I Stopped Overgiving in Friendships. Everything Changed.

I Stopped Overgiving in Friendships. Everything Changed.

For a long time, I found myself trapped in a cycle of overgiving in my friendships. I was always the one who would go the extra mile, whether it was lending money, listening for hours, or sacrificing my own plans to accommodate others. At first, it seemed like the right thing to do. I wanted my friends to be happy, and I believed that by putting their needs before mine, I was being a good friend.

However, over time, I began to feel drained and resentful. I realized that I was losing myself in these friendships. I was so focused on making sure everyone else was okay that I forgot what I wanted or needed. It was like I was living in a state of constant self-abandonment, where my own desires and feelings were secondary to those of my friends.

One day, I decided to make a change. I started setting boundaries and saying no when I needed to. It wasn’t easy at first. I felt guilty and worried that my friends would be upset with me. But as I continued to prioritize my own needs, something amazing happened. My friendships began to transform.

I noticed that the friends who truly cared about me respected my boundaries and appreciated my honesty. They understood that I couldn’t always be there for them, and they were okay with that. On the other hand, the friendships that were based on my constant overgiving began to fade away. It was a difficult realization, but I understood that those relationships were not healthy for me.

By stopping overgiving, I gained something invaluable: self-respect and self-awareness. I learned to recognize my own worth and value my own needs. I no longer felt like I was losing myself in my friendships. Instead, I felt like I was being true to myself and building relationships that were authentic and balanced.

This journey taught me that being a good friend doesn’t mean sacrificing everything for others. It means being honest, respectful, and true to yourself while also being there for those you care about. It’s a delicate balance, but one that leads to much healthier and more fulfilling friendships.