5 Situations That Steal Emotional Energy

We’ve all been through situations that steal emotional energy at some point in our lives. These are episodes that, in one way or another, involve us deeply. However, after trying them out, we have the feeling that we tried very hard and that, in the end, they gave us very little.

Emotional energy is another way of naming vitality. That strength we have before tiredness appears. If we say that some situations rob us of it, it is because they truly cause us to squander that vitality on matters that are insignificant but require effort.

There are many situations that rob our emotional energy, and they should be avoided because they demand too much and give little in return. These are episodes that happen only to distract us from what is important, from what really enriches us. Let’s learn to identify and avoid them. Below, see 5 situations of this type:

Situations that steal emotional energy

1. Discussions on insignificant topics

The debate is an excellent opportunity to present your own points of view and get to know the opinions of others. Few things are as rich as sustaining a constructive dialogue between people who think differently. This broadens perspective and enriches thinking, as well as strengthening communication skills.

Something very different happens when two people are plunged into an insignificant argument whose sole purpose is to “beat the other” and make their own arguments. This often only creates discomfort. A lot of energy is wasted, its worst facets are highlighted and, in the end, it is all a matter of personal vanity.

2. Complaints

Both complaining and persistently listening to other people’s complaints are situations that rob emotional energy. From time to time, we all complain – this is normal. However, sometimes the complaint becomes a habit, a way of life. A perspective in which the person goes around and around the same problem, without doing anything effective to solve it.

Complaining is a speech that leads to the development of an attitude of impotence. Reality is not what we want it to be, but instead of focusing on how we could change it, we are dedicated to reiterating the negatives that confront us. It’s not worth spending time on this. This attitude only makes us run away from responsibility.

3. Gossip

One of the situations that robs you of emotional energy is knowing about others’ private lives instead of focusing on your own life. This kind of “voyeurism” is nothing more than a sign of lack of identity. Anyone who talks about others looks for himself in them, but he cannot find himself.

The worst thing is that this type of attitude is usually accompanied by relentless criticism of others. They observe others and seek involvement in their personal lives with a destructive mood. There’s no worse way to waste time than gossiping. It not only steals energy, it degrades itself as well.

4. Repeated doubts

Rumbling over excess thoughts almost always leads to confusion and inaction. It is evident that many decisions must be weighed and that the only way to do this is to review the pros and cons that appear in the scenario. However, from this point to the beginning of an eternal exercise in doubt, there is a great abyss.

One of the situations that robs us of emotional energy is compulsive doubt. This exercise is called thinking about something just to put “buts” in the thought itself. That is, trying to find the definitive answer only with reflection. We forget that many answers only come when thought and action are combined.

5. Search for approval

Much is done to gain the approval of others. Sometimes this is also an issue that lasts for days, worries and ends up getting in our way. Instead of taking the time to explore who we are, we spend a lot of time doing things that are pleasing to others.

That’s just wasted time: people just accept you or not. In some cases, this happens for reasons that are completely beyond your control. If you’re blonde, for being blonde. Or if you are Swiss, for being Swiss. In fact, a fact that generates rejection is the excessive desire for acceptance. So it’s not worth putting your efforts into it.

These situations that rob you of emotional energy should be eradicated from your personal life. We often get involved in them when we are confused, or when we are going through a phase of insecurity. Your life is worth a lot. Your time too. Don’t spend them in circumstances that add nothing.