10 Blunt Reasons You Need To Cull Miserable People From Your Life Now

Is it time to cut them off?

Two women sit at a white outdoor table. One woman, in a gray sweater, embraces the other, who rests her head on the first woman's shoulder. Small desserts and drinks are on the table. The setting appears to be a cozy, lattice-enclosed garden.

Have you ever been in a great mood, only to have it soured by someone else’s complaints or miserable attitude? Or felt like something you had in hand was now too overwhelming or stressful to deal with because someone questioned your ability?

This often happens because the negativity that others spew has a tangible effect on us, on countless levels.

We all encounter negative people throughout our lives. If we’re lucky, we can avoid them in some situations, or excuse ourselves when they start to bring us down.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t always seem possible. Sometimes the most negative people are the ones closest to us, such as family members and coworkers.

But escape them we must, unless we want to suffer these serious consequences.

1. Loss of positivity.

Two people sit across from each other at a small table in a café. The woman, wearing a blue shirt, looks down while stirring her drink with a straw. The man, in a gray t-shirt, faces her with his back to the camera. White chairs and windows are in the background.

Your positive energy can be suddenly neutralized by someone else’s bitterness. This can ruin your day and affect every interaction you have from that point onwards.

2. Loss of motivation.

A man with a beard sits on a wooden park bench, holding a cold beverage with a straw, wearing a blue denim shirt and shorts, and black shoes. He's gazing into the distance on a sunny day with lush green grass and trees in the background.

Why bother pursuing your dreams or goals when people are constantly naysaying your aspirations or putting you down? Other people’s negativity can serious hamper our productivity.

3. Emotional “shutdown”.

A woman with blonde hair is leaning on a kitchen counter, holding her head with both hands and looking distressed. Another woman in the background appears to be speaking to her. Two white coffee cups are on the counter.

When someone’s negativity gets so bad, we may start to tune out and retreat inward in order to tolerate whatever they’re talking about. This emotional shutdown can have serious consequences for our mental health if it continues long term.

4. Lessened creativity.

Two women painting at easels in an art studio. The woman in the foreground, wearing a checkered shirt, focuses intently on her canvas, brush in hand, and palette in the other. The woman in the background, in a sleeveless shirt, works on her painting.

If others are always negative or critical, there’s less creative drive, as well as lessened ability, which can be devastating if you’re in a creative field

5. Shifted perspective.

A woman with a long braid, wearing a blue sleeveless top, sits in the foreground with a thoughtful and concerned expression, resting her head on her hand. In the background, a person in a striped shirt is blurred and facing away. The background is light and minimalistic.

You might have been feeling positive about a particular subject, but someone else’s negativity makes you doubt yourself and your abilities.

6. Strained relationships.

Two women are sitting outdoors at a table, engaged in conversation. One has blonde hair and is seen from the back. The other has dark hair with bangs, red lipstick, and is stirring a drink, looking attentively at the blonde woman. The background is blurred with greenery.

Irritability and unpleasant feelings about the person who’s being a Debbie Downer are sure to arise over time, which is a recipe for disaster in any relationship.

7. Brain function affected.

A man wearing glasses and a white shirt sits at a desk with a computer monitor and smartphone, resting his forehead in one hand as if stressed or tired. Several other people work at desks in the background.

Toxic people’s negativity can affect pain thresholds, memory, executive function, information processing, and more. You may find that with repeated exposure, your cognitive function is seriously impaired.

8. It’s exhausting.

A woman with brown hair is shown resting her face in her hand, appearing distressed or tired. She is wearing a white shirt, and the background is blurred, indicating an indoor setting with indistinct objects.

Other people’s endless complaints, insults, or other types of negative feedback can make you feel physically and mentally exhausted.

9. It wears away at your boundaries.

Some people get so worn down by others’ negativity that they “give in” and do what others want them to do just to shut them up and make them go away, rather than enduring their misery by defending boundaries more fiercely.

10. It destroys your health.

A woman lying in a hospital bed with a nasal cannula and a monitor attached to her arm is talking to a male healthcare professional in scrubs, who is holding a clipboard and writing notes. The healthcare professional is wearing a mask.

Many studies show that long-term exposure to stress and other types of negativity can affect our immune systems, leading to illness and chronic health issues. Is keeping these people in your life really worth your own health?

Finally…

A bearded man sitting at a desk with a laptop looks up at an upset woman gesturing toward him. They are in a modern office with a brick wall background. The man appears surprised or confused, while the woman seems to be expressing frustration.

Navigating relationships with miserable people is never easy, especially if their negativity stems from past traumas or chronic health issues.

If the cynical complainers you have to contend with are like that because they’re dealing with severe personal issues or past traumas, it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to change their behavior any time soon.

In cases like this, it’s time to decide whether sticking with them is really in your best interests – and theirs.