“We have to learn to be our own best friends because we fall too easily into the trap of being our own worst enemies.”  ~Roderick Thorp, Rainbow Drive

I’ve come up against this notion twice this week, the idea that you’ve got to continue to invest into relationships that are emotionally detrimental.

Talking to clients and friends, it seems there’s some confusion as to when it is okay to leave a relationship behind.

I’ll bottom-line it for you.

It’s time to relinquish a relationship (i.e. discontinue investing, at least emotionally) when:

a) you feel drained in their presence over a protracted period of time
b) they belittle your hopes and dreams
c) they lie to you
d) you can no longer communicate (so all possibility of true connection is cut off)
e) all of the above

If you don’t move on, you’ll stay rooted to a place you don’t want to be and start to blame the people around you for your self-imposed misery.

Because you’ve known them forever isn’t a good enough reason to keep some people in your life if your heart sinks every time you think about spending time with them.

Ya’ gotta’ speak up, people! Or move on.

Nope, best to hang out with people who support your ambitions and build your confidence.

Here’s how you’ll know them: You’ll feel good about yourself—stronger and enlivened—in their presence.

I mean, isn’t that how you should feel with your best friend?

“My best friend is the man who in wishing me well wishes it for my sake.” ~Aristotle