How to clear negative people from your life

Find out if you have a toxic relationship with someone and how to let go.

The transition from summer to autumn is a great time to reflect and clear anything negative from your life, and sadly this sometimes includes people. It isn’t always easy to recognise when someone is having a negative impact on your life, so we’ve rounded up some questions to help you understand what relationships to let go of.

When you think about the person, how do you feel physically?

Do you feel a sense of anxiety, a sick feeling or any other unpleasant physical response? If you do, you may want to look into why this is. Are there any unspoken things between you that need to be addressed? Or do you feel you have to take personal responsibility for something you have done or said in the past? Take a closer look at this relationship and establish whether it is nourishing or depleting your energy.

How do you feel emotionally after spending time with this person?

If you feel exhausted or emotionally drained after spending time with someone, you may want to examine why this is. It is also important to note whether or not this is a one-off event or if this happens after every interaction.

What does your gut tell you?

Rather than running to your friends or family to help you make a decision, check in with your own intuition. It may seem difficult but spending some quiet time with yourself usually uncovers how you truly feel.

What to do now

Once you have established that the person or relationship in question is having a negative impact, you can say goodbye. When you do part ways, be sure to have a conversation to explain your choice to the other person. Remember that no matter how painful your relationship, all relationships have value so try to part ways with a sense of love and gratitude.

If you want some guidance or advice when it comes to relationships, you may find it helpful to consult a life coach. Find out more on our relationship coaching page.

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