You may have noticed that we’ve recently talked about relationships. And with good reason: they’re one of the most critical aspects of our lives.
They can bring us joy and strengthen our bonds with friends and family or be their form of hell on earth.
The quality of our social connections affects everything from how happy we are to how healthy we are; it even affects our physical health indirectly by affecting the mental health of those around us.
But it doesn’t have to be like this; in fact, you probably know people who have great relationships, who are happy and healthy, who don’t let the small things get to them so much (and who aren’t afraid to show it).
If you are reading this article, chances are you could also learn how to create more authentic and meaningful relationships with the people around you.
Also, see how to get out of a toxic relationship, especially if a child is involved.
Don’t Settle For Toxic Relationships.
To create more meaningful relationships, we must stop settling for toxic relationships.
Toxic relationships make you feel unhappy, uncomfortable, or even in pain; they drain your energy and put you in uncomfortable situations.
They can lead to depression and anxiety because the stress of these relationships can be too much to handle. And what’s worse is that these unhealthy relationships come with a price: toxic people can hurt your reputation and damage your social capital. So how do we fix this?
First, figure out when it is time to end the relationship. If you don’t know where you stand yet, then it’s best not to see the person again until you do.
There’s no use in continuing with a toxic relationship if they don’t have anything good to offer in return for the time and energy you put into them.
Second, work on yourself by doing things like meditation or exercise so that when you find someone who’s healthy and happy, it will be easier for you to connect with them without feeling guilty or anxious about what they might think of you.
Third, focus on meeting new people from different walks of life and maintain connections with current friends and family members who care about your happiness.
This will allow for various perspectives on different personalities and lifestyles, which will help speed up learning about yourself and help keep your mind occupied until something better comes along.
Learn To Be Assertive.
Look to create better relationships; the first step is being assertive. This means being an active participant in your relationships and taking on the responsibility of fostering and caring for them.
What exactly does it mean to be assertive?
Well, if you’re not sure yet, here are a few examples:
Setting boundaries (both physical and emotional);
Speaking up when you don’t feel heard or respected;
Having conversations about your feelings with people you care about;
Articulating what you want;
And setting limits on your time and energy.
But getting assertive doesn’t always mean saying “no” to someone; sometimes, it just means stepping back and deciding that something isn’t worth the fight.
It takes time to learn how to be assertive, but once you do, it can make all the difference in how healthy your relationships are.
Focus On What You Want And Not What You Don’t Want.
The first step to ending a toxic relationship is to identify the problem. If there are things that bother you, but you don’t know why – take the time to figure them out.
What is the reason for this behavior? Are there some past issues that have been left unresolved and are coming back to haunt your current relationship?
Once you have identified the problem, then it’s time to focus on what you want in your relationships. What qualities do you want people in your life to have?
What values would you like these people to share with you? What do you want from these relationships? These might seem like vague questions, but they can help shape your values and goals for relationships.
They can also help determine what qualities and characteristics are necessary for the type of person or relationship you ultimately want.
Be Prepared When Your Boundaries Are Crossed.
The first step is to be prepared when your boundaries are crossed. That could mean that you’re in a relationship with someone who forgets to call you back, or it could mean that a loved one has been misbehaving around you.
It could even be something as small as someone being too touchy-feely with you and leaning in to kiss you unexpectedly.
When this does happen, try not to get angry or frustrated about it; instead, take a deep breath and remember the following three steps:
1) Stay calm and take a moment to assess your situation: what’s going on?
2) Remember that this person may not know they’re crossing boundaries, so don’t jump on them! They might be confused, embarrassed, or scared and not doing anything intentionally harmful
3) Take responsibility for yourself when people behave poorly towards us (and it can happen anywhere); sometimes, the best thing we can do is walk away from the situation entirely before things escalate out of our control.
This might seem extreme, but it’s one way of dealing with situations that make us feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
End Communication With A Relationship-Ending Text Message.
If you’re in a toxic relationship, there are some things you should avoid when the time comes to break up with someone. But one of the essential things is ending communication with a text message.
You don’t need to wait for that person to do it; you can end it yourself by sending them a text as soon as you decide your relationship isn’t worth fighting for anymore.
The best way to start with this is by thinking about what kind of person you want to be with. Are you going to be someone who sticks around because they’re afraid of the consequences? Or would you rather be honest and assertive about your feelings?
If the answer is yes, then think about how you might feel if they were to send a text back saying sorry, but they still wanted to stick around; this could give you time to think and make sure you aren’t making an emotional decision out of fear.
Once you have decided it’s time, it will probably help if you write your thoughts in order before texting them.
Then, don’t beat around the bush; send your ex-partner a straightforward text confirming that this is the last contact between you and that no further communication will occur. If they inquire why, respond, “I think we just need some space right now.”
Conclusion.
Learning to be assertive is the first step toward ending a toxic relationship. When you learn to be assertive, you can be on the lookout for red flags, set boundaries, and know when to end them.
Assertiveness is a skill that allows you to feel more confident, take charge, and stand up for yourself. Learn how to end a toxic relationship for good by being assertive.