Good energy wins: protecting your ambition from workplace narcissism and envy

(By Hella Ahmed) Refuse aggression and covert violence whether you’re in a leadership position, a subordinate one, or just trying to survive in a system you didn’t choose. Violence isn’t just words and constant verbal harassment. It’s also subtle denigration, manipulation (gaslighting is a particularly virulent example of it), basic disrespect, theft of ideas or credit, and attacks meant to control you, enslave you, kill your ambitions, and stop your expansion. Malicious people know perfectly well what they’re doing.

Refuse it—but choose wisely how you stand up for yourself, or it might bring more harm to you, especially when you’re being victimized. The world is a vampire and everyone is thirsty.

Toxicity is not a safe place

We’ve all seen toxic narcissists—sometimes failed managers—ruin apparently stable public institutions, normalizing low quality and inefficiency until competence collapses over the mid- and long term.

Private companies aren’t immune either. Toxicity often thrives there because it’s profitable for some people as long as turnover is high and profits keep coming. Competence isn’t lost—it’s exploited, burned out, and replaced. We sadly know exploitation has become a lucrative norm.

The worst part of a job

It’s rarely the task itself (which you might even love), but the people surrounding you while you do it.

Micromanagement has nothing healthy about it. It kills self-esteem, turning capable people into ones who feel they need constant watching—even for simple things anyone with common sense could handle.

And let’s not miss this: the aggressive manager who looks at you like your existence is a crime is often doing shady things behind the scenes, worried you’ll discover and expose it. Some people see someone raising the bar and think, “I will put that person back in their place.” Or

Envy is common too. That colleague who smiles at your face and checks on you after harassment by an abusive superior? They might be scared themselves and will talk behind your back to stay safe. Also, when you’re genuinely loved and respected by the public you’re dealing with in your job, it triggers deep envy in those who aren’t. They invent stories where you’re a hypocrite manipulating people into liking you—because they themselves are unloved, despite portraying themselves as preaching discipline and principles that others supposedly refuse to follow to improve.

Can a negative environment make you sick?

Of course. Every past physical or psychological trauma gets re-triggered by this toxic violence. The chronic negative stress causes inflammation—you’ll feel it gradually or instantly. You can also burn out from it. Does it make you unfit for society or important roles? Absolutely not—maybe even the opposite.

You can’t let your life be ruined by some unprofessional so-called professional pointing fingers, shifting blame, and showing off power to intimidate everyone into submission and cling to control.

Some people have no grasp of politeness or basic decency in the workplace. They think they can ignore your humanity, experiences, qualifications, rights, and expectations because they lack a core sense of respect. These toxic narcissists don’t care about real progress or growth—they want power through fear and stability through stagnant, inefficient conformity, and you can’t go against it. 

You were chosen to lead the path of light

As a good-hearted person, you are here to bring more joy and good vibes to the world, to help people tune in with empathy and reconnect with themselves before it’s too late. You will get bruised as you face darkness, negativity, and toxicity when you’re an authentic (or genuine) educator who was not put in a “change management position” to lead the way of progress. But remember: as a teacher, you are always a leader—and don’t forget that a leader is always meant to be a good teacher.

The illusion of upper power

Being phony often wins short-term gains in toxic environments. The architects of controlled chaos can’t handle a real game-changer. They might be ordered to schedule a workshop on collaboration and positive interaction—and they will—but they’ll treat the coach like the aggressor, look down on you, and “accidentally” give the wrong date or time so the team won’t show up to learn.

I speak from experience: I’ve given workshops in the past on mental health and conscious leadership to help turn around negative environments, only to see some people push back and try to erase the good influence of the outsider intervening.

Some managers have sociopathic personality traits. They don’t like good vibes—they just want things done their way, and to them, conscious leadership is a joke. They’ll speak to you like you’re in a gulag—bound by austerity, obedience, constant watch, and verbal abuse—when you’re supposed to be in a modern workplace where violence isn’t the norm.

Leave things better

Power is often misunderstood. Making people learn and feel good about themselves is powerful. Seeing people get healthier mentally and physically, happier, and more hopeful—thanks to your good energy and grace—is real power. Seeing positive change in how people envision progress is the biggest win.

So don’t be too hard on yourself if you ever felt almost humiliated and broken just to pay the bills. You’re a good spirit, a fighter. No one can take your pride away from you. Don’t let yourself down—you will be just fine.

You are the architect of your bright future. Focus on your projects, get out there, live your best life—vibrating higher than ever. Be light.

Read it like a manifesto for conscious leadership and self-preservation in toxic environments.

Hella Ahmed 2026 © All rights reserved – Find my books on Amazon