Don’t Feed the Power Vampires

Regret, revenge, guilt, and rumination drain your power. Spot them fast—and swap them for actions that restore agency.

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose.” — Viktor E. Frankl Part 2 of 3 · Personal Power Series

Meet the “power vampires”

• Regret — living in the past.
• Revenge/Retaliation — letting someone else’s behavior set your agenda.
• Guilt/Shame — global self-attack instead of targeted repair.
• Rumination/Resentment/People-pleasing — loops, stored anger, or saying yes when your values say no.

The 5-R cutoff (use in hot moments)

Recognize → Respire (3 breaths) → Refer to values → Reframe → Respond (one small, visible action).

Swap drains for drivers

Vampire	Extender	Micro-move
Regret	Review	3-line after-action: Keep / Stop / Start.
Retaliate	Reclaim	Set a boundary; pursue a value-based outcome.
Guilt/Shame	Repair	“I’m sorry for X; I’m changing Y by Z date.”
Rumination	Decide	15-minute timer; pick the next smallest step.

Folk wisdom to remember

Don’t make a permanent decision on a temporary emotion.

Act now (under 2 minutes)

• Text yourself: “Hot? 24-hour rule.” Draft, don’t send.
• Pick one vampire you battle most. Write its replacement action on a sticky note.