Unhealthy Relationships to Avoid

Previously, I wrote on toxic relationships. They are relationships that cause stagnation and retrogression. A healthy relationship is one that empowers us on every level because it allows for personal growth.

Unfortunately, we are given very little advice in school and houses of worship on toxic relationships to avoid. This makes people spend a lot of time in and out of relationships that yield little satisfaction. But with new, ground breaking research in the field of dating and love, we can now know types of toxic, unhealthy relationships to avoid.

A one-man show relationship.
This is a relationship that is run by only one person. If you are in a relationship in which you feel trapped or powerless, it is a one-man show relationship. Relationships are all about freedom to grow and become who you are destined to be. I once dated a guy who told me that when he is in a relationship, he likes to have total control of his woman; that if he asks her to jump, she should jump first before asking him why. I ran for my dear life!

A relationship meant to fill your inner void.
A relationship can definitely bring joy to you, especially if you are with the right person. However, many people have fantasies of the one who is meant to lift them out of their boredom and misery into paradise. The inner void is well recognized in existential philosophy as that sense of loneliness, boredom, unhappiness, dissatisfaction and emptiness many people feel on a very deep level. No-one can fill the inner void for another person. You must acknowledge its presence and stop looking for the next fascinating guy or girl.

Relationships where past wrongs are dug up to justify one’s stance.
If you are with someone who keeps digging up past wrongs and mistakes, your relationship is toxic. In a healthy relationship, both parties should be able to let bygones be bygones. An inability to do this digs up past guilt and bitterness to manipulate the other person into feeling guilty in the present. An example of this is a man who cheats on his wife just because he discovered she was unfaithful to him years ago.

It is important to recognize that there are certain types of relationships that are toxic and will cause stagnation for you. With this knowledge, you can avoid that.