The quality of out relationships affects our emotional wellbeing. When we are with some people they make us feel at ease and give us a lot of energy while others are like energy vampires and suck the life out of us leaving us feeling drained. These energy vampires as they are known can wreak a lot of carnage. What have your experiences been like with energy giving and energy sapping individuals? Especially in your experiences with the dubs. Are you good at identifying and combatting the vampires?
The energy vampires
by greendawn 5 Replies latest jw friends
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bigmouth
The friends and visitors that take control of your home and kitchen when they visit.
We have a neighbour who comes over from time to time. Struggles financially, emotionally. Regular failed relationships, pregnancy etc. etc. but knows EXACTLY how to save the world and put people straight if only they would do what she says!
She only knows it's time to leave when I start slashing my wrists. -
greendawn
They sound like typical fixer energy vampires you should tell them things like "I am fully confident that these problems will be solved, the right remedy for them will be found and applied". The vampires I had to deal with most were the depreciator ones like saying to me "don't bother with her she totally above your league she won't even look at you".
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jaguarbass
I became aware of the energy vampires in my 20's and since then, I always flee from them. Along those lines, I learned it takes more energy to get rid of someone than it does to attract them. So watch who you lure into your world.
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Little Drummer Boy
My new mantra is: "No more drama."
There are these small interviews on tv of different tv hosts and actors. They take place during the commercial time slots. Anyway, Clinton Kelly, from What Not to Wear, says in one that he "Doesn't have room in his life for drama anymore.", or something very similar to that. When I heard that, it resonated with me, something clicked, and I realized how much power we all have to shut out people or situations that drain us.
For instance, I have a very messed up set of relatives. For all these years I had chosen to try to bend over backwards to get along, to mend fences, to be close to them even when they didn't deserve it. All the while I was on an emotional rollercoaster than just was ruining my joy in life. So, I decided to just say screw it. I don't need to ever see certain ones of them again in my lifetime. I didn't ever enjoy being around them anyway (though I tried), and they don't want to be around me without drama, so forget it. Guess what? Way less stress. Whoever said blood is thicker than water is full of s**t.
Past time for me to get on with life.
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greendawn
LDB, relatives can be dangerous and take advantage of kinship to exploit us and as you said with such people the best way is to break all emotional connection with them and become indifferent to their situation. Otherwise they can become emotional leeches and drain away a lot of energy that we need to to succeed in life.
Jaguarbass indeed certain unprofitable people and relationships can be hard to get rid of just as is usually the case with the WTS.