A quick note before we start
I’m not a mental health professional, and this isn’t medical advice. This is just my personal story of how one book helped me shift my mindset during a rough season. If you’re struggling right now, you deserve support — speaking to your GP, a therapist, or someone you trust can be a powerful first step.
Who is Vex King?
If you’ve spent any time in the self-love and mindset space, you’ve probably heard the name Vex King. He’s a writer and speaker who makes personal development feel simple, real, and doable — not preachy, not perfect, and definitely not “just think positive.”
His book Good Vibes, Good Life is one of those reads that meets you where you are, then gently pulls you forward.
Vex King’s journey (from survival to building a life)
One reason Vex’s words hit so hard is because his story isn’t theory — it’s lived.
Vex King grew up in various troubled neighbourhoods in Britain and now lives on the outskirts of London. He had a challenging childhood, experiencing homelessness, poverty, violence, and racism.
A few details from his upbringing that stayed with me:
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His father died six months after he was born.
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He lived with his mother and two sisters, and the family was often without a stable home.
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He was exposed to significant adversity and pain, which made life feel like a daily struggle for survival.
And still — despite all of that — he performed well in school and earned a degree in Business Information Systems, before moving into a career in music production and eventually becoming a bestselling author and mind coach.
For me, that arc matters because it’s proof that your starting point doesn’t get to be your finish line.
The hole I didn’t know how to climb out of
There was a point where I felt stuck in a heavy place — the kind where days blur together and even small things feel like effort. I didn’t have a big dramatic moment. It was more like a slow fade: motivation disappeared, confidence dropped, and I started believing the worst stories my mind could tell.
Depression can make life feel smaller. It can make you feel like you’re watching your own life through a fogged-up window.
And honestly? I didn’t know what would help.
How Good Vibes, Good Life found me at the right time
I came across Good Vibes, Good Life when I needed something steady — something that didn’t judge me for being low, but also didn’t let me stay there forever.
What hit me first was the tone. Vex doesn’t talk down to you. He talks like someone who’s been through it, learned the hard lessons, and is handing you the map.
This book helped me start rebuilding from the inside out:
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Self-talk: I started noticing the way I spoke to myself and changing it
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Self-love: not as a trend, but as a daily practice
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Boundaries: I learned that protecting my energy isn’t selfish
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Mindset: I started understanding that thoughts aren’t facts
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Healing: I accepted that progress is messy and still counts
Vex King’s imprinting story (and why it matters)
One of the most powerful ideas in the book is Vex King’s explanation of imprinting — the way our early experiences, environments, and repeated messages shape our beliefs about ourselves.
The simple version is this:
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When you’re young, you absorb everything.
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What you hear, feel, and experience gets “imprinted.”
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Those imprints can quietly run your life later — especially when you’re stressed, anxious, or depressed.
For me, that concept was a turning point.
Because it helped me realise something huge: some of the negative beliefs I had weren’t even mine. They were learned. Picked up. Repeated. Reinforced.
And if they were learned… they could be unlearned.
That’s where the hope came back in.
The small steps that actually changed my life
This wasn’t an overnight transformation. It was more like stacking tiny wins until the weight of the bad days started to lift.
Here are a few practices inspired by Good Vibes, Good Life that genuinely helped me:
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I started speaking to myself like someone I cared about
Even when I didn’t believe it at first.
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I stopped feeding the thoughts that fed the darkness
Not by fighting them, but by noticing them and choosing a better next thought.
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I built a simple routine
Not a “5am miracle morning.” Just a few anchors that made the day feel less chaotic.
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I learned to protect my energy
Less people-pleasing. More peace.
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I chose progress over perfection
Because healing isn’t linear — and that’s normal.
Why this book is perfect to read with a brew
There’s something about pairing mindset work with a warm cup of coffee that makes it feel safe.
A brew slows me down. It gives my hands something to hold while my mind processes what it’s been carrying.
Reading Good Vibes, Good Life with a coffee became a little ritual for me:
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a pause
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a reset
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a reminder that I’m still here
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a quiet moment to choose a better direction
If you’re a coffee person, you’ll get it. Sometimes the smallest comforts are the ones that keep you going.
If you’re in a dark place right now
If you’re reading this and you feel low, I want you to know this: you’re not broken. You’re human. And you don’t have to fix everything today.
Start with one page. One thought. One sip. One small decision that says: “I’m still trying.”
That’s enough.
Final thoughts: good vibes aren’t a mood — they’re a practice
Good Vibes, Good Life didn’t “save” me in a magical way. It helped me save myself — by giving me tools, language, and perspective when I didn’t have any.
And if you’ve ever felt like you’re stuck in a hole with no ladder, this book can be a solid first rung.