I have always put a lot of value in my relationships. Romantic or platonic, your relationships with people influence everything in your life, and that isn't something to take lightly. You may not always realize it but your mood and general outlook on life can be impacted by the type of interactions you have in your day to day. Knowing you are cared about and loved is important. Knowing that you can trust the people in your life is important. I know these seem like basic truths but in my experience you might not even realize how toxic a relationship is to you until you aren't a part of it anymore. There is nothing wrong with giving people chances and the benefit of the doubt; everyone has rough patches and fights. However, there comes a point where you can be exhausted from dealing with the negativity. It is okay to step away. It is okay to let go of things that are no longer growing you as person. I have just recently started to learn this lesson myself, it's hard to let go of people who are or have been special to you. Putting space between you and someone else doesn't mean that you love them any less, or that you have abandoned them. You are not a quitter for putting yourself first. I saw a quote once that said "Don't set yourself on fire to keep others warm". You can love someone to pieces but if they are only hurting you then the relationship isn't beneficial. You have to look out for you because in the long run, you are really all you have.
A toxic relationship can be full of fights and tears. A toxic relationship can be made up of sighs and walking on egg shells. Sometimes though, a toxic relationship can be negative in a sneaky way. Maybe the other person blows you off, and even though they their excuses, it hurts you every time. Maybe you put them first but they never make you a priority. Maybe they are just always upset and complaining, and you notice yourself losing your positive outlook as well, Whatever the reason is, if you realize this relationship is holding you back from being the best human you can be, it might be time to let it go. It doesn't have to be a huge fall out, although it might be. You can quietly back away and as painful as it might be you will know that you are putting yourself first. It is okay to stop choosing others for a little while and choose yourself. Love yourself enough to know what makes your heart sing and puts a smile on your face, and what makes your hands shake and your stomach hurt. There are a lot of stressors we cannot control, but we can control who we let into our lives. On the flip side, it's important to really be conscious of how you impact others. Are you the type of sunshine that you want others to be? Treat everyone, including yourself, with compassion.
Letting go is never easy. Remind yourself that you are doing this so that you both can evolve into amazing people. Letting go of toxic relationships will free you from so much stress you might not have even realized was there. When you leave all that weight behind you will be able to find truly authentic relationships that fit the path you are taking, relationships that are full of love and trust. It's okay to let go to set yourself up for something better.
