In this day and age of toxicity, we understand that there are many things in our environment, and even our kitchen cupboards, that are bad for us.
The wireless signal from the cell phone, the artificial sugar in the so called pure water, and even the plastic bottles the water is in is bad for us. But it’s not only things that make us toxic.
Sometimes it’s the things that we do that contribute to our high levels of toxicity. We try so desperately to shield ourselves from the pollution all around us that we forget some of that dirt is right inside of us. The things we do and, I hate to say it but, the people we keep company with contribute to that toxicity.
Are you curious to find out what things you are currently doing that are actually making you toxic? Are you ready to dump all that toxic waste? Check the following list carefully to see if you recognize yourself in any of these things.
If you do think you are toxic, fear not, check it and chuck it. Boom, done.
1. Watching the news.
I don’t care what anyone says or thinks, the news is bad, period! The opening stories are all about the tragedies going on around the world. Bombs, crashes, kidnappings. It’s sickening. I understand that this is the reality of the world. These things are going on all around us. I get that. I pray for the people involved and pray for peace around the world. I do this daily. What I don’t need to do is listen to it or pollute my brain with it every single day on the television or radio. No thanx.
2. Hanging with your toxic negative friends.
I know. You love your friend Nancy, but every now and then, actually more often than not, she kicks into Negative Nancy and proceeds to suck the life out of you.
You brace yourself because + you knew it was coming and + you never really know how long each bitch session is going to last.
How close are you and Nancy, really? Is she your bestie that you absolutely can’t live without? If so, tell her it’s time to change the tune of the topics. Tell her you aren’t interested in hearing negative stuff all the time. Let her know how you feel.
If she understands and apologizes then you do have a great friend there
. If she gets mad at you and tells you to go “f” yourself then, well, you should be pretty much be done with her, as well as with all the other types of toxic people you might meet.
3. Worrying.
To not worry is easier said than done. We all have worries, some bigger than others.
Here’s a little exercise to try. Next time there is a small concern or worry you have, shut it down immediately and say to yourself “I have no control over this situation right now and worrying about it isn’t going to do any good” and then immediately think about something happy.
You can always train your mind to stop worrying, too.
4. Trying to fit in.
Stop pretending to be someone you’re not to impress people. Just be yourself. That’s who we want to see anyway. When you put on a different mask, you’re not only fooling others but you’re fooling yourself. You are beautiful just the way you are. Lose the pretend image. It doesn’t look good on you.
5. Gossiping.
Bad bad bad. How dare we talk about other people? Who are we to spread rumors? What makes us better than them? How sad we are that we don’t have better and happier things to talk about other than our neighbour. Next time you get caught up in a gossip session at work with coworkers, turn the conversation around to something more positive. Do it, and see what happens. I guarantee the energy in the room will become lighter and more pleasant.
6. Holding a grudge.
Really. Who do you think you’re hurting? You think the person involved in your grudge cares about how you feel? My guess is probably not.
Let it go. Life is too short. This grudge is just going to slowly eat away at you every day. Don’t you have better happier things to think about anyway? Remember this very popular expression “Holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die”. Think about that. Let it go.
7. Being selfish.
To some degree, it’s necessary to be selfish. We must take care of ourselves first in order to adequately take care of the people around us.
When that selfishness takes on a life of its own, it’s time to rethink your actions. You know you’re being selfish and you also know that it’s not in a self-nurturing way. How does it make you feel? If you can feel that little bit of guilt or shame then it’s time to stop and be more loving and caring.
8. Not taking good care of yourself.
Remember that whole “it’s ok to be a little selfish” thing? Yes. You need to. Take care of your physical, emotional and spiritual self first, and then you will be at your best for others. It’s very important to look after yourself and ensure that your body is getting the proper fuel, your heart is being tenderly cared for by you (or others) and your soul is being nurtured all the time.
Anything less, and you are not serving you properly.
Tackle one thing at a time. Do it for a day or a week or even a month and then move onto another one. Think you can handle more than one? Awesome. It won’t be long before you are living toxic free!
If you find you do exibit some of these toxic behaviours, maybe it's time to get serious about overcoming these obstacles. Our Guided Meditation collection was recorded so you can stop just watching life pass by, so you can stop worrying about every little detail and so you can finally boost your self confidence - download confidence meditation audio here.
Do you have any expeirence with toxic people you'd like to share? Or did you find yourself in some of these? Please let us know in the comments.
