If you look up toxic in the dictionary, it simply states poisonous material capable of causing death or serious injury. If I think about this definition, it makes me quite angry that anyone, especially someone who doesn’t benefit me, could have this kind of impact on my well being.
Toxic relationships are toxic to you if you let them.
In this week’s episode, part 2 of our series on Toxic People (check out part 1: Episode 12 if you haven’t listened), we’re going to turn what you thought about handling toxic relationships on its head. You’re going to learn ways for you to manage those relationships in your life so that they go from making you feel like you’ve just been ambushed with toxicity to just annoying. And hey, we can all handle annoying.
Let’s explore the Idea of Toxic Relationships:
When we are engaged in a relationship that is difficult, it’s human nature to want to place blame.
Here’s the thing, aside from real physical and mental abuse and that’s not what we’re talking about here, people can and will behave as they want. We have no control over others. However, what you do have control over is the way you choose to respond.
This is POWERFUL. But it will feel uncomfortable and not always easy. It challenges us to do something very different than we’re used to.
Four ways to deal with toxic relationships
#1. Set Your Boundaries:
#2. Preparing Yourself With An If/Then Scenarios:
#3. Break the Pattern
#4. Rewrite Your Story:
SUMMARY:
While we secretly wish they would change, or even just go away, we with time can practice and establish new ways to manage these people. Remember, you always have power when you decide how you want to react to toxic people versus allowing them to take over your power and set you off.
The interesting this is that over time when you start to use these tools and show up differently, the energy just shifts and the dynamics start to shift.
RESOURCES:
84% of women say they have a toxic friend
Using Neuroscience to Effectively Work with Others
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