2-3-4 Friday 

‘Seeking to spark the most potential within you per word of any online newsletter’

1 thought

I once asked a friend why she seemed so serene. Her reply? 

 

I don’t listen to people’s shit. 

 

We all laughed. 

 

But that’s so true, isn’t it? Often we spend so much time trying to be nice and understanding and empathetic, that we forget that no one is forcing us to listen to someone else’s problems. You put yourself in that situation, probed, asked the questions, and tried to be understanding. 

 

You don’t have to, though. 

 

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to advocate that we be unkind.

 

But here’s the point: sometimes we love others, because we can’t bear to love ourselves. 

Take some time today to assess your relationships. 

• Are there people who are taking more from you? 
• Do you often find a friend talking more about his problems? 
• Do you find yourself drained after a conversation? 

Find those, and consider cutting them from your life. Stop replying to requests for your time. Stop initiating meetups with people who drain you. Stop sticking your fingers into people’s problems. 

You may find yourself more serene. 

 

1 talk

1 tip 

Why do we still like listening to people’s problems? Here may be an answer. Because it makes us feel needed. 

 

We feel that we can help. We feel like heroes! 

 

But maybe you need more time to yourself, rather than more time given to others. You don’t always have to be responsible forother people’s problems. 

 

Don’t you have your own things to solve? Here’s another reason why we pay attention to the problems of others. Because we want to distract ourselves from our own issues. 

Here’s a suggestion. 

The next time, when you see a friend upset, before you dig into her problems, maybe take some time to think:

• What am I here for? For my friend, or for myself? 
• Am I here for a restful night, or a draining night?