At Quest, we’re often approached for advice on how to handle other people’s negativity. With this in mind, we thought it would be helpful to share some practical tips on how to manage and respond to negativity in a healthy and effective way.

Written by The Soul Coach – @thesoulcoach – youtube

10 Top Tips to Deal with Other People’s Negativity Effectively

Negative energy can drain your mood, motivation and even your sense of self. Whether it’s a pessimistic colleague, a critical family member or a perpetually complaining friend, learning how to manage, clear and protect yourself from other people’s negativity is essential for maintaining your well-being. We’ve put together ten practical tips that we hope will help you to deal with negativity effectively.

1. Stay Grounded in Your Positivity

When faced with negativity, it’s easy to get sucked into the vortex of gloom. Make a conscious effort to stay positive by reminding yourself of your own values, beliefs and positive outlook. Practise gratitude, surround yourself with uplifting influences and maintain a positive internal dialogue. Your optimistic energy can act as a shield against external negativity.

2. Practise Empathy Without Absorbing Their Emotions

Negative people often act from a place of pain, fear or frustration. Try to empathise with their situation without internalising their emotions. Imagine their negativity as a cloud passing by while you remain grounded on solid ground. Empathy can help you respond with compassion while protecting your own emotional state.

3. Set Clear Boundaries

Negativity can feel overwhelming if you don’t establish boundaries. Make it clear—either directly or through your actions—that you won’t engage in prolonged negative conversations. For example, if a friend constantly complains about everything, you can say “I understand you’re upset but I’d love to talk about something positive for a change.”

4. Don’t Take It Personally

Often, negativity has more to do with the other person’s internal struggles than with you. Remind yourself that their behaviour reflects their mindset and circumstances. By not taking it personally, you can detach emotionally and avoid feeling hurt or defensive.

5. Use the Power of Perspective

Reframe how you perceive the negativity. Instead of seeing it as a personal attack or an energy drain, view it as an opportunity to practise patience, empathy and resilience. This shift in perspective can help you stay calm and in control.

6. Respond, Don’t React

Negativity often provokes an emotional reaction. Instead of reacting impulsively, take a breath and respond thoughtfully. Practise active listening and, if necessary, respond with calm and assertive words like “I hear what you’re saying but I prefer to focus on possible solutions.”

7. Limit Exposure When Necessary

Some relationships are persistently negative and drain your energy. If possible, reduce the amount of time you spend with individuals who consistently bring negativity into your life. Your mental and emotional health should be a priority and it’s okay to step back for your own well-being.

8. Offer Solutions, Not Sympathy for Complaints

Chronic complainers often seek validation rather than solutions. When someone repeatedly complains, gently steer the conversation towards solutions. For instance, “That sounds really frustrating. What do you think could help improve the situation?” This approach can either lead to a more productive discussion or signal to the person that you won’t engage in endless complaining.

Clearing Negative Energy

9. Techniques to Clear Yourself of Negative Energy

Negativity can linger long after an interaction, leaving you feeling drained or anxious. Here are a few techniques to clear yourself:

• Deep Breathing: Take slow, deep breaths while visualising the negative energy leaving your body with each exhale.

• Salt Bath: A warm bath with sea salt or Epsom salt is believed to cleanse negative energy from your body. This Himalayan bath salt set offers 4 different rituals to choose from.

• Grounding Exercises: Step outside and stand barefoot on grass or soil to reconnect with the earth and release stagnant energy.

• Energy Brushing: Lightly brush your hands down your body from head to toe as if brushing off invisible dust. Imagine clearing away unwanted energy.

• Smudging: Burning sage or palo santo, if you resonate with these practices, can help clear the space around you. You can find pure sage here, or if you prefer working with sage that has been mixed with other sacred herbs & crystals then I would suggest this smudge stick with rosemary, palo santo & quartz; or this lovely set which has sage, rose quartz, palo santo & selenite!

If you need some extra guidance for smudging & using sacred herbs to energy clear you can read more on my blog here.

Protecting Yourself from Negative Energy

10. Tips to Protect Yourself from Negativity

Prevention is better than cure when it comes to negativity. Here’s how you can protect yourself:

• Visualisation Shield: Imagine a protective bubble of light around you. Choose a colour that feels safe—like white for purity or gold for strength—and see it repelling negative energy.

• Crystals for Protection: Many people find comfort in carrying protective crystals such as black tourmaline, obsidian or amethyst. We have a crystal set for protection at Quest where each crystal has been specifially chosen to help aid protection, you can see it here.

• Affirmations: Use affirmations to set an energetic boundary. Try saying “I am protected from negativity. I choose to remain calm and grounded.”

• Declutter Your Environment: Physical clutter can sometimes contribute to an unsettled, negative feeling. Keep your space tidy and filled with things that uplift you. I have a blog on thesoulcoach.com where I share my tips for clutter clearing with you. You can find it here. Or check out my youtube vlog here.

• Regular Energy Cleansing: Make energy clearing part of your regular self-care routine, especially after dealing with particularly negative individuals.

Negativity is an inevitable part of life but you have the power to manage, clear and protect yourself from its effects. By practising empathy, setting boundaries, using energy-clearing techniques and creating protective habits, you can maintain your positivity and emotional resilience. Your peace matters and taking steps to protect it is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Thank you for reading; I hope you found it helpful and will be able to protect yourself from negative energies!

Love, Carolina x

I offer space & energy clearing for the home where she will visit your home or business and clear the energies with you – I will look at the Feng Shui of the space and advise you on ways to get the energy flowing. If you are interested and would like more information – please contact me at carolina@thesoulcoach.com or click here.

If you like what you’ve read and would love more magic in your daily life, sign up to our newsletter, pop into store or visit us online at  www.spiritualquest.co.uk – Quest is a close, family run business that has been open for over 17 years – we have cultivated a shop & wellbeing centre filled with beautiful crystals, magical energies & lots of love and laughter!