The 48 Laws of Power ... by Robert Greene Law number ten...
Infection: Avoid the unhappy and unlucky You can die from someone else's misery—emotional
states are as infectious as diseases.
You may feel you are helping the drowning man but you are only precipitating your own
disaster.
The unfortunate sometimes draw misfortune on themselves; they will also draw it on you.
Associate with the happy and fortunate instead.
The infector possesses an inward instability that radiates outward drawing disaster to
all that they touch.
Marie Gilbert A.K.A Lola Montez of Ireland was one such person.
Lola found herself in the role of a courtesan (prostitute of the royal court).
In today’s society Lola would be considered a gold-digger.
She only sought out men with high social standing in the community that she could use for her
own gain.
Once she would have her hooks in these men, their slow demise began.
One of her victims was king Ludwig of Bavaria, who felt compelled to help Lola yet once he
was warned of the dangers of his affair with her, he could not seem to resist Lola’s
aura and almost found his once peaceful country in a state of civil war.
It was not until then that the king finally ordered Lola to leave but a month after she
left King Ludwig was forced to relinquish his throne.
There are many men who suffered because of their association with Lola Montez.
King Ludwig said that he was “bewitched” by Lola.
Lola was an unstable, incurable and infectious character type.
This is not to say that these characteristics are only restricted to women, this is to say
that there are some people whose emotions are so powerful that they infect the very
soul of the people that they touch.
How to Recognize an Infector 1.
They draw misfortune upon themselves.
2.
They have a turbulent past.
3.
They have a long line of broken relationships.
4.
They have an unstable career.
5.
They have a forceful character that sweeps you up and makes you lose reason.
6.
They have a desire to destroy and unsettle and is chronically dissatisfied.
7.
Look at the effect that they have on the world around them.
What to Do When You Meet an Infector 1.
Don’t argue with them, this is part of how they trap you.
2.
Don’t try to help them no matter what they say.
3.
Don’t pass the person onto your friends or you will become enmeshed.
4.
Flee the infector's presence or suffer the consequences.
Learn To Fear the Power of Infection The risk of associating with infectors is
that you will waste valuable time and energy trying to free yourself.
Through a kind of guilt by association, you will also suffer in the eyes of others.
On the other side of the spectrum of infectors are those people who attract happiness through
their good cheer, natural buoyancy, and intelligence.
They are a source of plea-sure, and you must associate with them to share in the prosperity
they draw upon themselves.
All positive qualities can infect us, but taking advantage of the emotional side of
this osmosis may be difficult.
5 Ways to Affect Positive Change through Your Associations
1.
If you are miserly by nature, associate with the generous and they will infect you, opening
up everything that is tight and restricted in you.
Only generous souls attain greatness.
2.
If you are gloomy, gravitate to the cheerful.
3.
If you are prone to isolation, force yourself to befriend the gregarious.
4.
Never associate with those who share your defects—they will reinforce everything that
holds you back.
5.
Only create associations with positive affinities.
Your rule for life…
Recognize the fortunate so that you may choose their company and the unfortunate so that
you may avoid them.
Misfortune is usually the crime of folly, and among those who suffer from it there is
no malady more contagious: Never open your door to the least of misfortunes, for, if
you do, many others will follow in its train…
Do not die of another's misery.
(Baltasar Gracian, 1601-1658) That's it for this law, if you seek more resourceful
reviews you might just want to subscribe.
Thank's for watching.