Hello guys. I've been struggling with an issue lately and I figured that if anyone can shed some light on this and dispel some of my doubts, it's this subreddit. Namely, I don't have a problem with approaching meditation in the sense of mindfulness and simply observing my thoughts and emotions. That to me seems healthy and transformative. However, the thing which seems odd to me is the Buddhist emphasis on creating "good" or "wholesome" thoughts and preventing unwholesome thoughts (or states of mind) from arising. What's more, it is also recommended to try and get rid of them once they arise. This seems all well and good, but it sounds to me like it encourages repression. Wouldn't it be better to allow whatever thoughts want to arise to arise, and then observe them from a non-attached standpoint? This conflict I have is further exacerbated by the teaching that karma can be created by thoughts as well, so I obviously do not wish to create bad karma for myself by thinking unwholesome thoughts, but on the other hand I don't want to be aggressive towards my own psyche and try to override one type of thought with another.

If anyone can help me with this little dilemma I'm having, I'd very much appreciate it. :)