Everybody knows the man in the back of the room. For some he is there nearly 24/7; for others he only makes an appearance during times of great stress.

His appearance isn't out of the ordinary, nor is his dress, but his voice has the power to break spirits.

"You'll never amount to anything," he whispers to the dreamers.

"Nobody likes you," he whispers to the lonely hearts.

"Give up," he says to all.

While the man only says words, they can reverberate through the mind of those who hear and cause physical harm.

So how does one silence the man?

It's simple in theory, but much harder in practice. The man's greatest weakness is confidence.

When his whispers fall upon deaf ears and are deflected by positivity, he is powerless.

The man's words only have power if we give them power. Like a seed needs soil to grow; the words need a mind to listen to them.

So next time you are riding high after playing a gig with your band or finishing an intense workout at the gym, remember how good you feel in that moment.

And the next time the man whispers negativity in your ear, you can channel your inner positivity and shout back at him.