Are You Surrounded by Energy Givers or Takers? Find Out With This Filter

Who are the people that you surround yourself with on a daily basis?

Many that come to mind for me are my family, friends, mentors, and teammates. When I am around these people, I always leave the encounter feeling like I can accomplish anything and cannot wait to see them again. We support each other, trust each other, and inspire each other. The reason for this is because these people give me energy; they make me better and stronger, both personally and professionally. Bo Eason says, “Surround yourself with people who see greatness in you.”

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However, this may sound easier then it actually is at first. You don’t always have the luxury of surrounding yourself only with the people who see greatness in you. Everyone has had that one friend or coworker that you dread running into in the hallway because every time you start a conversation you immediately become defensive, tense, angry, or bored. These are all signs that they are energy takers.

Jerry Lujan, the Founder of Elevation 180 and my dad, has a great way to think about these people and categorize them in your life. It is simple: people are either energy givers or energy takers.

1. First, make a list of everyone you interact with on a daily basis.
2. Decide if he or she is an energy giver or an energy taker.
3. Next, specify why he or she gives you energy and what actions you can take to incorporate more interactions with him or her in your life.
4. If he or she is an energy taker, write down an action that will allow you to better manage your interactions with him or her.

This can be a very powerful exercise. You don’t need to immediately delete those people in your life with whom you have had a negative interaction. It is simply enhancing the positive. When you do this, you end up with a vibrant community of like-minded thinkers who are constantly striving to get better and helping you to do the same. The community you surround yourself with can be more powerful than you know.

So who is in your community?