It’s very hard to know how and when someone you love becomes toxic. It’s never easy determining if someone is toxic for you. Especially if it’s someone you love and care about. Someone who has played a major role in your life. Someone who was once such a positive influence on you.
“Not all toxic people are cruel and uncaring. Some of them love us dearly. Many of them have good intentions. Most are toxic to our being simply because their needs and way of existing in the world force us to compromise ourselves and our happiness. They aren’t inherently bad people, but they aren’t the right people for us. And as hard as it is, we have to let them go. Life is hard enough without being around people who bring you down, and as much as you care, you can’t destroy yourself for the sake of someone else. You have to make your well-being a priority. Whether that means breaking up with someone you care about, loving a family member from a distance, letting go of a friend, or removing yourself from a situation that feels painful – you have every right to leave and create a safer space for yourself.”
— Daniell Koepke
All relationships change. As you get to know one another and you overcome certain milestones together, if the relationship isn’t adapting and you aren’t growing together, the shift can easily turn from one of your most healthy relationships to one of your most toxic.
Related: Why The Girls With The Best Hearts Find Themselves In Toxic Relationships
And what makes it hard letting someone like this go is because you really do love them and care about them but there comes a point where you each have to realize you aren’t benefiting each other the way you used to.
A healthy relationship is one that is balanced. One where the person is meeting you completely halfway. One where you don’t feel like you’re trying too hard.
One where someone is sharing in your success and your joy. One where someone is helping to achieve things. So how does a relationship that is so healthy suddenly crumble and turn toxic? How do two people who love and care about each other suddenly turn into versions of themselves that aren’t good?
It comes down to the relationship not evolving as you are. People are meant to evolve and grow and adapt. But a lot of relationships don’t have that simplistic ability to do that and always provide you with what you need. The hardest thing to determine is if someone’s part in your story is over.
Related: Toxic Narcissism in Relationships: Top 10 Warning Signs You’re Being Gaslighted
Did they teach me everything they could? Did I give the best I could give to them? Can I walk away with my head high in this relationship with the respect that there isn’t much more either of us can gain from this?
But a lot of the time we allow a history dictates our future. We cling to people we shouldn’t just because of who they were and what to they meant to us. And when you attach yourself to someone just because you have a history it doesn’t mean you are guaranteed to have a future.
But so many of us cling to what was instead of looking at what is right now.
Someone who once adored you treats you badly and you allow it.
Someone who once was fiercely independent can easily become clingy then you’re trying too hard and they are overwhelmed.
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