Mother always knows best. Mother’s can always detect a destructive friend before anyone else can, but I’m sure many of you already know that. My experience is living proof that your mother's first impression of your friends is always right; listen to them on this one thing! Hopefully, you are reading this because you happen to have a toxic friend and want to find some guts to eliminate that toxin. Believe me, I know that ending a powerful life-long friendship is difficult, sometimes even petrifying, but the outcome from your leap of faith is well worth the fall. The initial jump may be hard to swallow, but finally gathering the trust in yourself to do so will be the biggest breath of fresh air.

Sometimes we let people treat us poorly because we think to ourselves “it’s only temporary,” or “maybe they will change.” Living your life in hopes that someone else will change so you can live the way you find fulfilling is no way to live at all. You can only watch someone's bad habits and morals for so long until their traits start to rub off on you. The moment you start to notice that what your friend is saying or doing something that your morals clash with is the moment you need to take a step back and reassess the reasons you’re involved with them at all. If you find yourself constantly re-evaluating your friendship, get out. Completely cutting a friend off that has been such a vital part of your life is difficult, but at some point you have to ask yourself, what will be the thing that will finally send you plummeting over the edge? Do you really want to find the answer to that question? Don’t be worried about how taking charge of your life will affect your toxic friend, for once change for the good of you.

Letting go of a toxic friendship may be hard for you to do because you are used to being the reliable one. Now it’s time for you to rely on you, protect who you really are, and who you aspire to be. Stay strong, soar high, and set yourself free. Allow yourself to be the best version of yourself. Let go of what is holding you back or your life will constantly be at a stand still.

Best of Luck,

Finally Free