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Janet Goh's avatar

Open up and take that risk. Don’t be afraid to lose a relationship. If someone cannot understand you, is defensive or attacking, they are not a good fit with your ways of living anyway. You do not have to abandon these people entirely but know that the truth was spoken.⬅️ This happened to me recently! Lol 🤣

Someone came to me for advise on his rs with his fiancee. I gave my take based on my observations of the text n voice records he sent me. However, I encouraged him to seek help from professional therapist as I can see the issues lie on both parties.

Initially, he took my suggestion of letting go of that rs becos he was sick of the same old cycle repeating every month. Days later he told me they had a 5hrs talk on the phone again, the same topic as in their convo.

At this point, I knew I have been used as a distraction! So, I told him I can remain as his friend but I won't get involved in his rs drama. This obviously triggered him to say he needs to learn to stay alone n blocked me.

Sometimes, we need to guide others to learn about boundaries by showing them what is unacceptable. On the other hand, it is also a way to self preserve.

I'm sure he is still with his fiancee! I wish them well n happy ever after.🙏😊

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Tomas Milka's avatar

Janet, I am glad that you have discovered this ancient post of mine! Thank you for sharing this story. That is true, they had some things going and you valued your time and did not want to get involved. This was communicated and it is ok if some people need time to digest the information.

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Janet Goh's avatar

Tomas, thank you for responding, your time shared is very much appreciated! 🫶🫰✌️👍💪

I'm just randomly reading some of your older posts n this one 💯 resonates with me so timely. 🙏😊

Yap! This is the mode I'm in recently, not afraid of getting rejected or people leaving by speaking my mind! 😉😁

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Tomas Milka's avatar

Love to hear this, Janet. True, this is a reoccuring theme in life. Speaking up about what matters is so important for the quality of our relationships and mental wellbeing as well.

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Janet Goh's avatar

I would not be too happy to hear a good friend reject me to treat him for a cup of coffee, Tomas!😏

But then it would have save me some $ if he did reject me. Lol 🤣😉😁

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Tomas Milka's avatar

People rejecting you is saving you money, love it! Always look to the bright side :D

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Janet Goh's avatar

Wow! You know me so well!👍💪✌️😉

This is what I often said➡️Be prepared for the worse n always look on the bright side! 🙏🤗✨

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Sanuj Thomas's avatar

Great post Tomas. Difficult conversations can be hurtful momentarily but it can set you free from emotional confinements. Sometimes the other person will understand if you speak out. Carrying the burden in your heart will only cause greater anxiety.

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Tomas Milka's avatar

Sanuj, thank you for reading and expressing your insights. True, it is all about the longer perspective and zooming out. Like with a lot of other things, the price for benefits in the long run is being uncomfortable in the short term. However, it does not sound very attractive for a lot of people. But when you rewire your brain to see pain and discomfort as exciting, the game changes radically. At the moment I am preparing a newsletter about this. Coming soon.

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Edwin Ngetich's avatar

Uncomfortable conversations are hard to take, it reveals the things you don't want to hear. It threatens any familiarity you have known. But beneath it lies the things that can take you forward; things that can make you authentic and lively

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Tomas Milka's avatar

Edwin, that is true. For a relationship to build up to the deeper level, there should be some uncomfortable genuine moments experienced together. This becomes a more real and honest foundation to continue.

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Madeline Tyler's avatar

I heard a pastor say something along the lines of being a Peacemaker, not a Peacekeeper.

By always keeping the peace and pushing things under the rug, we are delaying the inevitable, usually making it worse.

By going out of your way to make peace, you are addressing the problem, creating a space where communication is important, and you're growing!

As always, I absolutely love to read your publications, Tomas.

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Tomas Milka's avatar

Madeline, thank you for reading! True. Peace works until there is a balance in the relationship. Sometimes we have to make a stand and give our input to maintain that balance. What is the worth of life, lived solely on the terms of others? I do believe that a healthy and alive relationship is a constant negotiation of boundaries.

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An K.'s avatar

Thank you!

I believe the most important decision one can make is to not sacrifice their belives and stay true to themselves .. in all relationships but especially in romantic situations.

That is the problem of not rocking the boat.. co- dependency...

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Tomas Milka's avatar

An, thank you for your insight. I agree. At the same time, we always have to negotiate with people. I do not want them to sacrifice themselves for me and later realise that they have made a mistake as well. When I become more self-aware of who I am and what I want I start to expect it from other people. Maybe I should not have any expectations at all, but I believe that self-awarness from both ends will greatly contribute to the quality of our relationship.

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An K.'s avatar

True! There is a fine line between love and control/ subjugation. Compromises have to be made and should be somewhat balanced, work for both.

We need to remember we can always step away. Not all are compatible.

This expectations thing is a real bummer!! LOL

Certain things come with certain unspoken rules like: friends don't betray each other, yet it happens. Then we need to discern if the behavior is a deal breaker for us or not.

How bad was it? Does the person keep doing it even though we asked fhem to stop and so forth.

Nobody is perfect, everybody will hurt us sooner or later, we just need to find those that are worth the pain.

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Tomas Milka's avatar

An, so very wail said! "we just need to find those that are worth the pain."

I do believe this is the definition of true love. We are very much ok to have positive emotions with everybody, but being real and having the full package goes only with the chosen ones.

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An K.'s avatar

Agreed! :)

I actually stole that line, Bob Marley said it first!! Heehee

There really isn't much we can say or do, that hasn't been said before.. is there??!!

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Tomas Milka's avatar

Great line! In a way yes, but we might say a lot of profound truths in our own way. There is a great book called Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon.

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An K.'s avatar

True! And wisdom needs to be passed on.

I will check that out! I seem to "steal" and plagiarise a lot!! LOL

Thanks!!!

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An K.'s avatar

Cheers! ☕️

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Richard Schulz's avatar

I worked in an environment where hard questions were never asked. It ended up the business closing down. Never look at these types of conversations as a personal attack.

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Tomas Milka's avatar

Richard, thank you for sharing. True, avoiding things does not make them disappear. The courage to go straight into the eye of the hurricane can do miracles.

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