Maintaining healthy relationships takes work, honesty, and empathy. Unfortunately, many people develop bad habits over time that make it difficult to keep relationships on the right track. There are too many to list, but here are 17 of the most common negative habits that push people away.
Not listening
It’s important to actively listen when communicating with other people because failing to do so can lead to misunderstandings and resentment. Not listening can make someone appear self-centered or disinterested in others and cause people to turn away from relationships as they feel one-sided.
Over-criticizing
Excessive and constant criticism can damage other people’s self-esteem and discourage them from sharing ideas or taking initiative. It’s hurtful, says Psych Central, and it doesn’t work, as being overly critical makes it difficult to maintain close connections, as people want to avoid that criticism.
Gossiping and back-biting
Gossiping about others can lead to trust issues, as it demonstrates a willingness to talk about people behind their backs. Being known as a gossiper or as two-faced can damage one’s reputation, pushing people away and deterring new relationships, so don’t do it!
Being untrustworthy
Failing to follow through on commitments, breaking promises, and being constantly late are all forms of being untrustworthy, which can lead to a loss of dependability in the eyes of others. Unreliability can have a negative impact on both professional and personal relationships, pushing people away when the trust is gone.
Invading Personal Space
Invading and disregarding others’ personal space can cause discomfort, irritation, and annoyance. It’s important to understand and respect cultural norms related to personal space, respect the physical boundaries of other people, and maintain privacy in conversations. Otherwise, you’ll push people away!
One-upmanship
Constantly trying to outdo other people’s cool stories or one-up their achievements can make conversations feel competitive rather than supportive. This behavior can make people feel undervalued; they won’t want to carry on conversations and will be less likely to share their experiences.
Excessive complaining
Constantly complaining about things can create a persistently negative atmosphere that pushes people away. Harvard Business Review states that chronic complainers in the workplace are toxic not only to themselves but also to the people around them. They’re often perceived as unwilling to change their circumstances, which is frustrating for others.
Interrupting others
Interrupting other people when they are talking can impede the natural flow of conversation and indicate a lack of respect for the speaker. Frequent interruptions can also make someone appear arrogant or overly eager to dominate the conversation, which can result in other people not wanting to talk with them at all.
Being a drama queen
Overly dramatic reactions to everyday events are tiring to other people and can detract from any genuine issues. Constant drama from one person can lead to others taking their concerns less seriously over time and not wanting to be around them, as the emotional exhaustion that comes from it is too much.
Oversharing
Oversharing too many personal details too soon in a relationship can make others feel uncomfortable and push them away. It can also signal a poor understanding of social boundaries, deterring people from engaging further. Some things are just TMI, and nobody wants to hear them.
Holding a grudge
Holding a grudge can lead to resentment in long-term relationships, as well as having a negative impact on personal happiness. Refusing to forgive past wrongs can prevent reconciliation and maintain unnecessary barriers, causing other people to push away for fear of any grudges being held against them, too.
Being Needy
Excessive neediness or clinginess can lead to emotional dependency, making a relationship feel like a burden rather than mutually supportive. That neediness puts a strain on your partner or friend, potentially leading to their withdrawal. Everyone needs support, but try to give it out in equal measure!
Pessimism
A pessimistic outlook can lower group morale and lead to a generally dispirited environment. Most people naturally gravitate towards positivity because, as Harvard Health points out, optimism feels good and encouraging! Understandably, people tend to avoid those who consistently bring negative energy to a group or a relationship.
Passive-aggressiveness
Passive-aggressive behavior involves indirect communication and subtle anger that can be confusing and irritating to others. This behavior often stems from an inability or unwillingness to confront issues directly, and it pushes people away, leading to unresolved conflicts. Just be open if you’re not happy with someone!
Dismissing Others
Dismissive behavior can undermine other people’s ideas, feelings, and contributions, leading to their feeling of inadequateness. You wouldn’t stick around either if someone was consistently dismissing you; you’d lose interest in engaging with them because why would you want to be in a one-way friendship?
Constant Sarcasm
Sometimes referred to as the lowest form of wit, sarcasm can often be misinterpreted, leading to misunderstandings and hurt feelings. It can be amusing from time to time as long as the humor is clear, but constant sarcasm will only contribute to a negative atmosphere, particularly when it’s used insensitively towards individuals.
Manipulative behavior
Finally, manipulation in friendships will completely erode trust and push people away from you. Forbes describes manipulation as controlling or influencing another person’s thoughts, emotions, or behaviors to serve their own interests. Unsurprisingly, it causes emotional harm in relationships, forcing victims to distance themselves, which is only to be expected!
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