How do you know when to let go and move on? What do good friendships/ relationships look like?

Hi Beau, Thank you so much for your question. I think many people struggle with knowing when to keep some people in their lives and when it is time to cut them out for their own well being. I think this decision is often made on a case to case basis. There are times that we are able to make changes in how we behave and how we allow others to treat us that can determine if a relationship is salvageable.

I feel that the thing many people struggle to establish is boundaries in their relationships. I think by setting proper boundaries and knowing what things are important to you in all of your different relationships (with family, with friends and even in romantic relationships) you are better able to determine what relationships in your life are healthy for you and what relationships are not healthy for you. Boundaries are the guidelines of how we want to be treated and also how we treat other people. It is important that we treat others and also that we treat others with respect and kindness.

There are times in our lives when we are treated so badly that it is better for us to let go and walk away from the relationship with that person. It is sometimes hard to walk away or sever a relationship with someone who we care about, but who has treated us badly or unfairly. I think it is important due to this difficulty to really think about and consider if this relationship can improve where it is not negatively impacting your well being. There are times where these relationships can be improved and there are times when they cannot. 

The people whom we choose to spend our lives with should be our support system, our cheerleaders and our shoulder to lean on. Their presence should add to our lives and not detract from it. Too many times we allow others not to treat us well and do not establish our boundaries with them. Remember your worth and what are the things that are important to you in your relationships and hold yourself accountable to expecting that from the people in our lives. We cannot change how others treat us, but we can control how we ALLOW others to treat us and also how it EFFECTS us.