You anticipate your friends will be glad for you when you start to change for the better and better yourself. Nobody wants a close friendship to deteriorate, but regrettably, it does. I can attest firsthand to how heartbreaking it is when once close friendships dissolve during a period when you should be experiencing excitement. Toxic relationships can develop when two people have just grown apart and taken separate paths. They don’t always indicate that your best friend is intentionally trying to ruin your Mean Girls style. See if any of my five realities about unhealthy friendships and personal development speak to you.
Some friends won’t appreciate you for pursuing personal improvement in your life.
You will lose friends if you make positive changes in your life, such as improving your self-esteem, decreasing weight, or perhaps establishing a new career. Period. Your changing existence will be difficult for many to accept; perhaps it will remind them of how stagnant their lives are, or perhaps it will be because they aren’t used to you advocating for yourself. Maybe the bad habits you kicked were the foundation of your entire connection. Friends who don’t have your best interests in mind will be exposed by your efforts at self-improvement. Prepare yourself for the pain of losing friends before moving on to experience happiness. Although it may not seem like it, losing friends can actually turn out to be a benefit.
Not all toxic friends are awful people.
The issue about toxic friends is that they occasionally aren’t trying to be toxic at all, and they’re usually decent individuals outside of your fragile bond. They can simply be afraid of change and unable to comprehend your new viewpoint. Most poisonous friends are those who criticize your ambitions, speak behind your back, or are unconcerned with your accomplishments. I’m referring to friends who sap your energy, make you feel bad about yourself, or make every interaction with them draining. Even though they aren’t awful individuals, their harmful influence on your personal development remains. Examine your friendships carefully and note who is attempting to persuade you to resume your bad habits, who interrupts you when you are sharing something you are proud of, and who accuses you of being a horrible friend because you aren’t giving them your full attention. You don’t need those kinds of individuals.
The friendship can terminate without being abruptly severed.
Although I love and value the time we spent together, I also see that my former friends are toxic to the person I have become. While I don’t do that anymore, I used to with them. I don’t want to constantly engage in superficial small talk, but I used to with them. I used to do that with them, but I don’t spend my time moaning about the present while remembering the past. Because it made me feel better about myself, I made the decision to be upbeat, focus on the present rather than the past, and stop making fun of other people. Unfortunately, this led to some awkwardness and a growing rift in our connection. People grow apart and take various courses, and their unfavorable energy just wasn’t appropriate for my path. It’s crucial to have friends who are genuine, but I’m not advocating cutting off relationships with people who don’t always share your opinions or who have different goals from you. It doesn’t have to be a big disagreement to break up a friendship. If you want to keep the friendship, you might try talking to them about how you’re feeling; perhaps they’ll recognize how they’re making you feel and change their behavior. If not, you have two choices: formally request some space from them or gradually quit hanging out with them. A positive ending leaves a possibility for reconnection if you believe they might develop in the future.
You’ll have more time and energy to devote to relationships that are supportive if you break up with poisonous friendships.
The difficult aspect is that you have to let go of toxic people even though they don’t intend to be so and are generally decent people. It’s just as difficult to terminate a friendship as it is to stop a romantic partnership, especially if you still value and adore your friend. It bugged me for over a year because I had to do it. I kept asking the same questions to myself: “Why don’t my best friends understand me? Why are they so preoccupied with unimportant and negative things?” I cried, raged, and lost a lot of sleep over it, but in the end, I realized it was for the best. Now, I only spend time with people who share my values and those of the people I love, support, and celebrate. Being surrounded by individuals who genuinely care about me is a wonderful experience. I’m more content, self-assured, happy, and motivated than ever! Giving up on toxic friends can lead to great things.
Never conceal your accomplishments because a friend isn’t supportive of you.
Do not take it personally if toxic friends act in an unsupportive manner toward you; they may have their own underlying problems that are motivating them to do so. It’s not you; it’s them since their behavior shows that they are unhappy with themselves or their lives. You shouldn’t hide your incredible progress just because some people don’t like it. You fought hard to bring about change in your life, therefore shine bright like a diamond, and don’t allow a few naysayers to dim your success. Make sure you have supportive pals who will encourage you to perform better. Only keep the most excellent people in your circle. Life is too short to spend it with people who don’t value the beautiful person that you are, therefore you shouldn’t hang out with anyone who doesn’t make you feel inspired, encouraged, and joyful. Just remember that you are not the only one who is experiencing this. Even while it may seem lonely right now, you’ll soon meet individuals who will value who you are and what you are attempting to become, and it won’t feel forced or lonely. Always trust your gut; if someone is continuously making you feel bad, it might be time to reevaluate your friendship.
Have you ever experienced both toxic friendships and personal growth? Comment below with details and let me know!
