Sometimes all we wish for is peace of mind. But isn’t it hard to come by? More so, when people in your life are difficult to get along with. Be it your friends, work colleagues, family members or neighbors, there is always someone who makes you feel down and manipulated. We all have such ‘toxic’ people who bring complexity and stress into our lives.
To deal with toxic people effectively, you need to adopt ways that enable you to control what you can and do away with what you can’t. Here are the best five.
Maintain Boundaries
Toxic people generally take advantage of people with vaguely defined boundaries and low self-confidence. This is why it becomes important to maintain boundaries when dealing with toxic people. Pay attention to your needs and tell yourself it is OK to be firm.
Many people feel a sense of guilt when they need to establish boundaries but taking care of yourself is also important. Saying no doesn’t make you a selfish person.
Take Nothing Personally
Toxic people behave negatively not just with you but everyone around them. In a situation where you feel you have been directly insulted, take nothing personally. What they say or do is based on their self-reflection.
You feel a huge amount of freedom when you quit trying to beat them at their own game and refuse to get sucked into the emotional chaos.
Don’t Rationalize Toxic Behavior
Despite knowing deep down that a person is taking advantage of you or is outright rude, some people make excuses for that person’s toxic behavior. If you are not careful, toxic people can use their moody behavior to get a preferential treatment.
Don’t encourage their negative behavior and stop making special pardons for their grouchy rhetoric.
Practice Compassion but Be Practical
Sometimes it is fine to sympathize with toxic people who are going through a difficult time or who are genuinely distressed. But you need to separate their genuine issues from how they behave with you.
Don’t let people get away with anything just because it is too tempting to unconsciously use their unfortunate circumstances as a means to their end.
Move On
When you continue to keep toxic people in your life, your emotional balance, self-esteem, finances, and other relationships get hurt. If the circumstances allow, leave these people behind and move on. Letting them go does not mean you wish them harm or hate them, it is just that you care about your own well-being.
A healthy relationship is reciprocal; give and take, but not where you are the one who is always is giving and others are always taking.
What has been your experience with toxic people and how did you cope with their behavior? Share your thoughts with us by leaving a comment below.
