“If one is around toxic people who have a negative aura, can that hinder one’s confidence and thus one’s charisma?”
The simple answer is: if you let them affect you, then yes. But of course, in reality it’s not so simple.
If we are not vigilant, our mind, body and feelings can easily be influenced by the people we surround ourselves with.
Groupthink is fairly known “psychological phenomenon in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome” (From Wikipedia)
The same way that we tend to conform psychologically, we also tend to conform energetically and within the very nature of our minds.
As you spend more and more time in the company of negative people, or people that don’t contribute to what you want to become, your mind tends to get adapt the same kind of negative beliefs, feelings and energy of that group.
In other words, you’ll go down with them.
In many mystical traditions they warn you about that and they offer the alternative.
In Buddhism, we have the Three Jewels in which a practitioner should take refuge in: Buddha, Dharma (the teachings), and the Sangha (Community).
In Yoga, Satsang, the company of the highest truth, guru and the group of people of the same values, is an age old tradition. Swami Sivananda warned against the company of useless people as an obstacle to your path and encouraged daily Satsang.
In Christianity, the importance of the church and community is known to all of us in the western world.
Your best bet is always to do your best to find a group that pulls you up, instead of the opposite. To find individuals and a group of people that are already how you want to be or at least on the same path.
Now, what if you have no choice than to be in the company of negative people?
– Awareness of mind, body and feelings is even more of crucial importance. Otherwise, it’s very easy to remain with the negative influences inside of us. Establishing guard to your mind and energy is crucial.
– Cultivation of Inner Power so that you become sure of what you really are inside and establish, with no doubt, in your highest self.
– Search for the company of others with the same ideals so you can counterbalance the negative influences. Even if it’s only by reading, listening, or watching media, it’s already a good step forward.
This topic is talked extensively on the 10 Steps to Inner Power.
Learn more here:
http://www.charismaschool.com/lp/how-to-build-self-confidence/
