Why Do We Stay in Toxic Environments?
I don't think there can be any reason good enough to continue exposing ourselves to toxicity.
On Monday, I started the conversation on toxic environments, and yesterday, we looked at how toxicity and inauthenticity can shorten our lives by a whopping 32 years 😳 according to research by Dr Michael Roizen.
I find this research both thought-provoking and alarming. It raises a crucial question: 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐜 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬?
The answers that come to mind are:
📍 𝐈𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. This is why I am taking the time to sensitise my community so that ignorance is no longer an excuse.
📍 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧. We have lied to ourselves for so long that "a known devil is better than an unknown angel." So, we stay in toxic relationships and workplaces simply because it is familiar.
📍 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬. This is a psychological condition where individuals feel powerless to change their circumstances, despite having the means to do so.
If any of the three options listed above is your reason for staying in a toxic environment, while it's valid, it's not a good enough reason. 𝐈𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭, 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲.
I acknowledge that there are some complex issues, such as divorce (if in an abusive marriage) or losing your means of livelihood (if in a toxic workplace), which can make leaving a toxic environment difficult.
In these situations, it may not be as easy or straightforward to simply tell someone to leave, as the next question could be, "𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞?" This is a valid question that deserves careful consideration.
This is why tomorrow, I will be sharing with you some practical strategies to break free from toxicity and regain your personal power.
You deserve to live a long, fulfilling life, filled with love, peace, affirmation, joy, respect, authenticity, purpose, and impact. I hope you chose this bedazzled life for yourself!
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