The one good thing that can happen to you in this lifetime is that if you’ve got yourself some good friends. There are people who genuinely care about you. The people whom you can trust while hanging off of a cliff. But then there are also those who fill your life with poison. They might be your friends, coworkers or family members. Getting rid of these toxic friends is quite difficult but its ultimately necessary and liberating.
Here are some of the reasons why you should cut off such people from your life!
1. They bring you down rather than lifting you up.
Your friends should celebrate and enjoy your accomplishments and not poke holes in them. They are the ones who are always trying to demean you and devalue your achievements. Even though we sometimes need to be brought back on earth when we’re feeling overwhelmed, but the constant demoralization is something you’re better off without.
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2. They demotivate you and make you doubt yourself.
Motivation and inspiration doesn’t come from watching videos on YouTube or listening to some generic ‘motivational speaker’. It comes from the people who you surround yourself with. These loved ones are the provocative force behind almost all of your actions. But if you have some toxic friends in your circle, then you’ll always be left confused and doubted about your decisions.
3. They always want attention but hide away when you need them
Friendships work on a give and take basis. You don’t have to say anything to the other person that I did this for you so you should do that, not at all. Your friend should know and consider the fact that you did something for him/her so he/she should give back the same energy. In a one-sided friendship, you’re the only one who’s gonna get hurt.
4. They are dysfunctional to the very core.
These toxic friends are most likely to be the ones who are involved in drugs and some other shady stuff. They take advantage of you, disrespect you and use you for their benefits. You’re not helping them by cleaning up their mess every time. You’re always thinking that you might be able to fix them but you can’t. So ease up Bob The Builder and let them loose.
5. You’ve outgrown them and its time to cut the ties.
One of the reasons why we put up with such toxic friends is the longevity of our relationship. So what if your friends with Basheer since High School? If Basheer’s not good for your mental health then please, cut off the damn Basheer. I’ve had people I literally grew up with, people I’ve known since I was an infant but as we grew up, I realized that they’re not the kind of friends I wanna have so I decided to part ways. I don’t feel guilty of leaving my friends of 15-20 years and neither should you.
6. They keep score of literally everything.
From restaurant bills to the times you were partially rude to them, these people keep track of everything that happens between you two and use it against you in the future. Whenever you’re in an argument with them, they bring out stuff from the past and throw it on your face. No matter what you say, they’re always right and to prove that point, they’ll use that one incident where you apparently let them down. Trust me, you don’t want such accountants in your life
7. They criticize every single aspect of your life.
We all depend on our friends to give a truthful and honest opinion. There are times when we need a wake-up call but the one’s who are always criticizing your actions are not your true friends. These toxic people find fault in everything you do and never miss out on an opportunity to point out your flaws. They have low self-esteem and are always projecting their insecurities onto you.
8. They are abusive and violent.
These venomous people always resort to abuse and violence to prove their point. They never take ‘No’ for an answer and will do anything to prove that they’re right. They lie, cheat or even steal from you. These narcissistic human beings are the main source of stress in your life and cutting them off is the only solution you have.
For me, friendship is the most sacred relationship. I didn’t choose my family, my race, religion or ethnicity but I chose to be with you. I chose to call you my friend and if you betray that trust, you’re dead to me. I’m a real ride or die dude and you should be too.