“Be a fountain, not a drain.” (Rex Hudler)

Odds are, you know a few folks who tend to bring you down with their neediness, pettiness, and overall negativity. These overly sensitive people can be downright draining to be around. On the other hand, you probably know a few folks who, for some reason, make you feel lighter and better about yourself and the world when you’re around them. They’re comfortable in their own skin. They can take a joke, and they don’t need you or anyone else to make them feel good. These folks pour energy into you like a fountain.

Now: Which one of these categories do you fall into on most days?

The next time you have an exchange with your kids or your spouse or a co-worker, try this little experiment. Watch yourself as if from afar. How energizing do you find yourself to be on a scale of 1-10? If you’re more of a drain than you’d like, try decreasing the sighs, the eye rolls, and the complaints-per-minute. If you really want to make some progress, try repeating the following to yourself:

“No one can make me feel anything. I have the power to be a drain or a fountain today. The choice is completely up to me.”