Has a friendship, relationship, or professional connection caused you to ask yourself, “Wait a minute, am I living for them or me?”⁣ ⁣ Sometimes it’s a single, pivotal moment; other times, it’s compounded events of self-betrayal. Still, at some point, we all have experienced a shift in relationships that leads to realizing we deserve better or that it’s not worth the suffering.⁣ ⁣ Many have experienced unfulfilling, unreciprocated, inconsistent, or downright abusive dynamics. And each time, you will have to honour yourself and uphold your worth and value.⁣ ⁣ Obviously, the sooner you sense unwanted energy, hurtful intentions, and consistently poor behaviour, the quicker you can determine whether or not this is someone you want to engage with. But many of us want to extend grace and understanding and offer chance after chance because we see the light in others, despite the darkness they present.⁣ ⁣ Unfortunately, sparking embers with the wrong people is bound to smother your own fire. Fall deep enough into gloomy relationship dynamics, and you’ll forget how bright you ever were.⁣ ⁣ And sometimes, this happens accidentally. You could know someone for years, see that they’ve lost their way, and continue to take advantage of your steadfastness. Or perhaps power dynamics overcame a friendship, and they repeatedly crossed boundaries. Whatever it may look like, it isn’t hard to notice what you feel when you’re with or around an energy vampire that doesn’t uplift you, care for you, or profoundly respect you. ⁣ ⁣ It’s better to lose others than lose yourself. There is no righteousness or joy in being a martyr for your relationships. Continue to uphold your power and self-worth, and actively choose to connect with others who also celebrate and maintain their own light. ⁣ ⁣ Above all, never let the treatment of another determine how much you love yourself. Everyone is operating from their level of consciousness. And we’re not responsible for changing others as much as we are for meeting our own healthy standards for love and connection. ⁣ ⁣ You are here to uplift and illuminate the world with your precious inner glow. Never allow anyone to put it out.⁣ ⁣ #VexKing