Emotional polarity has a lot to do with holding onto what we want (pull) or pushing away what we don't want, as much force as possible. For the most part, what the object is doesn't matter much, it's the charge behind it.
For example, I don't like being around "energy vampires", even when my energy is a full glass, it takes less than an hour for it to become completely empty, drained out. Of course, this is more of a me problem.
I don't know how to seal my energy properly yet and can't fully discern the stereotype of energy vampires. I think anyone can be an energy vampire when they're immersed in a certain emotional/mental state, such as neediness, negativity, or intense anxiety.
Why do we cling onto objects, people and places, be it consciously or not?
Same Issue, Two Perspectives
Generally, one could say for sentimental reasons or for a sense of security and familiarity. We hold onto things that remind us of happier times, people we love, or experiences that shaped us.
These attachments can provide comfort in an ever-changing world.
But another interesting take could be that there's a strong emotional charge attached to it, i.e., the objects or subjects we cling onto. The difference between the first and second answer is the latter pushed through the veil of the mind a bit, venturing into how it operates. The first answer merely touches on the tip of the iceberg.
If the mind is a landscape, then emotional charges can best be pictured as mine fields. It only takes stepping on them for the charges to detonate and we cling with so much zest that our normal self is overshadowed or eclipsed by the intensity of our attachment.
We become consumed by the object of our clinging, losing perspective and balance in the process.
This clinging nature merely provides a false sense of stability and leads to suffering. In most cases, clinging can be translated into resisting the natural flow of life, fighting against the impermanence that is inherent in all things.
Through holding on too tightly, we increase our chances of losing what we're trying to keep. Such is a paradox of life.
An Attending Conflict
To flow more and cling less, we ought to embrace impermanence through understanding that change is constant can help us loosen our grip on people, objects, and experiences.
Practice letting go, develop emotional resilience, focus more on cultivating experiences than accumulating possessions. This is what I try drilling into my subconscious mind whenever I find myself in clinging mode.
But there's an attending conflict, in that we tend to go overboard, we end up don't care anymore about anything or that we become detached from everything.
This is clearly not the aim, which is more about holding our attachments lightly, appreciating them fully while we have them, and being able to release them when the time comes.
In doing so, we may find that we actually enjoy and appreciate our experiences more deeply, free from the anxiety of trying to hold onto them forever.
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