Is Your Relationship Toxic?
Must all relationships be nurtured and built on a solid foundation to be healthy? Think about all the relationships you have with people in your life before you answer that question.
There are five main relationship groups:
Associates
Friends
Family
Romantic
Self
Click the drop down menu to read more about each relationship.
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The first group is your associates, which includes platonic relationships such as your colleagues, boss, teammates, classmates, etc. Although you may only deal with these individuals occasionally, it is still essential to nurture them so that they operate at the best capacity.
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The following relationship groups are with those closest to you: your family, friends, and romantic partner. Sometimes these relationships are more complex than the associate group because they include people who know and care about you. But to be healthy, they must have a solid foundation to be successful. If they don't, you may end up reevaluating or ending the relationship. Correct?
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The fifth relationship is the most critical, yet many overlook it. It is the relationship with yourself.
Sometimes the relationship with self is the most toxic one in our lives, yet we neglect to do what is necessary to better it. If you do not change the negative habits you have established with yourself, it is detrimental to all your other relationships.
You cannot give genuine love, care, and attention to others unless you have given it to yourself first. Think about it.
How can you genuinely share something with others that you have never experienced?
It's like when someone recounts a story or experience to you, but they relay it to you secondhand.
Once you discover that they were not there to see it for themselves and haven't actually experienced what they are conveying, you immediately lose trust in that person.
It is the same regarding having a healthy relationship with yourself and others.
Having a healthy relationship with yourself promotes self-love.
People have many ideas about what self-love means.
Be careful to distinguish it from confidence. Self-love is more than confidence alone.
Self-love means that you hold your well-being and happiness in the highest regard.
When you love yourself authentically, you realize daily self-care is necessary.
Once you have a self-care regime, you feel better and have a more positive outlook on life, which positively influences your relationships with others.
Think about the last time, if ever, you evaluated your relationship with yourself. Is it toxic?
To gauge if the relationship you have with yourself is toxic, ask yourself the following questions:
How do you speak to yourself?
Do you tell yourself positive things?
Do you mostly compliment or criticize yourself?
What do you feed yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually?
Do you give yourself healthy food?
Do you exercise your body and mind?
Do you read and watch constant negativity online or on TV?
Do you know yourself?
Can you identify when you need a mental or physical break?
If so, do you rest when you need it?
What things, people, and places bring you happiness?
How you answer these questions can help you dig deeper into your self-love discovery.
Now, reflect on how you can improve your relationship with yourself if you have not given yourself the self-care you deserve.
Love yourself and cultivate the best version of yourself on your journey to becoming GreatHer.
