We encounter them on daily basis:
1) The energy drainers.
We always feel lethargic in their presence. They are the energy vampires—they feed on our positive energy. After draining out the positivity from our systems and the environment, they leave us feeling exhausted.
2) The jealous ones.
They never acknowledge our achievements. We feel uneasy around them. We feel better as soon as they leave the room. They have a volatile aura that screams, “I do not like you!”
3) The needy souls.
Their aura shouts “Help me, don’t leave me alone!” It is great to help ones in need, but we do not have to help the same people every time they need our assistance. To them, we are like a sponge they wish to hold and squeeze tight. In return, we soak up all of their insecurities and issues. We are expected to resolve them. If we fail, we feel guilty.
4) The tantrums throwers.
They have learnt over time and experience that if they need something to be done their way, they can throw a tantrum and others will succumb to their demand. Like a stubborn kid who does not get up from the floor until they get their favorite toy in the supermarket, they know the trick works, so they repeat it over and over again—even as grownups.
If we stick to two simple but strong approaches, we can keep the negativity away:
Act Rigid.
Negative people tend to be rigid. They expect us to give in to their tantrums and emotional blackmail. But, if we choose not to, they will stop. If we become more rigid, they will eventually will realize that their old patterns are not working. They will either look for another person for help, or will change their pattern. They will not waste their time and energy over something that is not working for them.
Say “no:”
This one little word does more wonders than we could ever hope for. It is mandatory to draw boundaries from the energy vampires. Usually, we don’t say “no” because we do not want to appear rude or uncaring. However, it’s not the big deal that we have made it into our minds. We our not doing ourselves or anyone else any good by continuing to say “yes.”
We all have been caught in difficult situations and have been surrounded by negative people and their mean comments. Drawing boundaries allows us to keep the negative energy away, despite being surrounded by it.
Author – Preeti Singh (Homepage)
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Originally published at www.elephantjournal.com in a slightly altered form.