This is a straightforward and therapeutic process I have been doing for about 2 years now…
Make A List
Every quarter I make a complete list of the people that have been in my life in some way, shape or form. The list is long and it normally begins with those that I see/hear from daily if not weekly. You know the people!
Then you start back at the top of the list to note the following:
Pointing UP for the feeling that person gives you in life: positivity, good vibes, encouragement, love, attention.
Pointing DOWN are the people who take and do not give, or criticize to make you (or someone else) feel bad, or belittle you or others.
Some people have more arrows than others.
How Often?
I do this quarterly myself. It started off once a year (normally when I was sitting and reflecting on life from one year to the next around New Year’s Day).
It is fascinating to see who is in your life as you grow and become a better person. As you accomplish your goals…who was there lifting you up?
Those down arrows people can be spotted quickly as well. And that helps you organize your life without them in it. After all, they are not helping you they are taking away from you (and others most likely). Don’t forget: sometimes people are in a slump and it is temporary!
Checking myself: if I feel like I’m dealing with a lot of negative energy I check my behavior. I examine what I am experiencing and consider that there are lessons in there for me somehow. I could be in a puddle so upset and struggling to see anything positive but when I fill my head with the things that ARE positive I really do begin to FEEL THAT WAY. I learned to do this here.
I’ll end this with an even better thought: ALL OF THOSE UP ARROWS ARE THE BEST PEOPLE TO GIVE YOUR POSITIVE ENERGY TO WHENEVER YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
I firmly believe, after all of these years roaming the planet, that you truly get back the energy you give.
PS: This works for all categories of our life!
Sarita Shoemaker 