Are there people in your life, that even after a brief few minute discussion, you feel completely drained, like someone needs to scrape you off the floor, lift you up and smack you around to get back to being okay? We’ll call them, “energy vampires.”

Are there other people in your life, that after you visit with them for just a few minutes, you are totally uplifted, like “let’s go conquer the world,” I feel AMAZING?! We’ll call them “energy up-lifters!”

So, is it them, or is it you? Is there a way to protect yourself from the energy vampires or find yourself some more energy up-lifters?

To answer the first question, it’s both. If it were them, they probably would find themselves friendless pretty quick, because who wants to be around an “energy vampire!?” The odd thing is, there are other people that LOVE being around them and don’t feel a drain, they actually feel uplifted!

It’s not only you either. According to a (unique to you) combination of: your beliefs, values, personality and level of consciousness, there are going to be people that, “oh my gosh, suck the life out of you,” and others that you gain a “5-hour energy burst” from without the “5-hour energy” drink!

So, it’s both! Now what do we do about it?

The best step is awareness. If you can identify with people you interact with as a “vampire” or “up-lifter” then you’ll know the thoughts you need to entertain, and the thoughts you’ll need to dismiss and let go.

In other words, you do yourself no good by silently saying to yourself, “I can’t stand being around this person, OH, wound, wound, stab, stab, are you kidding me, stop it, stop it, you’re killing me!” You are only contributing to your energy demise.

Here’s how to protect yourself from an “energy vampire.” Choose to be entertained by them. If you identify one, try thoughts such as, “Oh boy, here we go, okay, just hang on…I wonder what happened in their life that made them think this way, they must have had something rough happen, what other kind of people would hang around them, don’t fight it, don’t judge, just listen, I’m okay, what they are saying is ridiculous, but it’s their life, their goofed up perception…phew I’m hanging in there, I don’t have to go swirling down the energy drain, I’ve got this. Don’t allow them to suck you dry, simply be in a curious state, where you allow them to express themselves without you getting caught up in an argument or struggle. It’s an internal battle, not a you versus them battle.

Now, how do you find yourself some more energy up-lifters? The easiest way: become one. Choose to become a positive influence. Clean yourself up. Don’t trash talk yourself or others. Forgive yourself and others. Be grateful and look for the good in simple things. You’ll find that you’ll attract others that share your sentiments. And when you do, you’ll also find energy vampires have even less power over you.

It’s not easy, but it’s well worth the effort. You will always encounter energy vampires and energy up-lifters. Now you know the recipe to overcome the internal struggle and YOU become the primary influencer of maintaining your internal energy state, rather than allowing outside influences taking you on the emotional roller-coaster ride.