Friendship IRL: Real Talk About Friendship, Community, and What It Actually Takes
Alex Alexander
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Why We Need to Stop Using the Word “Toxic” in Regards to Friendship
Bad vibes. Frenemy. Fake friend. Toxic friendship. We have an entire vocabulary for when friendships aren’t working, but I think certain words and phrases often oversimplify friendship issues – and ultimately end up costing us something very real. In this episode, I talk in particular about the word toxic: its history, how it’s morphed in modern friendship culture, and questions to ask yourself to identify issues in friendships instead of just labeling somebody toxic. Let me be clear: this episode is not about tolerating bad behavior. This is about what happens when we reach for a label instead of doing the harder work of figuring out what the problem is and what we actually need. In this episode you’ll hear about: Why I think the word toxic has become overused and oversimplifies the complexities of issues between friendshipsLooking at some history to the word “toxic,” which has clinical origins but has been diluted via social mediaHow the word “toxic” seems to imply a person is incapable of change – plus, my own personal qualms with labels in generalThe value in focusing on behaviors instead of labeling people, and three questions I recommend asking before writing off “toxic” people Resources & Links Preorder my book! Are We Friends Yet? comes out June 16. Like what you hear? Visit my website, leave me a voicemail, and follow me on Instagram and TikTok! Want to take this conversation a step further? Send this episode to a friend. Tell them you found it interesting and use what we just talked about as a conversation starter the next time you and your friend hang out! WANT MORE? My book, Are We Friends Yet? hits shelves June 16. Get on the waitlist for pre-order bonuses + a first look. Dive into The Connection Reset. A 10-day private podcast to help you see the abundance of connection that already exists in your day-to-day (Yes. Really. I promise you have more than you realize). Start today.
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