True Friends vs. Toxic Friends

Ah, friendship. It is such a hard thing to achieve. True friendship is like a rare diamond. We don’t find it easily. Sometimes we have toxic friends. And they are the worst kind of people to have in your life. They aren’t actually friends at all! Here are five major differences between true and toxic friends:

1. Good friends empathise with you, toxic friends criticise you.

   When something goes wrong, good friends always have your back. They are an empathetic shoulder to cry on, even if you clearly make a poor decision. A good friend doesn’t blame you for your mistakes. A toxic friend, however, jumps at the chance to criticise you. They point out your mistakes and make you feel guilty.

2. Good friends respect your opinion, toxic friends think they’re always right.

   A good friend enjoys having deep conversations with you, even if your opinion differs. Regardless of the different views, the conversation never turns bad. But a toxic friend always turns a small disagreement into a big argument. They aren’t interested in hearing your opinion. They just want to prove you wrong.

3. Good friends want to spend time with you, toxic friends call when they need something.

   A good friend calls you or texts you just to say hi, to tell you they miss you, or to see how you’re doing.
   They aren’t interested in using you for anything, they really care. But some friends only call when they need something. This type of friend is toxic. They’re more interested in using you for their personal gain. They’re not interested in actual friendship.

4. Good friends accept you for you, toxic friends try to change you.

   A good friend accepts you for who you truly are. They love your differences and they’re happy to let you be your unique self. But a toxic friend doesn’t care about the real you. They just try to turn you into the person they want you to be.

5. Good friends are happy when you succeed, toxic friends become jealous

   When you experience success, a good friend is your biggest cheerleader. They like every good thing that comes your way. A toxic friend, however, envies your success. If someone is stealing your joy, it’s time to cut them out of your life.