.Loyalty vs Dependency. Spot The Difference or it WILL Take Over Your Life

Loyalty is a tricky topic. It can be all too easy to justify an unhealthy relationship, toxic friendships and/or dealing with intolerable family for the simple notion of being loyal. You can't turn your back on your family because "blood runs thicker than water" and that just isn't right. You can't let go of a friend because they've been there through the good and the bad- even if they eventually got sick of your bad. If you're people dependent, this is especially difficult because you blame yourself every time something goes wrong. Rather than leaving or creating space because you deserve better, you're convinced that your love for these people justifies the way that you let them treat you.

It's possible that you didn't even realize this. Maybe it took the words on this page to convince you, or writing them for yourself. Maybe it'll take a hard punch to the heart and a kick in the butt for you to hurt enough to realize that this is not okay. Friends are supposed to bring you up, not make you feel lesser or guilty for being you. Family are supposed to love and support you for who you are and build you up from there- not try to shape you into someone else because they think it's better. Significant others too are supposed to love and cherish you for who you are at the core and then push you to be an even better person from there.

You can't put yourself on the line for others. You can't please everyone. You can't put others before yourself and expect that to fuel your tank. It's time to stop putting all of your eggs in other peoples' baskets and take life by the tail. You are not other people, you're stuck being only you forever. Whether you suffer or prosper is up to you, but it has to be for you. Deeply consider husbands, wives and children but don't sacrifice your own well being for anyone else. Even if you get but a moment of opportunity here and there, take it.

Everyone is looking out for their own best interest, even if they're unaware. We're all needy, we're all looking for love and acceptance. Fight it all you want, but it has to come from within. If your own love and acceptance isn't fulfilled before reaching out to other people, you're trying to give them love from an empty cup.

This has been a bit of a rant, but I really hope you were able to gain something from these words. Hopefully we can all see this sooner than later, so that we can start living for ourselves with others.