I'm very protective of my energy. You have to protect your

The words of Cordae—“I’m very protective of my energy. You have to protect your energy around outside sources because your positive energy can be canceled out by someone’s dark energy”—resound like the counsel of an elder to the youth of the tribe. They remind us that life is not only a contest of flesh and bone, but of spirit, of unseen forces that pass from heart to heart. Energy is the essence of the soul: it shapes our thoughts, fuels our actions, and colors the atmosphere we bring into the world. To guard it is not selfishness, but wisdom; for the unguarded flame, left open to the wind, can be extinguished by another’s storm.

The origin of this truth lies deep within human experience. Since the earliest days, the wise have known that the company one keeps shapes the destiny one follows. Ancient proverbs warn us that “iron sharpens iron,” but they also tell us that “bad company corrupts good morals.” To be mindful of one’s companions is to understand that positive energy may be as fragile as it is radiant. It can lift nations, inspire revolutions, and heal wounds—but unchecked, it can also be drowned beneath the weight of another’s dark energy, the bitterness of envy, the heaviness of despair, the poison of malice.

Think of the tale of Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor and Stoic sage. Surrounded by corruption, flattery, and endless whispers of betrayal, he wrote in his Meditations: “The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.” Aurelius understood that to dwell too long among those of corrosive spirit was to risk staining his own. And so, though he ruled over millions, he practiced inward vigilance, preserving the clarity of his energy against the storms of power and intrigue. His reign endures in memory not because he was untouched by darkness, but because he protected his light within it.

Or recall the story of Malcolm X. As a young man, he fell into circles of despair and crime, and his positive energy was consumed by the dark energy around him. Yet when he encountered the teachings that reshaped his path, he withdrew from those destructive influences, guarded his newfound spirit, and transformed himself into a leader whose words carried the fire of conviction. His life testifies that to change one’s environment is often to change one’s destiny, for energy, whether bright or dark, flows from those with whom we walk.

The lesson is as clear as the rising sun: protect your energy as you would guard a sacred treasure. Do not offer your spirit unguarded to every hand that reaches, nor sit too long in the presence of those who drain your soul. To do so is not cruelty; it is preservation, for from the strength of your positive energy springs the ability to give light to others. If you allow it to be canceled out, then not only do you fall, but all who rely upon your flame are left in darkness.

Practical wisdom calls us to action. Choose your companions with care; spend your hours among those who lift, not those who drag. Begin each day with practices that renew your spirit—whether in prayer, meditation, writing, or the quiet of dawn. When you encounter dark energy, meet it with boundaries, not surrender. Walk away if you must, for no battle is worth the cost of your soul’s radiance.

And so, let these words of Cordae stand as a pillar for generations: energy is the breath of life. To protect it is to honor your purpose. To guard it against the shadows of others is to ensure that your own flame burns long, bright, and steady. For in the end, the world is not changed by those who mirror its darkness, but by those who preserve their positive energy until it shines so brightly that even the night must yield.