Standing up for yourself is not always easy, but it’s necessary to ensure that your interactions with others are healthy. If you allow others to treat you any way they’d like to with no repercussions, people will take advantage of you. The person that sets the standard for how you will be treated is you, and if you show people that certain behavior is acceptable, then that behavior will continue. Many people hope that things will eventually change or get better on their own without them having to speak up and say anything, but that method does not usually work, unfortunately.
Most people don’t like to speak up for themselves because they are afraid of confrontation. They don’t want to risk losing a relationship with a friend, significant other or family member, so they just keep quiet about their grievances. The ill feelings they hold toward that person just build up and are never released, which can ultimately just lead to more conflict down the road. If you feel that communicating about an issue will completely ruin a relationship you have with someone, then that relationship likely isn’t worth having to begin with.
You should feel comfortable coming to those you care about with issues that you have. The conversation may feel uncomfortable, but they ultimately should listen to what you have to say and empathize with you. Someone that truly cares about you will not try to dismiss issues that you bring up to them or refuse to take accountability for how their actions may have harmed you. There may initially be some tension because most confrontation makes people feel uneasy, but if you both are able to discuss the issue at hand in a respectful manner, then the issue will likely be resolved.
Each person deserves to be treated with respect, so if you feel that someone is doing something that is harmful, whether it’s intentional or unintentional, you should speak up about it. The consequences of doing so may vary, but you will be a lot happier in the long run if you say something to the person instead of just putting up with their behavior. A lot of times, people don’t even realize that what they’re doing is hurting you, so don’t allow your resentment to build up without giving them an opportunity to address the issue and change their behavior.
If what this person is doing is so bad that it’s not deserving of a conversation, don’t be afraid to just cut them out of your life. You don’t need people like that in your life, and don’t let them make you feel guilty about your decision to end your interaction with them. Your well-being comes first, and you should only interact with people that treat you the way you want to be treated. It can be scary to completely just remove someone from your life, but just remember that almost no one is irreplaceable. You do not have to settle and allow yourself to be treated badly when there are people out there who are willing to treat you the way you want to be treated. Just let go and prioritize yourself. You will not regret your decision in the long run, even though it may hurt in the short term.