Have you ever had a friend that brought you down? The kind of friend that you love to hate. The one that is really fun to hang out with...but in general, is toxic to your life?
It's always hard to avoid drama when an issue arises with a friend. In fact, it's almost impossible. But what do you do?
First, you need to be able to distinguish from a good friend and a toxic friend. A good friend will say complimentary things about you whereas a toxic friend will make subtle remarks of negativity. You will leave a good friend feeling happy while a toxic friend will leave you feeling unhappy about yourself.
Relationships are very important in our lives. We struggle with personal relationships on a daily basis. If you have a toxic friend, you must take a responsibility for allowing this negative friendship to continue. Talk with your friend. You must set boundaries where your friend is not able to walk on you. It is imperative that you learn to say no. Either your friend will agree to change their disposition toward you or you will end the relationship.
It may seem drastic to end the relationship, but you can't surround yourself with someone who is casting toxicity in your life. You are who you surround yourself with. If your friend is unwilling to change, removing yourself from the situation is the only way to escape it.
Read the article below for more information:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/01/26/health/webmd/main1242335.shtml
"A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same." Elbert Hubbard
It's always hard to avoid drama when an issue arises with a friend. In fact, it's almost impossible. But what do you do?
First, you need to be able to distinguish from a good friend and a toxic friend. A good friend will say complimentary things about you whereas a toxic friend will make subtle remarks of negativity. You will leave a good friend feeling happy while a toxic friend will leave you feeling unhappy about yourself.
Relationships are very important in our lives. We struggle with personal relationships on a daily basis. If you have a toxic friend, you must take a responsibility for allowing this negative friendship to continue. Talk with your friend. You must set boundaries where your friend is not able to walk on you. It is imperative that you learn to say no. Either your friend will agree to change their disposition toward you or you will end the relationship.
It may seem drastic to end the relationship, but you can't surround yourself with someone who is casting toxicity in your life. You are who you surround yourself with. If your friend is unwilling to change, removing yourself from the situation is the only way to escape it.
Read the article below for more information:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/01/26/health/webmd/main1242335.shtml
"A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same." Elbert Hubbard
4 comments:
Loved this article!
Your article was very enlightening. Thanks!
I find the point of view interesting, and biased.
There are a lot of layers to getting `burned' by a friend so to speak. Being so convinced you are right all the time blocks you to hear what the other person is feeling. Louder is not more right. If someone is deemed `toxic'does that mean there is no element of truth to what they say?? How can you advise walking away as if people are disposable. You sound rather young.
People are not disposable. Relationships are.
I don't advocate terminating a relationship with anyone. Ending a relationship only needs to be an option once all other avenues of reconciliation are exhausted. It can be a very overwhelming event in someone's life. Careful thought and consideration must be given to the situation. Has the person hurt me bad enough that I won't let them hurt me again? Have they taken my happiness by the things they do to me? How long does it take me to recover from the harmful blows to my feelings? You must determine whether or not that "truth" you speak of is actually the truth.
As we all grow and change in our own lives, the things that we wish to surround ourselves with change as well. Some relationships aren't meant to be forever. This is okay because we must make ourselves happy and move forward in life. We cannot degress.
True friends will never leave you feeling hurt to the point where you consider ending the relationship.
I must also comment on the last comment "You sound rather young." As I am a well-educated, middle aged "young" woman, I take that as a compliment!
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