Toxic Relationships Prevent You from Living Your Best Life

 When YOU are on the PATHS to reinvention and designing your Intentional Life, beware of the enemy. 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.

 According to motivational speaker, Jim Rohn, you are the sum of the five people you spend the most time with. I believe the reach is even further and agree with writer, David Burkus that you are the average of all the people who surround you. Who you are exposed to regularly influences how you think which leads to 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 among 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. The process of releasing the energy is a way to "air" out your Emotional Room.

 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. It's your responsibility to set your own boundaries.

 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. The information I'm sharing here can be found in a course I'm developing for A House With Four Rooms to help you identify and set boundaries. 

 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. The holidays are often a difficult time if you have to spend them with toxic people. Remember, choose how you'll reframe the relationships and how you'll spend time together.

 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.

Learning to put yourself first, knowing your true worth, having self-confidence, and progressing with Designing YOUR Intentional Life is YOUR responsibility and right.

Do you have toxic relationships? How are you handling them? Go over to the Facebook group and share, encourage, and support on our community.

Cheers!

Lisa