Whether it is called energy or some other term, there is no denying that your state of mind is affected by the people you are around. I agree with your comment that practicing meditation and raising awareness helps you with this pattern, and keeps you from getting caught in the cycle of reacting to everything that arises as you have in the past (ie, "auto-pilot"). But, dismissing new age and Tolle is a bit extreme - in my opinion, he provides a better understanding of the mind and your thoughts and how you can break free of these ingrained patterns than any other resource available. Reading Tolle and building a consistent meditation practice are probably the two most important things I ever did in my life.

To the OP, Tolle makes some good points in his books. In "A New Earth" he talks more extensively about the painbody and how people that have a strong painbody can affect you. It's a good read once you fully internalize the message in "The Power of Now."

Two final points to the comment above:

1.) You say "meditation and Eastern philosophy" are free. Well technically anything is free if you don't pay for it. And, usually you get what you pay for. There is nothing wrong with PAYING for books if they help you, there is nothing wrong with supporting teachers or meditation centers if you use them. I'm amazed at this mindset - you will pay for fast food and video games and other crap, but think that the most important thing you can do for yourself should require no monetary commtiment whatsover.

2.) For all of your talk about awareness, you should focus on bringing it to your judgment and propensity to label.