Apr 21, 2013

Eliminating Toxic Relationships

"Toxic relationships cause unnecessary stress," Andrea Bonior, PhD, author of The Friendship Fix

Bonior gives three reasons to eliminate a relationship from our lives:
1.  Are you your very best with this person or does this person bring out the worst in you?
2.  Is there balance and reciprocity.  If you do most of the giving, the relationship is likely to be draining.
3.  Do you look forward to being with this person or is being with this person like checking something off your to-do list? 

If any of the above are true, it may be time to let that relationship go.  Of course, all three of these things might be true for the person for whom we provide caregiving.  It may not be an option to eliminate that relationship, but -- knowing the drain that caregiving can be, we owe it to ourselves to have our other relationships be nurturing and supportive and positive. 

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