Urban dictionary describes a toxic person as an individual who has a very negative and self-entitlement disorder outlook on life. So literally a Negative Nancy and I am sure we have all at some point encountered one. One way to tell you have a toxic person in your life is that every time you encounter or hang out with them, you feel exhausted, emotionally drained, and negative. Most times toxic people are emotionally unhealthy people that try to project their insecurities on others.
My friends and I always have conversations the toxic people in our lives and in our conversations, we have realized that many of these people are people in positions of trust and high regard in our lives who have let us down in the most unimaginable ways.
They are the people whose words or actions are where most or all of our insecurities are anchored. Subjecting yourself to toxicity is harmful no matter which form it takes. This blog however, is not only about the toxic people in our lives. Its about you, me and our toxicity; Yes! Often times, we are quick to point out toxic people and forget to be honest and conscious of our own toxic tendencies. This means that even the best kind of people to us have the potential to be toxic to someone else.
I have highlighted some examples of toxic behaviour like; being controlling and selfish, being defensive, manipulative behaviour, gas lighting, negative talk, abuse and many others. I found an article that speaks to this and here is an excerpt that speaks to our individual toxic ways;. It is a brutal course in self-awareness, to realize the pattern in the way people react to us tells us so much about how we are in the world.
To admit you get more out of your relationships than you give back. To be honest about making excuses for why you did something wrong or selfish to someone else. Being reactive is toxic; listening and communicating is the mature and healthy response. Moving forward, there are ways in which we can check ourselves. I think that understanding what toxic behaviour is and admitting when you are the toxic one is the first step. Reflecting and being conscious of your own potentially toxic behaviour and realizing that it is possible to change is the next step.
