Why it Might Be Time to Break Up

by Ariel

​I was working and this song came on the radio. Luckily it was slow, so I let myself cry a couple tears. Why was this so raw? Why did this particular song, with these particular lyrics, strike me at my core? This was in moments. In the first 2 minutes of the song I went from normal work-mode to post-breakup fountain. A break up is never an easy thing. But this song brought it all back.

Now, there are many kinds of break-ups we have to face. Unfortunately, we live in a world where passive-aggressive comments via text, Facebook, or straight to your face, reign. Women are usually the first thought when people think “passive aggressive” but, let me tell you, men don’t get off the hook that easily. They are equally as crafty with the art of being passive aggressive (gaslighting much?). It’s easy to be “friends” with people who, at the end of the day, aren’t really friends and aren’t really very nice.

I have recently decided that that the people in your life are either for you or against you. There is no in-between. Either someone loves you and supports you and would fight for you, or they wouldn’t.

In many friendships there are often two roles people play: the co-dependent and the narcissist. They are a dynamic duo set up for destruction. According to Love Addicts Anonymous, a codependent is described as: [persons who] try desperately to hold on to the people they are addicted to using codependent behavior. This includes enabling, rescuing, care-taking, passive-aggressive controlling, and accepting neglect or abuse. In general, they will do anything to “take care” of their partners in the hope that they will be happy and will choose not leave—or that someday they will reciprocate.

Now a narcissist is explained as: [persons who] use dominance, seduction, manipulation, gaslighting, and withholding to control their partners. Unlike codependents, which accept a lot of discomfort, narcissists won’t put up with anything that interferes with their happiness. They are self-absorbed and their low self-esteem is masked by their grandiosity. Furthermore, rather than seeming to obsess about the relationship, they appear aloof and unconcerned.

That seems extremely pessimistic. We all contain traits of both. It is simply how far down the rabbit hole of either characteristic we choose to go into. You can choose to set boundaries and create a healthy relationship. Or you can break up.

The hope is in this: The healthier you become the healthier people you will attract into your life. I have found that, in doing the Passion Provokers Forgiveness Process, I am beginning to subtly set boundaries naturally. The beauty in boundaries is that they make it apparent who is for you and who isn’t. Suddenly, people decide they either want to walk with you in your growth or they resist the change.

There is a grieving period in these realizations. You have to make peace that there are going to be people, maybe people you have known forever and at one time considered one of your dearest friends, which you will have to break-up with. That is heartbreaking.

I do not recommend a full-blown war announced between you and these people who may become those you “used to know”. Peace is always possible. Explain where you’re headed to them (if it is safe and/or they deserve an explanation). Explain how and why you are changing. Usually, just by having this conversation, it becomes apparent if they want to grow with you or not. That is apparent in their reaction. And then simply meet them half way. If they cannot come the other 50%, then they will quickly fade from your life. And that is a choice on their end of things.

People constantly change. Change brings a lot of controversy, but luckily the only people in your life that won’t support your change are the ones who like having your codependent a** at their disposal, in which case they don’t really deserve your attention nor time.

Take a moment and cry. Feel the loss. But then feel the freedom. Having a team of people around you that you know would fight for you is truly invaluable. Your confidants, your lover, your best friends, your mentors...hold them close, and be the friend that you want in return. 

For more information on co-dependency and narcissism click HERE (links throughout updated 11.20.2020).