Family members who are toxic, or who undermine you or argue with you. Friends who make you feel shit about yourself. Partners who walk all over you.
Why do people (yes, myself included, I'm not going to pretend I am any different!) take it?
Oh they really hurt/ me / upset me / angered me but I said nothing.
Said nothing?
Why?
Why not say "Hang on, you are out of order!"
or "It's really none of your business."
or "Look, I don't have to have you in my life and if you carry on being a twat you can just stay the hell away from me."
In short, why continue to have relationships with people who bring nothing but misery to your life? Why? Why not stand up to them?
I have cut people out of my life - my grandparents and the entire side of my dad's family, for example. I have walked away from friends who no longer deserved to be in my life.
But my weak point is my mother. I lack the courage to tell her off. So is that what it is? Courage? Or is it more complicated than that?