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We all have toxic friends. \u00a0They usually don’t mean badly; they’re not trying to be toxic. \u00a0But they’re toxic nonetheless.<\/p>\n
Having dealt with a few of them over the years, here’s how to either rehab them, or at least limit the damage.<\/p>\n
I’m not saying be brutally honest, or tell the truth with no regards for somebody’s feelings, but never lie to spare somebody’s ego over drama, especially if you can tell they’re not being sincere about asking for the truth.<\/p>\n
If a toxic friend asks you if you think they’re being too dramatic, and they are, a flat “yes” goes a long way towards shaking them out of their complacency. \u00a0Think about it: when was the last time you seriously considered, without being forced to, the possibility you were wrong about something? \u00a0It rattles our cage a little bit, and it helps wake us up.<\/p>\n
Most toxicity thrives on gossip and indirect complaining. \u00a0If you’ve got a problem with somebody, sit them down and talk to them about it. \u00a0Is this incredibly hard to do? \u00a0Oh, absolutely. \u00a0And it doesn’t always go well. \u00a0But often you’ll find if you’re respectful, but direct, it cuts down on drama and in turn limits how toxic anyone can get.<\/p>\n
Believe me, I understand the desire to deck some people can be absolutely overwhelming. \u00a0But, especially if you’re dealing with toxic people, you need to set an example. \u00a0Losing your cool with somebody is generally exactly what they want you to do and it feeds into whatever their damage may be, whether it’s being able to dismiss somebody with a point because “they just don’t like me” or because they’re bored and want to stir up a hornet’s nest.<\/p>\n
But if you stay calm, level-headed, and settle disputes like an adult, it sets the tone for all interactions with you. \u00a0If somebody comes to you about something, however you decide, they’re more likely to see it as a reasonable decision instead of being angry out of hand.<\/p>\n
This goes double, by the way, if somebody asks you to get involved. \u00a0“Those who seek trouble find it” is never more true.<\/p>\n
Seeking advice is one thing; everybody wants to talk out a tough situation, or get a different perspective on how things may shake out. \u00a0But asking you to actively intervene? \u00a0Nope. \u00a0If it’s not your life, in the end, it shouldn’t be turned into your problem.<\/p>\n
The hardest lesson of all is this: some people will not change, while others do, and there comes a point in your life where you just can’t be friends with them anymore. \u00a0And sometimes it’s because they’re awful.<\/p>\n
Don’t phrase it like that, but be honest. \u00a0Tell toxic friends you can’t handle the drama, you’ve got more than enough to worry about, and they need to either find someone else to burden their problems on, or just let them go.<\/p>\n
If they can’t do that, walk away. \u00a0After all, you’ve probably got your own drama to deal with.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We all have toxic friends. \u00a0They usually don’t mean badly; they’re not trying to be toxic. \u00a0But they’re toxic nonetheless. Having dealt with a few of them over the years, here’s how to either rehab them, or at least limit the damage. Honesty Above All I’m not saying be brutally honest, or tell the truth…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":620,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n