Those who display toxic people characteristics are some of the most problematic people that we will meet in life.
With that said it is more than likely that you’ll run into toxic person at some point in life.
These are people who make your life more difficult than it needs to be. This might be an annoying colleague or neighbor, an abusive family member, or an unsupportive spouse.
The fact of the matter is this person wants to make you miserable, and you have no reason to deal with their negativity when you don’t have to.
Everyone has to deal with toxic people at some point or another, and when you do, it can be very easy to get sucked into the negative emotions and thoughts that they stir up in you.
The most common toxic people characteristics are that they are controlling, manipulative and self-obsessed. They are rarely genuine, and speak negatively and think they are better than other people.
Learning how to gracefully deal with toxic people can help you resolve issues before they start and protect yourself from unnecessary stress and drama in the future. Here are some quick tips on how to handle toxic people without compromising your own mental health or self-esteem.
Try Not To Judge
It’s easy to judge those with toxic people characteristics as simply being negative.
This is especially true if we’re not fully satisfied in our current relationship, wishing that a friend or lover would change.
But it’s just not fair of us—or helpful for them—to expect them to change without giving them a chance first.
When you stop expecting others to act and think like you do, it opens up a world of new possibilities for communicating effectively and forming lasting relationships.
Alter Your Perspective
If there’s someone in your life who is consistently bringing you down, do your best to turn a negative situation into a positive one.
And if that doesn’t work, change your perspective.
Sure, it’s possible for you and a toxic person to coexist peacefully, but if that person brings drama into your life—it may be time for you both to go your separate ways.
Remember: You can only control yourself. So take care of yourself first by changing your own thoughts and actions when dealing with a toxic individual.
Empathize As A Human Being
Before you can do anything else, you have to remember that each and every person is a human being.
They’re going through something, they’re learning in their own way, and they don’t always know what they need. Make sure your first reaction isn’t anger or frustration: take a second to understand where they are coming from.
What could be causing them stress? Is it possible that there is something more important in their life right now?
Take Space To Stay Safe
In certain situations, you may want to keep yourself at a healthy distance from people who may be causing you stress or harming your personal relationships.
This can help give you some much-needed breathing room. However, it’s always best not to burn bridges when doing so—it’s possible that someone may change their ways and become a better person in time.
For example, you might say something like:
“It sounds like we’re having a hard time understanding each other right now. I think it would be best for us to take a break until we both feel calmer and more ready to talk about things calmly.
Let me know when you feel ready, and I’ll try my best to listen patiently. Until then, I hope you understand that I need some space between us so we both can cool off.”
Try and Let It Go
Those who display toxic people characteristics can be really difficult to work or communicate with.
Maybe they’re disrespectful, hostile or just plain mean. You know you’d be better off without that kind of negativity around you. Unfortunately, sometimes it seems easier said than done.
If someone is stirring up drama in your life, try your best to be the bigger person and forgive them. Forgiveness doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with whether you think someone deserves forgiveness—it has everything to do with whether you deserve peace of mind.
Even if you believe they don’t deserve forgiveness, forgiving them will help reduce your stress levels and allow you to move on. It may also make them re-think their behavior, too.
