
7. Have fun and be silly
- Walk around in the rain and jump in puddles.
- Do art like a 5-year-old - finger paint or shaving cream art.
- Dance wherever you are.
- Blow a raspberry on your arm.
- Play with bubbles.
- Style your hair in some crazy way.
- I could go on, but the key is to do something that makes you smile and feel good.
Embracing a life filled with good vibes is a lifelong journey. It's about choosing to be kind to yourself even in the face of challenges, nurturing relationships that uplift and inspire, and continuously seeking personal growth and fulfillment. This journey is not a destination but an ongoing process of self-discovery, resilience, and spreading positivity to those around us. By integrating small, positive habits into our lives, we can create a ripple effect that transforms our world and the lives of others, making every moment a celebration of the good vibes we cultivate. I am sending you good vibes right now and hope your journey is all you hope for.
Resources
https://extension.unr.edu/publication.aspx?PubID=4714
https://www.reiki.org/articles/science-measures-human-energy-field
https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/usable-knowledge/17/11/better-way-thinking