Stress brings out the worst in people, both physically and mentally. Sometimes, it’s caused by toxic characters. These are individuals who, perhaps unbeknownst to them, cause strife in our life, infecting it with depression and obesity and a whole host of other illnesses.
Here’s how to tick things off your bucket list in a toxic environment.
1. Be Forgiving Yet Mindful
Keeping grudges isn’t healthy, nor is reminding someone of what they did wrong. But, on the other side of the same coin, you should never forget how someone wronged you because forgetting means not learning to steer clear of a repeat performance in the future.
Forgive them if you want to, but be careful enough not to get yourself in the same situation again—abusive people feed on that stuff.
2. Keep Your Mental Health in Check
Something as seemingly harmless as sleeping four hours a day can take a toll on your mental health. You can’t exactly blame the other for ruining your life if your own disposition is taken for a ride by an unhealthy lifestyle.
So, do everything to stay inherently stress-free because it’ll help you deal with the grief you receive from other people.
3. Have a Strong Support System
According to a nonprofit organization for people living with mental health issues, there’s a clear link between loneliness and substance abuse. Unfortunately, toxicity isn’t much different.
Look at it this way: when you find it challenging to deal with a manipulative person, the people around you can help you gain a different perspective on your approach. They can tell you how you could be better by pointing out the weak links in your strategy.
If nothing else, keep such positivity around you just so you have a well-wisher cheering you as you take on the world.
4. Learn to Love Yourself
Have you ever noticed how Brittany Broski, who you may know as the “kombucha girl”, gives herself the best compliments while managing not to sound too narcissistic? That’s the level of self-love you want in your life.
There’s one thing negative people do really well: they project their negative opinion of you so believably you start to see yourself that way. Learn to treat their comments like a white noise machine.