Toxic Relationships Prevent You from Living Your Best Life

An enemy of reinvention is toxic relationships. Here’s why.

Toxic relationships:

Cause codependency
Degrade confidence
Prevent growth
Cause self-doubt
Create anxiety

This is just the tip of the iceberg poking out of the toxic sea. Below the surface lies even more garbage and negativity that makes reinvention very hard.

You are the sum of the five people you spend the most time with. Who you are exposed to regularly influences how you think and how you feel. It takes an extremely strong countenance to withstand consistent toxicity. Most people don’t have the self-awareness or social skills to set healthy boundaries and thrive amongst toxic people. It can be done, but it is hard!

Instead of trying to manage toxic people, consider these alternatives:

Limit your exposure to toxic people: Some toxic people have to be in our lives. Family members, coworkers or bosses, customers, and more. Toxic people come in every variety of life. In the cases where you can’t remove them from your life, limit your contact. Fortify yourself when you know you have to engage with them and make sure to release that energy when your encounters are over.

Set healthy boundaries: If you have the ability or authority, set healthy boundaries with toxic people. Whether you are upfront with your limits or simply engage them without them being the wiser, set the limits. Protect yourself against hostility whenever you can.

Get educated about how to manage toxic people and protect yourself: From surfing the web to taking a formal class, there are ways to learn to manage difficult people. Consider getting new information that can help you set boundaries or model better behavior in front of toxic people. The more you know, the better you’ll do keeping toxic people out of your way as you reinvent yourself.

Reframe your relationships- Some relationships need to be renegotiated. Even parent-child and marriage relationships can be redefined if health is being attacked. If you know you are in a toxic relationship, consider any options out there to share your desire for better health and suggest outlets to heal and reframe the relationship.

Toxic relationships make reinvention very difficult. Unhealthy people resist change and resist people who want change. If you are suffering from the effects of a toxic person in your life, do all that you can to redefine, remove, or re-educate them so you can get the fresh start you deserve.

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