You walk into the room. You look up to see the ceiling fan spinning, with the light shining on you and warming your body as you enter deeper into the room. You observe the people occupying the area and you notice the smiles on their faces. Their smiles are directed towards you, acting as a notion of welcoming and you begin to feel comfortable. The walls are plastered with exotic tapestries and on the coffee table lies a bowl of lime flavored tortilla chips and a bowl of fresh salsa. You immerse yourself into the flow of conversations and interactions with your friends while filling up with chips and salsa in between topics. You feel a warm sensation deep inside your body, giving you a sense of jubilation and belonging. As you put your feet on the coffee table and lean back on the couch, listening to the latest mix by Odesza, you look around you and say to yourself, "Just another night of good people, good food, and good vibes." What a life.

What are Vibes?

In any social context, vibes dictate the experience. We always say "I like hanging out with that guy, he gives off good vibes," "I need to leave, this place is giving me bad vibes," or " I'm getting mixed vibes from her." We use vibes to describe social experiences, to discover and shape our personalities, and we use it as a compass for social progression. Vibes are frequencies of energy that radiates from environments through its design and atmosphere and people through body language and conversations. You become friends with somebody because the energy that they emit compliments your personality. You keep going back to your friend's apartment to hangout, because the tapestries on the wall provides an atmosphere that provides those good vibes that your state of mind likes. Good and bad, vibes act as the essence of human experience in a social context.

What are Good Vibes?

Good vibes are what humans strive to obtain. Good vibes are frequencies of positive energy deriving from people and environments that make you happy. You experience this positive energy through the presence of good friends and good environments. When you share good vibes with a somebody, you trust them, and you open up to them. You recognize those good vibes quickly through social interactions. You notice their body language and whether or not it correlates with yours. You listen to what they say, and determine whether their interests are parallel to yours in any way. From doing back flips in a inflatable jump house with your friends to dancing your heart out while your fraternity brothers cheer you on, good vibes find its way into any social context in any form. When you feel yourself let go into the essence of the environment you are in and the people you are with, that is when you let the positive energy consume you. And that's what happiness is. 

What are Bad Vibes?

In life we take social risks, and sometimes those risks are filled with bad vibes. The negative energy we get when we get an awkward encounter with someone you just met, or when we find ourselves in an eerie place. Bad vibes, like good vibes, are everywhere and instead of making you happy, it can ruin your day and negatively affect your state of mind. We often try to avoid this negative energy, but as we take risks in our lives to progress and expand our social lives, we sometimes encounter those bad vibes. From being introduced to a group of people by your friend who hates your music taste to being immersed into a room without tapestries, filled with dirty clothes and leftover food on the floor, bad vibes find ways to enter into your unpredictable life. When you get those speech and mental blocks, that sense of emptiness, that feeling of overwhelming discomfort or the strong desire to leave, you know you have immersed yourself into a pool of bad vibes. And quite frankly it sucks.

Why do Vibes Matter?

Vibes are the frequencies of energy that dictate our experience in a social context. Whether good or bad, it is essential to our social progression and self development. We rely on vibes to make judgments that help us communicate with the world, help us choose the people we want to build relationships with, and help us shape and mature our personalities. Existing in many different forms, from bonding with peers over similar music tastes to the beautiful interior design of your friend's apartment, vibes represent the human condition and capture the essence of everyday life.