The Things That Mentally & Physically Kill Us

Have you ever felt as though you are stuck in an escape room? That feeling where that key is gone, that it is not hidden?

The question I am pondering and researching tonight boils down to the things in life that mentally and physically kill us. Those things that have us bound. The things in our lives that tether us in unhealthy circumstances.

Every day we wake up and choose whether we will allow our environment and/or the people in it to inspire us, or drain us. We and we alone are responsible for the energy that we allow into our space.

To choose an environment or people who inspire and lift us up allows us to feel positive, full of energy, and happy. When we are lifted up, we feel as though we can take on the world. In contrast, choosing an environment or people who drain us can bring on mood swings, exhaustion, anxiety.

Energy drainers, also called energy vampires, or unhappy negative people are quite often individuals who suffer from a personality-disorder. They come in the form of relatives, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and sometimes even strangers. They can also come in the form of our home or work environment as well. Here are a few types:

Controlling - Those who have an opinion on everything and who think that they know what is best for you.

Narcissists - Those with an inflated sense of self-importance.

Criticizers - Those who feel that they are qualified to judge and belittle you.

Victims - Those who believe the world is against them.

Jekyll & Hyde - Those who are your friend one day, and attack you the next.

There is a Polish proverb that reads, "Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys."

Energy drainers choose to be negative and unhappy. We have a choice to buy a ticket to their 3-ring shit show, or we can rise to the challenge choosing to be inspired. How, you might ask?

1. Trust you gut. If your instinct tells you something is wrong, it probably is. If you feel anxious, negative, irritable, depressed, tense, or drained when you are with certain people; acknowledge that something is wrong.

2. Disengage. In some cases it may not be possible to totally disengage, when this arises, set firm boundaries.

3. Protect Yourself. Do not allow yourself to become a part of their circus. It is not your responsibility to fix their problems. Lead by example.

These tips also apply in our environments. Negativity can spread like a cancer. Helen Keller once said, "Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow." This is how we overcome the things that mentally and physically kill us.