Are you in toxic friendships? Or even any kind of relationships? Why waste your time being pulled down by people who pretend to have your best intentions in mind? Chuck out the bad and focus on living a life that is full of positivity:

Ask yourself the following questions. If you aren’t happy with the answers, then perhaps you need to  re-think the friendship. It may be painful at first, especially if you have grown dependent on the other person, but you also need to take charge of your life.

Is there mutual benefit to all parties involved? Friendship is a balance of give-and-take. If there is more of one, then that relationship will fall-out eventually. One person can only do so much giving without being reciprocated. If you feel that you are giving waaay too much of yourself and not getting anything in return, then think it over.

How does the relationship affect your ability to achieve your life goals? Friends support each other. A good friend always back up his buddy when it comes to attaining the latter’s life goals. He will not do or say anything that would block his friend’s path to achievements. He would even provide avenues that would help his friend get to his goals faster. If your friend laughs at or discourages you for  your dreams and aspirations, then think it over.

Do I behave well when I am around this friend? Some friends bring out the best in us and some of them, the worst. If you find yourself thinking and acting out improperly when in the company of your friends, then there’s got to be a problem in the dynamics of the relationship. Think it over.

Why think it over? Because often times it is not only the relationship we need to change, but ourselves as well. If you find yourself in a pattern of bad friendships and other relationships, it might not be other people who are in the wrong, but ourselves.