I see toxicity in this picture.
I see the Amanita Muscaria which is a toxic mushroom.
I feel we shouldn't be toxic nor should we condone toxicity around us for it is detrimental to our health.
According to the oxford language dictionary, toxicity means the quality of being very harmful or unpleasant in a pervasive or insidious way.
Are humans toxic?
Yes! Plants or fungi aren't the only toxic living thing in the world, humans can be toxic too.
What are toxic traits?
Toxic traits are negative attitude that causes pain or discomfort to people around us. Here are some examples of toxic traits.
- Manipulation
- Self-centeredness
- Arrogance, Rude, and disrespect.
- Perfectionism
- Judgmental
- Controlling/ violent.
To mention but a few, just like the Amanita muscaria, though good-looking yet deadly, we might be physically beautiful yet our toxic traits might be deadly to those around us.
The Amanita muscaria causes coma, hallucinations, confusion, vomiting, diarrhea and so many bad effects. We too can cause others unhappiness, unworthiness, depression, and another deadly effect when we possess some of the toxic traits mentioned above.
When you feel unworthy after spending some time with a person, that person has a toxic trait.
When you refuse to take responsibility for your action or do not see the need to apologize then you are toxic.
Are you in authority and you abuse your power or intimidate your subordinate? Then you are toxic!
Do you use guilt trips, emotional blackmail, or threat to get what you want? You are toxic!
Are you always looking out for the fault of others and judging them? You have a toxic trait.
Do you bad-mouth others because of their circumstances or mistake in their life? All of these are toxic traits.
How can you respond to a toxic person?
Pay attention to how people make you feel and don't make excuses for their bad behavior.
Have a conversation with them and tell them how they make you feel.
Manipulative people can sense who they can manipulate, make yourself unavailable, and set boundaries.
Learn to say No to things you can't tolerate or control.
Cut them off for your mental sanity and health but if you can't cut them off create a huge distance.
Toxic people often portray this behavior to feel good about themselves, to gain more attention, or for some personal reasons.
But know that, we can rise without putting others down and we can feel good without making others feel worthless.
We can be a candle that lights up the world of others without hurting their feelings, making them feel small, or causing them pain.
"Always remember that the same people who are candy to your eyes may be poison to your heart, study their ingredients well before feeding them to your soul."
We all possess toxic traits to some extent, but how often do you let yourself exhibit that toxic pattern? We might not even know we are toxic and that is why we need people to tell us the truth about our behaviors, they serve as mirrors to our souls to help us correct these toxic traits, we are all works in progress and so, a toxic person can change if they are ready to put in the work.
The Amanita Musricas looks good to the eye but it is poison to the soul.
Thank you for stopping by, till we meet again this is Amie Geoffrey.