I don’t have to tell you that the world is a crazy place, and there is a lot of wild energy flying around. While some of it is beautiful and joyful, much is in fact negative – or simply overwhelming. So, how do you block negative energy? Or at the very least, how do you keep it from dragging you down? Keep reading to find out.
Labels are not always helpful or accurate, but for our purposes we can define negative energy as unwanted, unpleasant, or harmful vibes, emotions, or dynamics with other people, things, or the world. Negative energy can also refer to energy that is simply not ours, not necessarily “bad.” But when energy, feelings, or thoughts that are not ours impact us, the effect is usually not desirable. And in this blog, we are focusing on that, whether the energy also has a more direct, deleterious result in our life or not.
Energy is the fabric of life, literally. Each cell and atom is made of energy, and they are the building blocks of everything else in our reality.
If you’re an empath, sensitive soul, introvert, or giver – and even if you’re not! – the world can feel like A LOT at times. Here are 8 ways to block negative energy so that it doesn’t weigh you down. And the next step after that is to allow positive energy to flow into your life.
If you are an introvert, you may breathe a sigh of relief at this idea. If you’re extroverted or like constant activity, it may be a bummer. But spending time alone allows your system to recalibrate, reset, and release what you’ve taken on from interactions with others (both in person and virtually). Negative people, energy vampires, or those with a lot of demands are the most problematic. But sometimes even happy people and good energy in a social setting can be draining.
This is obviously harder, say, if you have young children, a lot of family members, or a demanding 24/7-type job. But do your best to carve out some down time now and then. Bonus points for adding a nap or meditation practice! Taking some deep breaths is always recommended too.
Salt has powerful clearing properties. One of the most effective ways to block negative energy and relax is taking a warm bath with Epsom salts (or another type of bathing salt). Add some essential oils for a spa-like experience.
If you don’t have a bathtub, try a salt scrub in the shower. Even making sure you are consuming enough electrolytes – which include sodium chloride, or sea salt – can help too (and boost hydration while you’re at it). You may also like to explore a cleansing ritual or other physical items like white sage, palo santo, or black tourmaline, which can be a powerful tool (not usually in a bath). Bad vibes and negative influences will flee from your energy field.
Nature is truly a healer. There’s something about being surrounded by forest, lake, trees, ocean, grass, or animals that can rapidly clear your energy and block out negativity. It is one of the easiest ways to conjure up good vibrations. Get outside whenever you can, even if you live in a city. Seek out parks or green space. If that is challenging, walk on city streets.
Move your body with as much vigor as you’re able. That is a great way to move your energy, which subsequently moves your mood and outlook (even if just a tiny bit). Following on from this, work exercise into your life. If you feel too tired, a key to remember is that you often need to expend more energy to get more energy. And even a little bit of movement helps. Make it a regular practice.
Perhaps the biggest life lesson for all empaths and good-hearted people is boundaries. Boundaries refer to emotional and physical limits or standards. Many of us never learned about boundaries or how to set them growing up. Your feelings, needs, and perspectives are yours, just like someone else’s are theirs. Creating healthy boundaries in your life can mean the difference between being weighed down by other people’s energy, problems, and moods, and having control over your own well-being. Your mental health and throat chakra will thank you.
A related point is to become aware of, and then try to limit, your own negative self-talk. This is often running on autopilot without us realizing. Societal programming, family conditioning, low self-esteem, and trauma can make us very hard on ourselves. The good news is that you are in the driver’s seat and can start to have more compassion for yourself. If it’s a negative person who is not being kind to you, remind yourself that it is almost never about you.
Boundaries start with saying no. Guilt and shame often arise when you’re not used to doing so. Feel the discomfort and do it anyway. It’s not your job to caretake other adults or do things you don’t want to do. If you feel like it is, you may have codependent tendencies. Read my blog on healing codependency in relationships for more detailed guidance.
One of the great ironies is that being immersed in the world of self-help or spirituality can sometimes create more negative energy. When you are constantly focused on fixing yourself, or on what is wrong or defective, you actually create more of that!
And this doesn’t even begin to address the unfortunate and rampant number of healers and coaches who prey on people’s vulnerability, either consciously or unconsciously. Many are covert narcissists or simply unqualified. Check out my blog on healers and hypocrisy for more, including personal anecdotes from my own life. This is one of the most commented on blogs I’ve published, ever! That tells you something. Check out my Instagram reel for some more thoughts about it here (or go to my handle there, centered_onebyerin).
Clear out the clutter in your life and home! When you release old physical items or clean or reorganize a space, you are simultaneously clearing out negative energy with it. This explains why many people feel not just satisfied but liberated and free when they clean out an old drawer or room or closet, or donate a bunch of clothes.
Our physical space often reflects our emotional space and deeper psyche. Ask yourself what are you hanging on to? Underlying the attachment to an old sweater or knick-knack could be a story or a belief system or an identity that no longer serves you. It could also be energy from an old relationship or prior version of yourself. For example, if an ex gave you a piece of jewelry that you still wear, yet you’ve outgrown or are attempting to outgrow patterns from that relationship, it may be holding you back. That energy is still hanging around you (even on you), despite your best efforts. Something to think about.
You may also choose to look into feng shui, an entire system of organization originating in China. For example, they may recommend making sure there’s a clear path with no furniture facing ahead when you enter through the front door. Experts argue these adjustments can have a profound effect on reducing negative feelings and clearing out toxic energy.
In many spiritual traditions, forgiveness is at the core. The famous line about holding a grudge being the equivalent of drinking poison and expecting the other person to die is accurate. Your own anger, resentment, and pain does not unfortunately change the person you feel wronged by, nor propel them to apologize. It festers within you and can even create disease if not dealt with over time.
An important piece that is often left out about forgiveness is the need to feel and process your emotions first. You cannot force yourself to forgive, and usually it will not happen until you give yourself the respect to feel it all. Journal on it, talk to a therapist or friend, contact me – do what you need to do to air out your grievances, thoughts, and emotions. THEN, forgiveness becomes possible.
This last one may sound crazy, but yes – you can just decide! You have that power. Being sensitive, a trauma survivor, or on a spiritual journey may make you think that you’re a victim. And you may very well have been in the past, or repeatedly. But perhaps the most consequential decision you could ever make is that it stops here. Once you decide, you’d be surprised at how easy it actually is to not be as affected by external influences. Part of the need to block negative energy comes from the perception that you are always vulnerable to it. Take your power back right now.
Here are some of the signs you might notice in others (or yourself!). Balance compassion with boundaries to stay centered and free of negativity.
This is not hard to spot. We’ve all known someone who is a Debbie Downer or constantly complaining. You can have empathy for this person who is likely struggling while also setting limits. Try to help them see a more positive or neutral perspective. However, stepping back may be the more effective (even if temporary) solution.
Constructive criticism is certainly welcome, or should be in most situations. If you have a healthy self-worth, you can receive it, especially if it’s done with compassion. But people who are always criticizing you, others, or life bring negative energy.
Mood swings are common and most of us deal with them at times. But when the ups and downs are intense, constant, or destructive to others, you may be dealing with a toxic person.
Narcissism has become a bit of an overused term, but sadly it’s for good reason. These tendencies are more obvious than ever, in part due to social media. Narcissism ranges from a touch of self-centeredness to full blown antisocial personality or sociopathy. Supply, or fuel, refers to the attention, control, or power that narcissists need and seek. If someone treats you or others in hurtful, unfair, or cruel ways, without any accountability, not only are they a likely narcissist but you should stay far away from this negative energy.
I have a whole blog post with lots of detail about how to protect your energy, located here. Check it out! But for now, here are a few high level ways to clear yourself. They overlap with the steps I’ve outlined above and can be used either to block negative energy or clean yourself after being exposed.
This of course varies by person and situation, but the most common reasons for chronic negativity in my view are trauma and habit. Tragically, living through traumatic experiences like abuse, loss, neglect, or catastrophe train the brain to linger on negativity and fear as a defense mechanism. It’s a misguided yet understandable way to try to protect the self from further harm.
Even for people with limited trauma, the psyche itself has a bias toward negativity, again as an evolutionary protective mechanism. Centuries ago or in the wild, people and animals needed to be on alert for danger and predators at all times. Additionally, negativity can easily become a habit. Once you get used to something or witness your parents, society, or people around you engage in certain behaviors, we inadvertently take that on. Like anything else, it can become addictive (think sugar).
There are many things you can do to block negative energy as a sensitive person in today’s world. Take charge and do these 8 things so that it doesn’t drag you down.
One last tip I have for you is to limit your consumption of negative media. You can find the balance between staying informed and not letting the often intensely upsetting news infiltrate your psyche every day. Even doing this alone has helped some of my clients greatly. Feel free to reach out with further questions!
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