Spending time with negative people can be the fastest way to ruin

Opening Scene

The room is softly lit by the warm glow of a table lamp, casting gentle shadows as the evening settles in. Outside, the city is quieting down, the usual hum of activity fading into stillness. Jack sits at the table, a notebook open in front of him, but his thoughts are clearly elsewhere. Jeeny stands near the window, looking out at the view below. The air feels calm, but there’s a sense that a conversation about attitude, influence, and the power of positivity is about to unfold.

Host: After a few moments of quiet, Jeeny turns from the window, her voice steady but thoughtful, breaking the silence.

Jeeny: “I came across a quote by Amy Morin that really resonated with me. She said, ‘Spending time with negative people can be the fastest way to ruin a good mood. Their pessimistic outlooks and gloomy attitude can decrease our motivation and change the way we feel. But allowing a negative person to dictate your emotions gives them too much power in your life. Make a conscious effort to choose your attitude.’ It really made me think about how much control we have over our emotional well-being, especially in the presence of negative influences. What do you think about that? How do you deal with negative people in your life?”

Jack: “I think Amy Morin makes a really important point here. Negative people can be like emotional sponges — they suck the energy out of a room and leave everyone feeling drained. And it’s easy to let that negativity take over, especially if we don’t actively guard our own mood and mindset. It’s not just about avoiding negativity, it’s about not letting it dictate how we feel. We can’t control other people’s attitudes, but we can choose how we react to them.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. It’s not about pretending that negativity doesn’t exist or ignoring it, but it’s about recognizing that we have the power to control how much we let it affect us. When we allow someone’s gloomy attitude to influence us, we’re essentially giving them control over our emotions. But when we choose to keep a positive attitude, we take back that power. It’s about making a conscious decision to guard our mindset and choose how we respond.”

Jack: “Right. And I think the tricky part is that negativity can be contagious. If we’re around someone who’s constantly complaining or putting a damper on things, it can start to chip away at our own positivity. But that’s when we have to be extra mindful of our own emotional boundaries. We can be compassionate toward negative people, but we don’t have to take on their energy. We have to remember that we’re responsible for how we feel, regardless of what’s happening around us.”

Host: The conversation deepens, and Jeeny moves closer, sitting across from Jack. Her voice steady as she continues.

Jeeny: “And I think it’s also about setting boundaries. It’s not always possible to avoid negative people, especially if they’re part of your family, work, or social circle. But we can choose how much time we spend with them and how much we let their attitude affect us. Setting boundaries doesn’t mean being rude or dismissive, it means protecting our own well-being by limiting exposure to negativity when it starts to take a toll. It’s okay to step back and say, ‘I can’t engage with this right now.’”

Jack: “Exactly. And boundaries are key because they help us preserve our energy and keep us focused on what’s important. We all have bad days, and it’s natural to be negative sometimes. But when someone’s negativity is persistent and starts to drain us, we need to recognize it and protect our mental and emotional health. We don’t have to fix their problems, but we also don’t have to let their attitude shape our mood.”

Jeeny: “It’s about creating a balance. We can still empathize with people who are negative, but we also have to make sure we’re not allowing their emotions to overshadow our own. Choosing our attitude means deciding that, despite outside circumstances, we’re going to maintain a positive outlook. And that decision can make all the difference in how we move through the day.”

Jack: “Exactly. And I think the most important thing is that we own our attitude. It’s easy to blame someone else for how we feel, but ultimately, we’re the ones who get to decide how we react. We can’t always control the negativity around us, but we can control how we respond to it. That’s real empowerment — knowing that we don’t have to give away our emotional power to anyone else.”

Host: The room quiets for a moment as Jack and Jeeny reflect on the deeper meaning behind Amy Morin’s words. Outside, the world continues, but inside, they share a realization about the importance of emotional autonomy, boundaries, and the power of choice.

Jeeny: “So, maybe the lesson here is that we don’t have to let negative people control our emotions. We can choose to stay positive, set boundaries, and protect our mindset. We may not be able to control the negativity around us, but we have complete control over how we respond.”

Jack: “Exactly. The more we choose to focus on what we can control — our attitude — the less power negativity will have over us. It’s about taking responsibility for how we feel and refusing to let anyone else’s mood dictate our own.”

Host: As the evening continues, the conversation wraps up with a quiet understanding. Negative people can have an impact on our emotions, but we don’t have to let them take control. By making a conscious effort to choose our attitude, we can maintain our peace of mind, set boundaries, and protect our emotional well-being. In the end, we hold the power to create our own happiness, regardless of what’s happening around us.