Chapter 7 – Ending Toxic Relationships

Minimalism is more than getting rid of things you do not need. To create a peaceful and happy life, you must get rid of toxic relationships that are weighing you down and making you more miserable. Those who poison you with pessimism, sloth and low expectations of themselves do not deserve your time.Don’ t be afraid to fire certain friends because this is often what you must do to live the life youwant. Now this isn’ t being mean, it is being practical. To think otherwise is self-destructive.

Day 28 – Stay Away from Toxic People

It’ s kind of easy to spot toxic people– they exude that negative energy that weakens your spirit. They are manipulative, judgmental, and they do not apologize for their mistakes. They talk more and they love to create drama in their lives. They also lie to get what they want. To save your sanity, stay away from these people. If you can’ t really cut them off from your life, you can simply limit your contact with them. Be picky when it comes to your relationships. Surround yourself with people who lift you up and make you feel good about yourself. There are only two kinds of people in our lives, the ones who build us and the ones who destroy us. There is no such thing as the neutral zone. So, list down at least three people who poison you in some way in life and the actions to be taken. Stop fooling yourself.

Day 29 – Learn to Say “No”

Saying “yes” to all requests can take a toll on your health. It could reduce your life satisfaction and can bring a huge amount of stress. So, don’t be guilty about saying “no” to requests that you are not comfortable with. Saying “no” increases your personal power and control. It also keeps you from overextending yourself.

 I can't give you a sure-fire formula for success, but I can give you a formula for failure: try to please everybody all the time. ― Herbert Bayard Swope

If you’ re a natural people pleaser, here’ s a list of tips that you can use to say“ no” often:

✓           Take a deep breath and say“ no” . Make eye contact and say the word as clearly as possible.

✓           Don’ t feel guilty about putting your needs and preferences first.

✓          Be polite when you say no. You can say something like“ I appreciate the offer, but I have to decline” .

Remember that your time is valuable, too. So, avoid overextending yourself by saying“ no” to requests that do not serve you .