• zarkanian@sh.itjust.worksOP
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      16 days ago

      Would you really maintain a relationship with somebody who made you unhappy? Somebody who abused you? Somebody who didn’t respect you? And if so, why?

      People can help people, yet lately they only think of themselves.

      Why “lately”?

      It’s not only thinking of yourself. It’s thinking about yourself and the people who aren’t fucking you up. If somebody has a history of toxic behavior, then you have to take that into account. If you let that affect you, you’re A) harming yourself and B) are less able to help the people who actually do love you and respect you.

        • zarkanian@sh.itjust.worksOP
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          16 days ago

          Abuse doesn’t have to be physical, though. It can also be emotional.

          I’m not saying to drop your friends and family at the first signs of negativity. There are people, though, who are not good for you, and nothing you can do can change that. The sooner you figure out who those people are and get them out of your life, the better.

          My friends are not MEANT to make me happy. They are meant to be there when I’m unhappy.

          What if they make you feel worse when you’re unhappy?

          I mean, it looks like we agree that friends should, if not make you happy, at least make your life better in some way. I’m talking about the people who are making your life worse.

          Sometimes they’ll have to “make me unhappy” to make me realize my mistakes. That’s what friendship is all about.

          What if you don’t agree that they’re mistakes?

          • ZoopZeZoop@lemmy.world
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            16 days ago

            I totally agree with your whole position. This isn’t a score keeping exercise. When you spend time with someone, you should feel happy. Not necessarily all the time, but you shouldn’t feel drained, angry, sad, anxious, or self conscious the majority of the time. A significant part of your mental health comes from what you do and who you are with. People need to learn what they can handle and set healthy boundaries. I’ve cut out significant people from my life, people who made no effort to contribute to my happiness because they were only focused on their own for YEARS. I don’t have time for that. I’m glad I learned this in my younger years.