Meeting the Worst Person Is Proof You're Doing Well

Have you recently encountered someone who made you think, 'This person is the worst!'?

Congratulations in advance. Encountering the worst person means you're living a fulfilling and successful life. The worst people are jealous of those who strive and thrive.

"Another thing necessary to becoming a creative person is to avoid being sucked dry by the energy vampires."
-Julia Cameron

The worst person. Everyone has their own definition of what constitutes 'the worst.' In this article, we'll be discussing people who disrupt and negatively impact others' lives. In "The Artist's Way," these individuals are referred to as 'energy vampires.' Think of them as the type of people you should immediately cut ties with for your own happiness and well-being.

If, while reading the 10 characteristics below, someone comes to mind, it wouldn't hurt to consider that they might be draining your energy, wasting your time, money, and emotions.

1. Energy vampires break promises and ruin plans.

2. Energy vampires expect special treatment.

3. Your circumstances aren't particularly important to energy vampires.

4. Energy vampires make you waste your time and money.

5. Energy vampires sow discord among others.

6. Energy vampires are experts at nitpicking.

7. Energy vampires create drama.

8. Energy vampires disregard anything outside their own schedule.

9. Energy vampires dislike order and structure.

We inevitably encounter energy vampires at some point in our lives. I've experienced it firsthand. The person in question broke promises and threw my plans into disarray.

"I guess there was a misunderstanding..."

They used the word 'misunderstanding' as a cover, but it was a lie. Lying and then using 'misunderstanding' as an excuse feels like an attempt to gloss over their own wrongdoing. Why a lie should be considered a misunderstanding still baffles me.

"I've been so busy lately with [insert activity]..."

Who isn't busy these days? We all navigate our own busy lives. It was astounding to see them expect special treatment just because they had taken on more responsibilities. Why should we be the ones to understand their situation? Isn't mutual respect the basis of understanding?

This desire for special treatment stems from a lack of regard for others' situations. It's because they disregard anything outside their own schedules that they can prioritize only their own perspective.

Is anyone happy about wasting their time and money due to others? However, in such situations, we need sound judgment. Even if we've already spent money or time on someone, we must make wise choices to save more time in the future.

"Stop dancing the painful tango with the energy vampires. If you find yourself thinking, 'I'm exhausted because of that person,' ask yourself if you're not using that person as an excuse to avoid your creative work."

-Julia Cameron

As Julia Cameron said, we can't afford to let energy vampires keep us from our tasks and force us into a painful dance of exhaustion.

Furthermore, according to "The Artist's Way," energy vampires are individuals with blocked creativity. They threaten others' ability to express their creativity.

"Those who cannot summon the courage to awaken their own creativity resent and feel threatened by the creativity of others."

-Julia Cameron

Energy vampires instinctively know that their own creativity is stifled and that witnessing others' creative expression is a source of threat and jealousy. You might think, 'What does this even mean?' But it's because they can't stand to see others succeed, so they manipulate situations to their advantage and create chaos.

"Be gentle, but firm and resolute."

-Julia Cameron

Encountering energy vampires isn't particularly surprising in life. Similar to the saying, "Feeling exhausted means you've grown," encountering such individuals when you're diligently pursuing your dreams serves as a testament to your progress and commitment.

When you encounter the worst, don't despair over why you had to meet such a person. Instead, use it as fuel for your growth. It'll make for a captivating anecdote in your future essays (or novels, comics, etc.).

I conclude this article hoping that my experience of overcoming hurt and pain through "The Artist's Way" will be of some help to others.

▶ Energy vampires thrive on drama. Just like in a drama, they always believe they're the main character. Those around them are mere puppets, reacting to their whims, and responding to their cues and signals for entrances and exits.

▶ The driving force behind energy vampires is rooted in a desire for power, and they can exploit anyone to serve as an energy source, essentially becoming a victim who is exploited and drained. Energy vampires can be found in almost every situation and art form. Perhaps fame fosters them. They feed on power, so anything that becomes a source of power can potentially create such individuals.

-Julia Cameron, from "The Artist's Way"