Memes usually have a shelf life shorter than a carton of milk. One week everyone is talking about a specific cat, and the next, it’s gone, buried under the weight of the next viral cycle. But it can only good happen is different. It’s sticky. It’s that weird, grammatically broken phrase that perfectly captures the feeling of standing on the edge of a cliff while telling yourself you’re actually at a spa.
If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or Twitter (X) lately, you’ve seen it. It usually accompanies a video of someone making a questionable life choice—like trying to fry a frozen turkey or quit their job with zero savings. The phrase is a shield. A delusion. A tiny, linguistic hug we give ourselves right before the world falls apart.
The Weird Origins of the It Can Only Good Happen Meme
Honestly, the internet is terrible at archiving its own history, but we know this one started with a specific vibe. It wasn't a big-budget marketing campaign. It was just a guy. Specifically, a guy on TikTok named @itscolelawrence (though variations existed in the ether before). The energy was pure: wide eyes, a slightly frantic smile, and the mantra that defies the laws of thermodynamics and basic logic.
It can only good happen. The grammar is the secret sauce. If it were "Only good things can happen," it would be a boring affirmation you'd find on a dusty calendar in a dentist's office. But the broken syntax makes it feel frantic. It sounds like someone who is trying to convince their brain of something that their eyes know is a lie. It’s the "This is Fine" dog for a new generation.
Why We Are Obsessed With Manifesting Chaos
We live in an era of toxic positivity. You know the type. People telling you to "vibe higher" while the economy does a backflip into a trash fire. The it can only good happen meme is the satire of that movement. It mocks the idea that we can simply "manifest" our way out of consequences.
Think about the context where this meme thrives. It’s usually a "low-stakes high-stakes" situation. You see a creator pouring an entire bottle of hot sauce on a taco. They look at the camera, deadpan, and say the line. They know the next eight hours are going to be a nightmare. You know it too. That shared recognition of an impending, self-inflicted disaster is what makes it relatable.
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Psychologically, it’s a coping mechanism called "defensive pessimism," but dressed up in a clown suit. By saying it can only good happen, you are acknowledging that things are almost certainly going to go bad, but you’re choosing to laugh at the wreckage before the crash even happens. It’s a way of reclaiming power over failure. If you joke about the disaster, the disaster can't hurt your feelings.
The Grammar of a Viral Hit
Have you ever noticed how the best memes are the ones that break the English language? Look at "I can haz cheeseburger" or "Doggo-speak." There is something about linguistic friction that catches the brain’s attention.
When you say it can only good happen, your brain has to work a millisecond harder to process the sentence. That tiny bit of cognitive load makes the phrase more memorable. It feels "raw." It feels like it was typed by someone in the middle of a breakdown, which, let’s be real, is the default state of being online in 2026.
Real-World Examples: When It Definitely Did Not Good Happen
The meme has moved beyond just TikTok lip-syncs. It’s become a shorthand for any situation where someone is clearly huffing copium.
- Crypto and Finance: Whenever a "shitcoin" starts to crater, you’ll find the phrase in the comments of the subreddit. It’s the ironic battle cry of the person holding the bag while the value drops to zero.
- Dating: "I've been talking to this guy for three days, he hasn't sent a single photo of his face, and he lives in a different country, but I’m flying to meet him. It can only good happen."
- Gaming: Trying to beat a boss in Elden Ring with 1 HP and no potions left? That’s an "it can only good happen" moment.
These aren't just jokes; they are tiny narratives. Every time someone uses the phrase, they are telling a story about the gap between expectation and reality.
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The Difference Between This and Other Memes
You might think this is just another version of "Delulu is the solulu." While they share a zip code, they aren't the same. "Delulu" is about the state of being delusional. It can only good happen is about the anticipation of the outcome.
One is a lifestyle; the other is a countdown.
It’s also distinct from the "Manifesting" trend. People who unironically talk about manifesting actually believe their thoughts change reality. The people using the it can only good happen meme are usually 100% aware that they are about to face the music. It’s ironic. It’s sardonic. It’s very Gen Z/Zalpha in its refusal to take the "self-help" industry seriously.
How to Use the Meme Without Cringing
If you want to use this in your own content or just in the group chat, you have to nail the timing. It’s all about the "Curb Your Enthusiasm" moment. You use it right at the peak of the bad decision.
- Identify a choice that is objectively a bad idea.
- Maintain eye contact (or use a very "dead inside" emoji).
- Say the line.
- Do not explain the joke.
The moment you try to explain why it’s funny, you’ve killed the vibe. The humor comes from the silence that follows the statement—the silence where the consequences live.
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Is It Still Relevant in 2026?
Memes usually die when brands get ahold of them. When you see a bank or a brand of laundry detergent tweeting "It can only good happen," you know the funeral is scheduled for next Tuesday.
However, this phrase has some staying power because it’s a template. It’s not tied to a specific image or a specific person as much as it is tied to a specific feeling. As long as humans continue to make terrible decisions—which, based on history, we will continue to do forever—there will be a need for a phrase that pretends everything is fine.
The Dark Side of Only Good Happening
Is there a downside to this kind of humor? Some experts in digital culture argue that this "ironic nihilism" makes us more passive. If we just laugh at the disaster, we don't try to stop it.
But honestly? Sometimes you can't stop the disaster. Sometimes the turkey is already in the fryer and it's already frozen. At that point, your options are to scream or to meme. The internet has collectively chosen to meme.
It’s a way of building community in the ruins. When you see someone post it can only good happen, you aren't just laughing at their mistake. You’re recognizing your own mistakes in them. It’s a weirdly humanizing moment for a digital platform that often feels cold and disconnected.
What You Should Do Next
If you're looking to jump on this trend or just understand the cultural landscape better, don't just mimic the top creators. Look for the "micro-moments" in your own life where things are going slightly sideways.
- Audit your "delusion" levels: Next time you’re about to hit "send" on a risky text or take a shortcut on a major project, stop and ask if you’re in an "it can only good happen" headspace.
- Use it for stress relief: Use the phrase when things go wrong at work (maybe not in front of your boss). It helps break the tension and reminds everyone that, in the grand scheme of things, most "disasters" are just future stories.
- Watch the evolution: Keep an eye on how the phrase gets remixed. We’re already seeing "It can only [X] happen" variations popping up, which is usually a sign that a meme is entering its "morpheme" phase where the structure is more important than the words.
Stop trying to force things to be perfect. The meme works because it embraces the mess. If you’re waiting for the "perfect" time to start a project or post content, you’re missing the point. Just do it. After all, it can only good happen.