Conversational Energy   

 Some people drain us, some people enliven us. We've all had this experience. The classic negative example is that of the "wet blanket" who quickly depresses the lively human energy after entering a room. Other more contemporary terms for such a person are "energy sapper" or "psychic vampire."     

There is also those persons at the other end of the energy spectrum whose presence seems to give us more aliveness. I am not aware of a term for such persons and can only describe them as radiant, fresh, hopeful, resilient, accepting - - words like that. When they enter a room, everyone "lightens up."     

Although the energy-sapping person may not appear depressed or even negative, yet in the area of emotional energy, they are needy. They may, for example, be highly active, even frenetic. To replenish themselves, what they often seek is our rapt attention. They talk, and we listen. Generally - but not always - the content of their talk is about them: their lives, their work, their problems, their aches and pains. They chatter on.     

Although they are usually self-absorbed, they sometimes claim to be selfless because they intrude themselves into others space. (This has sometimes been termed "the selfishness of selflessness.") By the time we depart from their company they are feeling refreshed . . . and we are feeling depleted. Their negative energy that saps ours need not be transmitted orally, only through words and content.     

The sappers can also do this by listening to us half-heartedly, without real interest or support, waiting for our attention to turn once again to them. Actually, we can experience a drain in our energy merely being in their presence, when our bio-fields intersect. (You know, that field of energy that extends out beyond our skin from 12 to 24 inches.) Ask yourself this question: "Are there people in your life who more often than not leave you feeling worse when you interact with them?"     

If yes, you'd be well advised to minimize the amount of contact with them. Of course, you'd be wise to increase the amount of contact with those people who leave you feeling better after you interact with them. You know the experience. Like being out in nature on a beautiful spring day, when the breeze is fresh, the sun warm, the flowers in bloom. Or in a forest of old-growth trees, quiet and wise. Welcoming, receptive, hospitable. No wonder so many of us, surrounded by asphalt and machines, crave contact with nature, and also with human beings that are similarly life-giving.     

 And how about us in our contact with others?     

Do people feel better for the contact?     

Do we give off an energy that is hospitable and generous, resilient and life-giving?     

Is our emotional energy tank nearly full, or running on empty?     

Can we remain still and composed and receptive, or must we always fill silent space with chatter?     

Those refreshing persons who have plenty of energy to share, who are like artesian wells of positive emotional energy, have some characteristics in common. One of them is that their lives have meaning and purpose. Because they can experience satisfaction from their activities, their energy is replenished.     

Often, these people have a strong spiritual connection which they maintain through meditation, prayer, contact with Nature, or perhaps the arts. They also tend to have strong and deep connections with people in community or family. They are not loners.     

As well, I have found, they don't take themselves very seriously, even though they may be passionate about their work or larger causes. They are able to laugh at themselves. Although their lives are complex and have problems, they don't carry with them much emotional baggage. They handle their problems, and they don't have "leaky boundaries" through which negative energy escapes.     

The "good energy" people may not be rich or famous, but they are good to be around and worth emulating. As you spend time with them, learn what you can so that you, too, can become even more the kind of nourishing person they already are.