1. Olivia the Opponent (aka THE COMPETITOR)
There is NO reason why a true friend would feel the need to keep score about who is doing the "best" in terms of work, school, family life, and etc. But unfortunately, there are so many people who constantly play the impression game. A modest amount of competition between friends is healthy, but when someone can't take time to acknowledge their friend's achievements because they are too busy trying to outdo the announcement with an accomplishment of their own, THAT IS NOT HEALTHY AND IT WILL CREATE RESENTMENT.
2. Beggin' Brandon (aka THE BEGGAR)
This is the buddy that has absolutely NO SHAME when it comes to calling you up for $20 bucks every week. It's not that you don't want to help them, but it would be much easier to help a person who wanted to help themselves. A good friend will not enable you...they will help to EMPOWER you. And sadly enough, when you cut the umbilical cord off from Beggin' Brandon, they often disappear or express their disapproval of you choosing to hold on to your own money.
3. Sticky Fingaz Jones (aka THE THIEF)
You can't leave your dinner plate around this individual because you better believe it'll be gone with homeboy/homegirl flossing their teeth with a toothpick. They do things like snatch up your clothes, money, or iPod. They might even buy you something with the very money they stole from you, but believe me --- if they see something of yours they like and they can snatch it without you having eye-witness proof they did it.... #YOURSTUFFGOESBYEBYE (I lost a damn good bottle of J'adore perfume hanging w/ Sticky Fingaz Jones)
4. Manny "YES" (aka THE "YES" MAN)
This person is the one that CANNOT be honest about what they can or cannot do. DIARY MOMENT: I used to be FAMOUS for this one. I was such a "people-pleaser" that I would try to stretch myself paper-thin to put a smile on everyone's face. I had to realize was that all I was actually doing was creating resentment because most people would rather know upfront what to expect instead of dealing with someone who acts very unreliable at the end of the day.
5. The 5-faced bandit (aka THE PHONY)
This is the person that changes according to who they are around and their environment. I'm not referring to people who understand how to adapt to their environment. I mean the person who would diss you or act funny when they get around others. I mean the person who lets Twitter, Facebook, Melanie, Christine, Natasha, their pet guinea pig and "Man Man" holding a Four Loko down the street know they have a beef with you but when they get around you they flash a fierce Colgate smile with a Red Bull attitude. (Heyyyyy girl!!!)
6. The discourager (aka THE DISCOURAGER LOL)
This is the person who lacks imagination and wishes on their life you did too. They often try to talk you out of doing things and in the same breath explain that they want what's "best" for you. The problem with the discourager is that the main reason why they try to pump your brakes is LESS about them protecting you and MORE about their own insecurities. It's not as much about you potentially failing then it is of their fear of you SUCCEEDING. Many discouragers are very insecure and they want to make sure that the things you do won't take you away from them. Selfish huh? Well...I will just say that the energy drain that these types of people cause is MONUMENTAL if you allow it.
7. The Un-wanted Twin (aka THE IMITATOR)
(Takes deep breath) I don't know what ignites a fire inside of me more. A person that copies my demeanor, style, ideas, etc. OR the thought that they (in fact) might tell someone else that it is I who copy them!!! I'll be 100% honest (I'm not claiming to be perfect by FAR) so I can admit that I do think this way sometimes. I know I probably shouldn't, but imitators make me think of that chick from the movie, " The Hand that Rocks the Cradle". I always question the mental stability of a person (especially a grown adult) who would spend time copying things about a person and their attributes. I have to woo-sah on this one (takes another deep breath).
8. Spotlight Sabrina (aka THE ATTENTION WH*RE)
It's not really the fact that Sabrina needs front and center attention all the time. Yeah, it does get annoying, but it might even be entertaining to watch her in action sometimes. The problem is how catty and attitudnal Sabrina gets when the attention shifts to another direction. I can say I have personally dealt with people who operate like that and it is an UGLY PMS WHORE watching Spotlight Sabrina lose her lights, camera, and microphone. Lord help us all, you would think somebody stole her wallet.
9. Opportunity Knock-isha (aka THE OPPORTUNIST)
These people are primarily TAKERS. They step on others in order to gain something that only benefits them. You will usually find this type of person giving out sexual favors in exchange for opportunities or sleeping with someones' mate. It is very important to understand that this person separates emotions from what they want. So they may really love you -- but it has no influence on the fact that if they want to take something you have, they will try.
"I want to surround myself with people who want to be successful and want to help others be successful. People who just want to take and people who will cut in front of you or take an opportunity away from you are not your friends and are not good business partners. And so, I have no time for those people". - Patrick O'Keefe, Public Business Speaker/Motivator
10. Dominant Denise (aka THE CONTROL-FREAK)
There is nothing wrong with a person who demands order and structure in their own life. Keywords: Their OWN LIFE. When a person changes the way they treat you when you do something they don't agree with - it is potentially a selfish behavior. Now, if you were about to harm someone or do something that affected your overall well-being, that is a totally different circumstance. A control freak can be pushy, manipulative, self-centered and/or power-hungry because they want to have things their own way. TOXIC is what these people are. A healthy relationship requires that we respect all of our differences, whether we agree or not. If a person has to manipulate you in order to treat you with the respect they would want themselves, THEY ARE NOT A GOOD FRIEND AND IT SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION.
I made this list for one reason. It is of EXTREME importance that the subconscious and subliminal energy around you is POSITIVE. People always wonder why they may be upset often, cranky, or drained and they don't take time to consider who they keep in their space. Sure, it's cool to talk a good game and say you are cautious of these things, but LIVING that way takes COURAGE because demanding respect isn't always easy. If you are around any of these people, I would suggest you make a change by either addressing the issue to the person to work through it, or incorporate an action called "Loving You From a DISTANCE".
There is NO reason why a true friend would feel the need to keep score about who is doing the "best" in terms of work, school, family life, and etc. But unfortunately, there are so many people who constantly play the impression game. A modest amount of competition between friends is healthy, but when someone can't take time to acknowledge their friend's achievements because they are too busy trying to outdo the announcement with an accomplishment of their own, THAT IS NOT HEALTHY AND IT WILL CREATE RESENTMENT.
2. Beggin' Brandon (aka THE BEGGAR)
This is the buddy that has absolutely NO SHAME when it comes to calling you up for $20 bucks every week. It's not that you don't want to help them, but it would be much easier to help a person who wanted to help themselves. A good friend will not enable you...they will help to EMPOWER you. And sadly enough, when you cut the umbilical cord off from Beggin' Brandon, they often disappear or express their disapproval of you choosing to hold on to your own money.
3. Sticky Fingaz Jones (aka THE THIEF)
You can't leave your dinner plate around this individual because you better believe it'll be gone with homeboy/homegirl flossing their teeth with a toothpick. They do things like snatch up your clothes, money, or iPod. They might even buy you something with the very money they stole from you, but believe me --- if they see something of yours they like and they can snatch it without you having eye-witness proof they did it.... #YOURSTUFFGOESBYEBYE (I lost a damn good bottle of J'adore perfume hanging w/ Sticky Fingaz Jones)
4. Manny "YES" (aka THE "YES" MAN)
This person is the one that CANNOT be honest about what they can or cannot do. DIARY MOMENT: I used to be FAMOUS for this one. I was such a "people-pleaser" that I would try to stretch myself paper-thin to put a smile on everyone's face. I had to realize was that all I was actually doing was creating resentment because most people would rather know upfront what to expect instead of dealing with someone who acts very unreliable at the end of the day.
5. The 5-faced bandit (aka THE PHONY)
This is the person that changes according to who they are around and their environment. I'm not referring to people who understand how to adapt to their environment. I mean the person who would diss you or act funny when they get around others. I mean the person who lets Twitter, Facebook, Melanie, Christine, Natasha, their pet guinea pig and "Man Man" holding a Four Loko down the street know they have a beef with you but when they get around you they flash a fierce Colgate smile with a Red Bull attitude. (Heyyyyy girl!!!)
6. The discourager (aka THE DISCOURAGER LOL)
This is the person who lacks imagination and wishes on their life you did too. They often try to talk you out of doing things and in the same breath explain that they want what's "best" for you. The problem with the discourager is that the main reason why they try to pump your brakes is LESS about them protecting you and MORE about their own insecurities. It's not as much about you potentially failing then it is of their fear of you SUCCEEDING. Many discouragers are very insecure and they want to make sure that the things you do won't take you away from them. Selfish huh? Well...I will just say that the energy drain that these types of people cause is MONUMENTAL if you allow it.
7. The Un-wanted Twin (aka THE IMITATOR)
(Takes deep breath) I don't know what ignites a fire inside of me more. A person that copies my demeanor, style, ideas, etc. OR the thought that they (in fact) might tell someone else that it is I who copy them!!! I'll be 100% honest (I'm not claiming to be perfect by FAR) so I can admit that I do think this way sometimes. I know I probably shouldn't, but imitators make me think of that chick from the movie, " The Hand that Rocks the Cradle". I always question the mental stability of a person (especially a grown adult) who would spend time copying things about a person and their attributes. I have to woo-sah on this one (takes another deep breath).
8. Spotlight Sabrina (aka THE ATTENTION WH*RE)
It's not really the fact that Sabrina needs front and center attention all the time. Yeah, it does get annoying, but it might even be entertaining to watch her in action sometimes. The problem is how catty and attitudnal Sabrina gets when the attention shifts to another direction. I can say I have personally dealt with people who operate like that and it is an UGLY PMS WHORE watching Spotlight Sabrina lose her lights, camera, and microphone. Lord help us all, you would think somebody stole her wallet.
9. Opportunity Knock-isha (aka THE OPPORTUNIST)
These people are primarily TAKERS. They step on others in order to gain something that only benefits them. You will usually find this type of person giving out sexual favors in exchange for opportunities or sleeping with someones' mate. It is very important to understand that this person separates emotions from what they want. So they may really love you -- but it has no influence on the fact that if they want to take something you have, they will try.
"I want to surround myself with people who want to be successful and want to help others be successful. People who just want to take and people who will cut in front of you or take an opportunity away from you are not your friends and are not good business partners. And so, I have no time for those people". - Patrick O'Keefe, Public Business Speaker/Motivator
10. Dominant Denise (aka THE CONTROL-FREAK)
There is nothing wrong with a person who demands order and structure in their own life. Keywords: Their OWN LIFE. When a person changes the way they treat you when you do something they don't agree with - it is potentially a selfish behavior. Now, if you were about to harm someone or do something that affected your overall well-being, that is a totally different circumstance. A control freak can be pushy, manipulative, self-centered and/or power-hungry because they want to have things their own way. TOXIC is what these people are. A healthy relationship requires that we respect all of our differences, whether we agree or not. If a person has to manipulate you in order to treat you with the respect they would want themselves, THEY ARE NOT A GOOD FRIEND AND IT SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION.
I made this list for one reason. It is of EXTREME importance that the subconscious and subliminal energy around you is POSITIVE. People always wonder why they may be upset often, cranky, or drained and they don't take time to consider who they keep in their space. Sure, it's cool to talk a good game and say you are cautious of these things, but LIVING that way takes COURAGE because demanding respect isn't always easy. If you are around any of these people, I would suggest you make a change by either addressing the issue to the person to work through it, or incorporate an action called "Loving You From a DISTANCE".
