I once heard a metaphor that your soul is like a big pot of soup. When different people and opportunities come into your life, you dole out the amount of soup each thing merits—maybe a bowl of soup for your partner, a cup of soup for your job, and etc. Yet it is of the utmost importance that when you give your soup away, you get some different and equally fulfilling soup in return. If you don’t, you just end up burning the bottom of your pot. Here are some signs that the people in your life are taking too much of your soup …
They don’t communicate well
Healthy relationships—romantic, friendly or professional—need good communication. Do you ever find that no matter how efficient you are in responding to texts or emails, your partner, friend or co-worker never gets back to you within a reasonable amount of time? Sending prompt responses is a signal of respect for you and your time, and you deserve that kind of respect.
They always ask for favors but never pay you back
Don’t be a doormat to the needs of others. While it is good practice to do nice things for people without expecting anything in return, there is a fine line between following the golden rule and being taken advantage of.
They make you feel inadequate
The people who are important to you should never make you feel like you aren’t good enough. You should aim to have an open dialogue with the people who know you best. But there is a difference between constructive criticism and belittling.
They make everything about themselves
Cut narcissists out of your life. If they can’t learn to see things from someone else’s perspective, they will never be able to be there for others in a meaningful way. You deserve partners and friends who consider your thoughts and feelings when making decisions.
They don’t encourage you to grow
Humans are social creatures; we can’t go long without interaction. The good thing about this fact of human nature is that we get to choose whom we spend our time with. The people we surround ourselves with should care about our well-being and emotional growth. They should push us outside of our comfort zones, rather than keeping us trapped in a loop.
