Toxic people

None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.

How this was put together

If you only read a few

Cut toxic people out of your life to stop wasting time and energy on them.
Time and energy are finite resources that are better spent on genuinely decent people who do not make you unhappy or a worse person.
4 people, independently
Model the behavior you want others to show you, as this teaches them how to treat you.
The majority of people will respond to this over the long term.
- Not everyone will respond.
one person who lived it
Avoid people who seem to enjoy making you miserable; spend time with other friends instead.
Life is too short.
one person who lived it
Study why and how you react to triggers to see if you can improve; if you cannot, remove yourself from the triggering environment.
This helped one person manage their reactions.
- Based on one person's experience
one person who lived it
Find new people that match your nature instead of trying to explain yourself to those who never learn or understand.
Trying to explain often turns into unnecessary arguments.
- You don't need to be friends with everyone.
one person who lived it

Remain quiet and observe to let difficult people expose themselves.
Shutting up allows you to hear more, which is helpful in all situations.
one person who lived it
Distance yourself from small-minded or discouraging people.
You will learn something new.
one person who lived it
Do not take a person's departure personally, recognizing that people naturally come and go in life.
That is how life works.
one person who lived it
Explore solitary hobbies such as music, rock climbing, gardening, or bird watching to provide an outlet for stress and being yourself by yourself.
It helps with stress and provides an outlet, though it does not fix behavior.
one person who lived it

1 more on this

Stop trying to justify your decisions to others or yourself; 'I don't want to' is a valid reason to remove yourself from a situation.
one person who lived it