DEAR BONNIE: I just went through a bad breakup and I do not want my ex’s energy chasing me around. I know this person is out there saying bad things about me and I am not sure what I can do to protect myself energetically. Thanks, Brenda

DEAR BRENDA: We’ve all felt it. That sudden, heavy shift in the room when you realize someone is speaking unkindly about you, or projecting their own bitterness in your direction. It feels like an invisible, toxic dart aimed straight at your emotional armor. If you believe in energy fields — or even just basic psychology — it’s easy to feel like these negative vibes are actively piercing your peace and draining your battery.

But here is the empowering truth: uninvited energy is just junk mail. You are under no obligation to open it, read it, or let it clutter your space.

If you’re feeling bombarded by someone else’s bad energy, here are a few actionable, positive ways to flip the script and keep your vibe high.

Return to sender: When someone throws shade or speaks poorly of you, their words are actually a reflection of their internal state, not your worth. Instead of absorbing that heavy energy, try a mental visualization. Imagine a clear, reflective shield around you. When their unkind words hit the shield, they don’t penetrate; they simply bounce off and dissolve.

The Mindset Shift: Think to yourself, “That belongs to them, not me.” You can even quietly wish them peace. Hurt people hurt people, and sending back compassion instead of matching their anger ensures your energy field stays clean.

You don’t just have to block negative energy — you can actually harvest it and turn it into fuel. Think of bad vibes like compost: it’s gross and it smells, but it makes great fertilizer for growth.

• Use it as motivation: Let their doubt or unkindness become the exact reason you work harder, smile bigger, and succeed.

• Create something: channel that heavy, anxious feeling into a workout, a piece of art, or a deep-cleaning session. By moving your body, you physically process the emotion and release it as productive output.

Energy follows focus. If you spend your day obsessing over what someone said, you are actively inviting their negativity to take up free real estate in your mind. To break the cycle, you have to deliberately change the channel.

At the end of the day, your energy field is your most sacred possession. You cannot stop people from talking, projecting, or being unkind — that is entirely out of your control. But you have absolute authority over what you allow across your border.

The next time you feel a wave of bad energy heading your way, take a deep breath, drop your shoulders, and remember: you hold the remote control to your own peace. Turn down their volume, tune into your own light, and keep moving forward.

Instead of dwelling on an unkind comment…

Try listing three things you love about yourself.

Instead of replaying a toxic conversation…

Try texting a friend with a genuine, unexpected compliment.

Instead of feeling drained by someone’s jealousy…

Try immersing yourself in a creative hobby that brings you pure joy.

Bonnie Page is an intuitive medium reiki master and spiritual teacher and counselor. Please visit her website for more info. www.bonniepagemedium.com  To Ask a question for her column please send it to bonnie@bonniepagemedium.com