This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
The better you become, the better your relationships
We become like the people who frequently surround us
Who are you surrounding yourself with – are they adding or detracting value from your life?
You always know when someone is adding value to your life because you feel positive, refreshed, and easy around them. Even if they call you out on something, you know it’s genuine and out of love to help you grow and tap into another layer of potential you possess.
I Had To Let Go For My Sanity
Recently, I had to separate from someone I deeply cared about.
The value they gave me at the beginning of our relationship was priceless. But after a while, they ceased adding value to my life, and their unhealthy behaviors started negatively affecting me.
Not only was I dealing with significant brain fog, stress, and heightened anxiety, but I was never happy or comfortable around them, which meant I could no longer be around them.
So I made a choice: I could stay close and show them, love – even though they could not love themselves, which meant they could not show steadfast love to others (including me). Or I could step away. It doesn’t mean I don’t care about them, but I have to love myself more. And one thing I’ve learned is you can’t teach people how to love and respect you until they love and respect themselves.
It was so hard for me to let go at first, but after I reached a certain point, I no longer thought twice about it, and this is because I decided to finally follow the standard for how others interact with me. If you consistently don’t add value to my life for too long, then you have to go.
When Will You Let Go?
How much easier would your life be if you learned how to let go of people when they reach their expiration date in your life? I know it would save much lost time, joy, pain, stress, anxiety, early-onset aging, and misery.
Long-Term Toxic Relationships Can Lead To Traumatic Endings
I’ve seen what happens with people who stay in toxic relationships; the endings can be detrimental (and sometimes a matter of life or death).
If you have any unhealthy and toxic relationship (e.g., friend, family, romantic, business, professional, etc.) that is negatively impacting your life, what are you waiting for?
Don’t prolong your peace of mind. You deserve better.
Self Image Is Everything
Another reason people stay involved in unhealthy relationships is because they don’t have healthy relationships with themselves and have poor self-images.
The higher your self-image is, the higher the quality and healthier your relationships will be with yourself and others.
Piece of Advice: Listen & Observe The First Time
As Oprah says, when people show you who they are, listen to them the first time. At the first signs of toxic and unhealthy behaviors in any person you’re considering being close to, be on your guard.
Learn to exit toxic and unhealthy situations early; this clearly indicates that you have a healthy self-image, boundaries, and personality.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.