In this world, there are tons of different kinds of people and some of those people are good while others are quite ‘bad.’ Sure, we might try our best to surround ourselves with positive friends and so forth, but sometimes toxic people fall through the cracks.
Just because someone has good intentions does not mean they are a good friend and if someone is bringing you down, they’re not the kinds of people you should be allowing close. Below, I am going to go over some of the different kinds of friends that we should be working to avoid. While cutting ties and placing boundaries isn’t always easy, it is always crucial.
8 Kinds Of Friends You Should Not Keep Around:
1. The Negative Nancies
These are the people who always seek to bring you down. They never have anything positive to say, ever. It’s like nothing you ever do will be good enough in their eyes. Constant negativity from those around us can drain our energy and detract from our own positivity. For those struggling to deal with negative influences, “The Power of Positive Thinking” by Norman Vincent Peale offers strategies to maintain a positive outlook in the face of negativity.
2. The Braggers
Now, while we all know these kinds of people on some level, they tend to in some cases go a bit under noticed. They brag about everything and try to make themselves out to be better than the people around them. While you might be able to tolerate them a bit, you shouldn’t have to.
3. The Unreliable
These kinds of people are always agreeing to do things but never following through. You can’t rely on them like you want to be able to and when you need them the most they are nowhere to be found. They say they’ve changed over and over but honestly, they never actually change.
4. The User
Users are people who do exactly that, use us. They always want favors and things from us but never want to do things themselves. The more you do for them the more they will ask of you. Users take more from us than they give, leaving us feeling exploited. “Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success” by Adam Grant explores the balance between giving and receiving, helping to identify when a relationship is one-sided.
5. The Drama Queens/Kings
Dramatic people are sometimes the worst. They go out of their way to start conflict and always want people arguing. The more you allow them in your life the more hectic things will become.
6. The Complainers
People who complain all the time are more than capable of bringing us down. They want to have people on their level and do not seem to like seeing others do well. Overall, they are quite hard to be around. Chronic complaining can sap our joy. “A Complaint Free World: How to Stop Complaining and Start Enjoying the Life You Always Wanted” by Will Bowen challenges us to break the cycle of negativity and foster a more positive environment.
7. The Overly Competitive
Overly competitive people are the ones who never see anything as it is, they see things as competitions no matter what they are. If you get a good grade, they have to get a better one. If you get a promotion, they have to somehow outdo you. They never feel happy for you in your accomplishments.
8. The Doubting Debbies
These kinds of people are the ones who put doubt in our minds. When we are doing our best and putting our efforts forth they undermine everything. They make us question ourselves and how we do things. “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol S. Dweck teaches us about the growth mindset, helping to overcome the doubts instilled by ourselves or those around us.