Families are complicated. As much as we want to always be there and support our loved ones, sometimes our relationships could be toxic. It’s difficult to draw a boundary between you and a relative, but how do you know it’s time to cut off ties with a family member? Or how do you know when to maintain the relationship? My wife, Yvonne Rainbow Teplitsky, the founder & owner of Artsy Goddess Studio, has her own experiences of challenging family relationships where issues and misunderstandings have stacked on one another.

In this episode, Rainbow and I answer a listener’s question about drawing boundaries with an important family member and explain why it’s important to not force conflict resolution and instead opt for cultivating space. We share our experiences and vulnerabilities with family issues and cutting-off friends and relatives. We describe how toxic behavior in the family affected us as children. We reveal the common characteristics that define toxic behavior such as manipulation and lying, as well as illustrate how guilt can prevent us from letting go of toxic people. We also discuss the importance of looking inwards when considering challenging relationships and cutting ties with family.

 

“Cutting ties with family members is one of the hardest decisions that we may ever face in life.” - Pripo Teplitsky

 

This week on Relationships! Let’s Talk About It:

• The difference between toxic relationships and family dramas
• Rainbow’s experiences growing up with family issues
• The effect of family conflict on children
• The inevitability of conflict and the best time to learn about conflict resolution skills
• Why it can be challenging to cut ties with family members
• The power of creating connections with an estranged family member
• What makes a relationship one-sided
• My experience with a toxic family member
• Why you should consider creating space instead of severing relationships
• How we are met with resistance when we force conflict resolution
• Manipulation, deceit, victim-playing, and other aspects of toxic behavior
• Why toxic people attach to loving and kind ones
• How guilt prevents us from cutting ties with family members
• How family loyalty can create toxic relationships
• Why friendships can be difficult to end

 

Listener Questions - Let’s Talk About It:

• At what point do you let go of relationships that may no longer feel fulfilling, even if it means hurting other family members?

 

Related Content:

• Dealing With Family Dramas: Standing Up For Yourself
• Courage In Relationships
• Taking Responsibility In Your Relationships
• Managing Conflict In Relationships
• Encourage Your Partner’s Authenticity
• Encourage Your Partner’s “Deeper” Authenticity
• Time Apart vs. Time Together: What’s Healthy?

 

Connect with Yvonne Rainbow Teplitsky:

• Artsy Goddess Studio
• Yvonne on LinkedIn
• Yvonne on Facebook
• Email: [email protected]

 

Let’s Talk About It!

 

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Relationships! Let’s Talk About It - the show to help you forge deeper, more meaningful connections and relationships with those around you. If you enjoyed this week’s episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show, and leave us a rating and review.

 

If you have a relationship question you’d love to have answered, visit our podcast page to leave us a voice message. Your question may be featured on a future episode!

 

Don’t forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook at HeartShare Counseling, join our Relationships! Let’s Talk About It Facebook group, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Share your favorite episodes on social media to help others build better, more meaningful relationships.

 

And if our content has helped you forge deeper connections and more meaningful relationships, be sure to help support the show by visiting our Support the Podcast page!

 

Theme music “These Streets” provided by Adi the Monk