13 Things All Self-Destructive People Need To Stop Doing For Their Own Good
We're all self-destructive. It's ingrained in the human condition to hate yourself, or at least that's how it feels. We've all done things we knew were not only wrong, but bad for us. We've consciously and subconsciously hurt ourselves through relationships, jobs and bad decisions. However, there comes a point in our lives when we must acknowledge this self-infliction and make an effort to stop making our lives so much harder for ourselves.
Life is hard enough without the pain of incessant self-destruction. As we mature, we learn tricks and secrets that are supposed to make life easier. We begin to learn from our mistakes, so not to make them again. We understand how to do things the easy way and to predict when a decision will lead to unfavorable consequences.
We become responsible, and with that responsibility comes the desire to take care of ourselves. But what about those people who don't? The people who don't learn from their mistakes, the people who don't seem to care about consequences and reputations?
The characteristics of a self-destructive person are easy to spot. It's usually someone who is very insecure, uncomfortable and genuinely unhappy with him or herself. It seems like they are making poor decisions for the sole purpose of distracting themselves with the consequences and the hardship, so not to face their real insecurities and problems.
Self-destruction manifests itself in all of us; however, only the strong know how to battle it. You have to be a secure and mentally strong person to learn that you are worth fighting for.
Here are 13 things self-destructive people need to stop doing:
Are Friends With People Who Harm You More Than Help You
Your friends contribute to a large part of your happiness. They are one of the few things in your life that you can choose. When you hate everyone at work, in your family and just in general, your friends are the people can confide in.
They are the ones who are supposed to make you a better person. Self-destructive people have a tendency to hang out with people who are jealous, manipulative and self-serving. Their friendships are competitions, their secrets are fair game, and their flaws are problems.
Choose To Do Things The Hard Way
By now, we all know shortcuts and easier ways through certain situations. We know the consequences that come with most actions and the pain that can be involved. We base our decisions on facts, experience and knowledge. Self-destructive people know the easy way, but always choose to do things the hard, or wrong way. Whether it's subconsciously or consciously, they have a knack for going about everything with some purpose of pain.
Opt Out Of Taking Chances For Of Fear Of Failure
Self-destructive people thrive on failure. They use it as their excuse for lost opportunities and failed attempts. They never grow as people because they have never overcome this fear. What self-destructive people don't realize is that failure is not criticized; people only judge you on how well you rise after you fall. Failure is a weak excuse and one of the common reasons as to why self-destructive people never go anywhere in life, staying stuck in constant state of perpetual defeat.
Refuse To Let Anyone Help
There is nothing wrong with needing help in life. There is a common belief that asking the right questions is more valuable than knowing all the answers. Knowing when and how to ask for help is essential for a happy and healthy life. We all need to swallow our pride once and a while and learn to trust in others.
Self-destructive people don't understand how to ask for help. They let their pride and their ignorance deter them from getting the help they need. They don't see opportunity in others and find honor in suffering alone.
Use Drugs And Alcohol As A Way To Cope Rather Than Relax
There is no shame in letting loose through drugs and alcohol on occasion. There is nothing wrong with relaxing with a glass of wine. However, using drugs and alcohol as coping mechanisms is not the same. Those who use alcohol to get through the day, as their courage for work and play, are inflicting self-harm. They think that drugs and alcohol are a distraction from their problems when, in reality, they are only creating more problems and more dependencies.
Date People You Know Will Hurt You; You Hurt The People Who Love You
Self-destructive people have a pattern of bad relationships. They choose the girl they know is selfish and the guy who doesn't want a relationship. They get cheated on and stay, yet refuse to talk to their parents after a fight. They don't acknowledge real love, only obsess about the people who are hurting them.
They do not value or even see when people actually care about them, usually choosing to lash out against them. Their bad relationships are just another distraction they use to keep from bettering themselves.
Spend Money On Frivolous Things And Not On Things You Need
It's easy to buy sh*tty food every day rather than make a salad. It's easy for self-destructive people to spend 20 dollars on a cab when they know they won't have enough for dinner the next night. They do not think of their needs, only their momentary wants and desires. They have no real self-restraint and continually harm themselves by thinking only of present feelings and thoughts. They live on phrases of "YOLO" and store-bought candy. They take pills but never for medicine.
Live In Your Mind More Than Out Of It
They keep bad memories stored up for good days. Self-destructive people bask in their bad thoughts, letting it overcome the present and cloud the good. They inhabit their minds rather than living in reality and enjoying the moment. They are constantly remembering the bad and never the good, letting their regrets and mistakes ruin every opportunity and good moment. They don't know how to let go of things and leave the past behind them.
Repeat The Mistakes You Should Have Learned From
Mistakes are okay; mistakes are forgivable… as long as you don't make them again. Everyone messes up; everyone fails. However, we judge people on how well they redeem themselves. Not learning from your failures and mistakes is consciously making life harder for yourself. Refusing to look at your defeats and disappointments is not healthy and will never amount to anything greater than a succession of regrets.
You Only Think About The Immediate Future Rather Than Long-Term Consequences
Self-destructive people make decisions for the now, never for the next step. They do not think about consequences or long-term effects. They follow their fleeting whims and impulsive nature, letting their wants take precedence over their needs. They drink because they want to get drunk, but don't think about work the next morning.
They buy that purse because they want it, but don't think about their credit card debt. They never think about how their actions today will be construed later and like to think they are just being spontaneous.
Second-Guess Yourself To The Point Of Making No Decisions At All
It's easy to second-guess ourselves. We do it all the time. Did we actually turn the coffee maker off? Did we lock the door? Should we have emailed our boss? However, you should have learned by now that second-guessing is as tiring as it is wasteful.
It's something that can't be helped but should be recognized and stopped as soon as it starts. Self-destructive people are constantly second-guessing themselves, usually wasting most of their time regretting and lamenting over things that aren't worth the time. They waste their lives worrying and retracting rather than moving forward and making changes.
Lie And Never For The Right Reasons
Our parents always told us it's okay to lie, as long as it's for the absolute right reasons and not hurting anyone. Telling a lie because you don't want to hurt someone or to help someone is not always wrong. However, lying because you can is different. Lying because it's easy is not right. Lying is also a destructive path that only leads to regret, embarrassment and a loss of trust.
Only people hellbent on hurting themselves are out there throwing lies around. Only those who want to get caught are webbing stories and falling into traps of their own making.
Pay More Attention To Your Flaws Than Your Assets
It's easy to remember the bad and even easier to forget the good. Self-destructive people have a tendency to ignore the good and only concentrate on the bad. They remember every negative comment and bask in the loathing that comes with hating yourself. They can't get past a negative review, yet don't even notice the good ones.
It's easy to fall in down the hole of self-loathing, but only the strong know how to move past the negative and concentrate on the beautiful parts of themselves.
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