Problem: Talking with negative people saps your energy and attitude.

Solution: Go on a "negativity fast" and avoid negative people for a week. You'll soon discover that you regain your energy and positive attitude.

Just as you might do a dietary fast for religious or health purposes, you can also fast from negative talk spoken by people who talk about their problems, complain, and blame. Even if you can't completely avoid them, you can reduce your contact with them. (Eventually, you might want to eliminate certain ones from your life.)

Consider this: Could it be that negative people seek you out because you patiently listen to their tales of woe? You might be letting them carry on about their problems. If you listen without challenging them, they'll feel confirmed that they are right. They also get a sense of relief and feel lighter from having dumped their problems on you. (But you will feel heavier, having "taken on" their negativity.)

One author wrote: "Negativity is the only cancer spread by contact." The "negativity disease" is spread by emotional contagion. When we hang around negative people, we "catch" their emotions.

The antidote: Avoid Negative People.

P. S. If you yourself engage in complaining and blaming, you are spreading the "negativity flu." Instead of complaining, take action and do something about your situation.

If you'd like to save money during these difficult times, join Groupon (free) to get bargains for oil changes, haircuts, restaurant meals, movies, and much more.

Subscribe here: http://tinyurl.com/7gyp66t.

Full disclosure: If you subscribe and use a Groupon offer, I will receive a modest amount of "Groupon cash."

Note: I saved $175 last year using Groupon offers.

Loren Ekroth ©2012, all rights reserved

Loren Ekroth, Ph.D. is a specialist in human communication and a national expert on conversation for business and social life.