Friends are supposed to be the ones who support you and lift you up when you’re down. Friendships are special because they are bonds formed between people who hold a sense of trust in one another. Sometimes we need to re-evaluate the people we call our “friends”.
Here are 6 types of “friends” you should re-evaluate and steer clear of:
The Know-It-All
Mr. or Ms. Know-It-All often leave you confused or feeling less than whenever you’re around them. They might be older, wiser, or smarter, but have no problem rubbing it in your face. In conversations where you feel comfortable, they try to convince you that you are wrong, even if you are right. When it comes to topics you don’t know much about, they belittle you. Real friends don’t mind taking the time to explain things to you if you don’t understand and like to listen to you when the roles are switched.
The Complainer
This friend always has something negative to say. Sometimes your friends may be going through other issues in their lives, but complainers usually just have a negative impact on life. It seems as if nothing is ever good enough for them, and they give compliments very sparingly. If you’re not careful, their mood can rub off on you. Wherever you go with them, you have to beg them to see the bright side of things or whisper “Loosen up,” to get them to even consider having a good time.
The Bragger
This person is successful, happy, and may even be wealthy. This is all great until they start flaunting it every time you’re around. Braggers are showy people and will boast about their achievements to friends, family, and even strangers at a café. When true friends share their good news with you, your natural response should be happiness and joy. If a person’s conversations leave you thinking “Here he/she goes again,” it might be time to let them know how you’re feeling. If the problem persists, it may be safe to assume they didn’t take the conversation seriously.
The Flake
For them, there’s always an excuse for why they can’t hang out with you. Sometimes the reasons are valid, but lately, they just haven’t been adding up. You feel as if there’s always something “more important” than you that holds their attention. To make matters worse, after they decline to your plans, they post a picture on social media of them doing something with someone else. If you don’t suggest something they really enjoy, the answer is no. They never initiate plans, but on the off chance that they do, you still have a strong feeling that they will cancel.
The Taker
Being selfless is not a bad quality to have, but in your friendship with this person, it’s all about them, them, and them. Friends help each other in times of need, but also value the balance of give and take. Before you even notice, you’ve given more to them than they’ve ever given you. At first, it was small offerings of kindness. Then it became big favors. Now they expect certain things from you and become disappointed when you stand your ground.
The Meanie
The line between telling the truth and being rude is very thin, but it still exists. During a time when you’re not feeling your best, it is the job of your friend(s) to nurture your feelings and help you feel better. Honesty is a valued trait in friendships, but real friends do not kick you while you are down. This friend is all about “I told you,” and doesn’t take the time to let you fully heal. Even when you are feeling like yourself, they make slick comments that ruin your mood. They might even be a foe in disguise.
It can be very difficult to let go of the relationships that you’ve worked so hard to build. As time passes and memories are made, it becomes harder to drift and grow away from certain people. However, it is normal. Not everyone that comes into your life is meant to stay there, and you should not feel bad about not wanting to support those relationships anymore. You can always make new friends! If your subconscious is telling you to move on, it might be best to move with purpose.
The insights in the article are the opinion of the writer.
