It doesn’t matter if you’re a widow or not, toxic people are everywhere.  They are unavoidable and you will cross paths with them sooner or later. It’s just harder for widows because they are grieving and don’t have the emotional energy to deal with the toxic people in their lives. Trying to change a toxic person is futile.  You’re better off accepting that they are who they are and you just need to survive each encounter with your self-esteem intact.

• Stick to the facts as much as possible when talking to them.
• Don’t be alone with them, have a third person with you.
• Watch your body language. Relax, unfold your arms & breathe deeply.
• Forget feelings of revenge as they feed into their anger.
• Consider an exit plan in case things take an ugly turn.
• Be kind and let them roll off your back with a smile and kind word.
• The number one advice is to avoid the toxic person as much as you can.

It’s important to stop the stressors from getting the best of you.  Have a plan of action to deal with not just toxic people, but other stressors in your life. “When we honestly ask ourselves which persons in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand.  The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is the friend who cares.”   Henri Nouwen, Spiritual writer, Priest and Preacher Mary Francis, The Sisterhood of Widows #thesisterhoodofwidows, #widow, #grief, #griefsupport, #widowsupport, #howtogrieve. #widowshelpingwidows