Negativity is Contagious...
“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” This is an older saying by self-development guru Jim Rohn. Yet it tells of a deep Truth. It says that who we are – our soul – is being transformed continuously by the nature of the company we keep. In essence, we are always moving and evolving towards Divine Oneness with whatever relationships we have revolving around us. This can be both baneful and beneficial… depending on the people.
This company we keep refers to the people we spend time with, but also the presence of the thoughts and feelings circulating within us. To see the truth of this, and the effect upon us, just imagine how a cold piece of iron or damp wood soon assumes the nature of fire when it is in close proximity. Radiant energy is transferred from one to the other. Soon what has no luminous properties of its own, is transformed and begins to glow and radiate the same heat. 
With all this in mind, now consider there are four distinct types of people that can be identified by the darkness within them. By recognizing the darkness in others, we can learn to see the darkness in ourselves. Once we have the light to see what is in ourselves, we are on our way to being set free from our spiritual bondage.
Those who aspire to “Awaken” can learn to recognize these sick spirits and reject their toxic vibration. 


1. The Resenters: These people live to drag up old painful events and then revel in the anger, resentment, or bitterness that such unhappy memories must hold in their soul. Stay away from any resentment, in others or in yourself, that wants you to relive suffering over what happened in any yesterday. Never consent to stoop to resentment.
2. The Shit-slingers: Certain low vibing people pull themselves up by pulling others down. They love to gossip, criticize, judge, or denigrate anyone who ever had the misfortune of spending time with them. The only loyalty these types have is to their own pain that they feed by involving everyone they can in their shit-slinging. Politicians are a prime example of this. 
3. The Bottom-feeders: This is a type of spirit that thrives on the low vibrations of others. Easily recognizable, this type serves up dreadful mental pictures, tells inappropriate jokes, or stirs up drama for the sake of the unnatural reactions they produce.

4. The Life-haters: This type of person resists almost every gift that life offers. They want us to listen to their complaints, agree with their envy, and accept as right their rejection of life when it doesn’t please them. And when positives alternatives are presented, they automatically reject them, saying things like “That won’t work” and “I can’t”. And even if they do attempt to try, it is half-hearted and abandoned before results can be seen. They are stuck in a feedback loop of fear and pain or feelings of worthlessness, powerlessness, or helplessness.

Our real inner work is to find and sweep clean the places in ourselves where such attributes reside. Remember that these types of people have no entrance into our lives apart from where we have invited them. And whatever invitation has been left open in our unconsciousness can be withdrawn consciously, if we so choose.
Many of you who read this will be hesitant to let go of these types of people from your life as they may be friends or family. Some will hesitate because they want to be a “good” or “nice” person. If so, perhaps reduced contact with these types and increased contact with bright and positive people will help.
The choice is yours. At the very least, you can learn to spot these attributes within yourself and remove them.

Stay Zen!




Joe Vulgamore is a Life Coach, Personal Development Author and Speaker. He works with people to develop life and leadership skills to sharpen their edge, perform at optimum levels, and achieve excellence. He has 30 years of leadership experience and a proven track record of helping thousands of people from over 14 countries, across 5 continents, to make life-transformations through one-to-one coaching and workshops.