10 types of people you should avoid in life

" You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. " - Jim Rohn

The people in your life actually determines the quality of your life. We absorb the ideas and characteristics of the people around us  - our parents, teachers, friends, neighbours, colleagues and acquaintances. We ultimately become like them! Now, this could be quite an advantage or a serious disadvantage for us. We do not consciously pick the vibes from the people around us. Fact is people influence us, whether you like it or not. Others have an influence on you and obviously, you have an influence on others. Now most of the time, this influence happens subconsciously. That's why even if you dislike a friend or a family member consciously, still you are absorbing his thoughts and ideas subconsciously. In fact, your nature is becoming to a certain percentage like them.

Now if you don't like this piece of information at all, the good news is you can identify the toxic people and start avoiding them completely. Allowing negative people to be in continuous touch with you is giving your power to them. You don't have to do that! Avoiding certain people in life isn't selfishness, it is self-survival!


Here is the list of 10 types of people you should avoid in life : 

1. COMPLAINERS - These are the type of people who would never stop complaining. They would complain about their boss, co-workers, their neighbours, teachers, friends, complete strangers and even the weather! They are people who never take responsibility for their own actions. They would always blame someone or something other than themselves. It's always better to maintain a safe distance from these people. 

2. ENVIOUS - Honestly we all have fallen prey to jealousy at east at some point in our life. It's completely human. But there are some people who are always envious! These are the kind of people who never appreciate others, they would not cheer for anyone. In short, they'll never want you to be successful in life.

3. GOSSIPERS -  Now these are the type who often come across as amusing and entertaining. But they are harmful and time-wasters. They are the lot who never finds faults in themselves but always in others. Gossipers are highly toxic and they spread their negativity by recruiting people to form a gang to discuss and defame others. Gossipers would fill you up with negative energy.

4. SELFISH PEOPLE - It's good to be focussed in your own life, in fact, it's great! But that doesn't mean one has to only think of themselves and not about others. Do you know any friend who would make it always about him? It's like the entire world revolves around them! They would make plans according to their needs, they would make you do things for them, even they might keep you stuck to the phone at their hour of need, they would shamelessly ask you to do a favour for them and when you are in need of something and you contact them they would be totally unavailable to you physically, emotionally or both. Yes, they would use you well but in return, they'll never give you anything! Selfish people always drains your precious energy, so it's best to avoid them.

5. JUDGEMENTAL PEOPLE -  These people always criticise others. They have no ability to appreciate or compliment. Judgemental people have a very high opinion about themselves. And be warned, if they are judging about others in front of you, they are also going to criticise you sooner or later in front of others.

6. CONTROLLING  - These are the kind who loves dominating over others. The controlling freaks can make your life totally miserable. They have a superiority feeling and other people's opinion doesn't matter to them. They will make you see things through their eyes, and take complete power over you. It doesn't matter if this controlling person is your mother, your best friend or your spouse they'll never allow you to do something great in life!

7. HYPOCRITES - These are the pretentious persons who would say something but do completely the opposite! They are people with two faces and you would never get to know which one is the real! Your good friend is a hypocrite if she's always saying she isn't studying at all but secretly doing all the preparations at home. She is simply misguiding you so that she wins and you lose! Hypocrites are double-faced liars and they would never help you in any way!

8. LAZY - Now it might seem how lazy people could actually harm you. But the reality is they can harm you a lot! These are the kind who would always find excuses to shrug away responsibilities and they would never learn or grow. 
Not only that these people are negative, they can become a headache for others. I once had a colleague who was extremely lazy and reluctant to take the responsibility in a project which both of us were to do together. She wouldn't do her part by giving all sorts of excuses and by not cooperating with me. The thing is lazy people would either try to take your advantage or they'll try to pull you down to their level.

9. DISHONEST - Reality is we often ignore the faults of our friends or family sometimes because we love them and often because we want acceptance in the group we belong. But if you really want to improve and be successful you must be ruthless in eliminating dishonest people from your life. If you have such people in your life who are always applying some untruthful, unfair means to achieve what they want they'll soon inspire you to become one of them!

10. MANIPULATIVE - Do you know someone who is always scheming and calculating things for their own benefit? They are the lot who would never be ashamed of using others for their needs. In fact, they are a combination of a few of the above-mentioned characters! They are selfish to the core, often hypocritical in nature, applying dishonest strategies to control and manipulate others. Often your manipulative friend can use their tactics just to make you mad! It's a type of personality disorder and the best would be to avoid them. 


Article written by Ishita Ganguly

M.Sc, B.Ed, MBA