Monsters inc

Spot These Toxic Traits and Get Rid of Them!

Title: Spot These Toxic Traits and Get Rid of Them!
Artwork by: YMI
Description: Our toxic traits are not always visible to the naked eye, and may not be easily identifiable, but they sit lurking beneath our pleasant exterior.

These traits may include unrealistic expectations we have of others (and ourselves), thinking we’re better than others, or thinking we can handle everything on our own. These noxious traits are often born from our insecurities–our need for perfection, our desire for acceptance, or our need to be seen as independent and capable.

Unknowingly, it spills into our everyday lives, impacting the relationships we have with others and with ourselves. 

This high and mighty position can hurt us and those around us. It’s also the very opposite of what Jesus wants for us to be, which is to exercise love, compassion and kindness. 

But never fear, the Bible has given us the power and ability to vanquish our toxic traits. It’s now time to pick up the sword of Truth as we slay this beast.

 

Buzzlight year and woody

We expect perfection from others because that’s the gold standard we expect from ourselves. As a result, when our expectations aren’t met, or when we fail to perform or deliver, we find ourselves trapped in a cycle of defeat and self-condemnation. 

How to break-up with this trait:

Exercise grace and compassion! It’s worth asking ourselves where these expectations are coming from, and whether they are valid or not.

We are all imperfect people but God extended His grace (Romans 3:23-24) to us. Likewise, we can extend this grace to those around us. Instead of focusing on the negatives of others, we can narrow in on their strengths and build them up from there!

 

 

Sponge bob square pants

We live in a world full of comparisons, where we are often judged and measured by the things we say and do. We then use this on others, judging them using our own benchmark . . . in which we always come up tops. 

How to break-up with this trait:

Ask God for a heart of humility. Humility opens doors to growth, and helps us grow a healthy self-awareness towards God and others. Scripture says we’re not to do anything out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but to consider others above ourselves (Philippians 2:4-5). Let’s look instead to build and encourage each other, instead of tearing the other person down.

 

 

Minions

We desire to be loved and accepted, and before we know it, we’re bending backwards just so we look agreeable or nice, or “compromising” our values on certain things because we want to fit in.

How to break-up with this trait: 

It can be exhausting to try to be nice or accommodating just to gain someone else’s approval. When we root our identity in Christ instead of others’ perception of us, we can cease striving and rest in the knowledge that we’ve already been approved by God. Let that truth power our motivation to please God and not men (Galatians 1:10).

 

 

Russell from UP

We avoid asking for help because we’re afraid others will look down on us or see us as weak and incompetent. In our efforts to prove we can do all things on our own, we end up overloading ourselves with work and feeling constantly overwhelmed. 

How to break-up with this trait:

While we can be thankful that God has made us capable and strong, our attempts to be self-sufficient sometimes means that we leave God out of the equation, and forget that our abilities come from Him. When we turn to Him–and the people He’s surrounded us with–for help, we might find that there’s so much we can learn from those around us that can help sharpen our God-given skills even further (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)!

 

Homer Simpson

Maybe you grew up being told what to do with your life, and that your opinions don’t matter. So you end up second-guessing your decisions, and changing your opinions and views depending on who you’re talking to or what’s the popular opinion of the day–until you realise you don’t even know who you are or what you really think. 

How to break-up with this trait:

Renew your mind daily with the Truth (Romans 12:2), so you’ll be able to discern what’s good and what’s not according to His will, and have the confidence to stand firm by your convictions instead of being tossed around by the wind. 

And even if the influence was a good one, regularly steeping yourself in the Word can help you guard against the temptation of idolising it.

 

 

Elsa from frozen

 

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