How to rid your life of toxicity

Rocking a peaceful world doesn’t take long. You scroll through social media, and the first thing you see is an angry rant about politics. Add in depression headlines, your own circumstances, and any other nearby brokenness. And maybe that’s all just before breakfast. 

Of course, we can stop the scroll, meditate on God’s word that is truth regardless of whatever else is happening, and develop healthy habits. Even so, toxicity is a hard beast to escape. 

Gratitude helps lessen toxicity that can find us in everyday life, but it’s important to be honest with yourself about what’s going on in your mind and around you because there’s toxic positivity that distorts our reality as well. But negativity is heavy, and quick to influence your thoughts, mood, and personal interactions. 

Recognize toxic influences

Toxicity doesn’t always announce itself with flashing neon signs. Sometimes it sneaks in, quiet and subtle, until it’s deeply rooted in your daily life. Social media is one of the worst offenders. Think about the last time you scrolled through Instagram or Twitter. How much of what you saw lifted your spirits? How much of it made you roll your eyes or question humanity?

For example, comment sections on social media are their own special brand of toxicity. They’re often filled with people who seem to thrive on tearing others down, spewing hate, or picking fights. Even when you don’t engage, it’s hard not to absorb some of that negativity. It’s like sitting next to someone who’s complaining nonstop: you can’t help but feel drained by association.

But it’s not just the digital world. This is actually something in real life too, it actually helps to understand low-vibrational people because they’re most likely the ones that are adding those negative vibes to your day. For example, maybe it’s a friend who always seems to focus on the negative, a coworker who’s more drama than productivity, or even a family member whose constant criticism leaves you feeling deflated. 

But overall, these influences might seem small in the moment, but they add up, shaping your overall outlook on life.

Be aware of toxic content

Have you ever noticed how a single negative experience can overshadow ten positive ones? That’s exactly how toxicity works, especially when it comes from the content you consume. Spend too much time soaking in negativity, and it starts to change how you see the world. The news, (the best example out there) has a knack for highlighting the worst of humanity.

You have these sensational headlines, tragic stories, and endless debates that might keep people clicking, but they also feed into a sense of doom. It’s no wonder so many people feel anxious after a long scroll through their news app. 

For years, I’ve stopped watching television news. If something big enough happens, I see it online and can read what I want, but I don’t want all the negative headlines just thrown at me. My son and I really like a song called “Good News Sold” by Jordan Davis: “If good news sold, the world wouldn’t seem so bad / If good news sold, we’d be buyin’ everything they had / And we’d all sleep a little bit better tonight / All be a little less left or right / And turnin’ the TV on and checkin’ your phone wouldn’t ever get old / If good news sold …”

Cultivate Positivity

Sometimes toxicity comes from people you know, and that’s where things get tricky. It’s not easy to admit when someone close to you, be it a friend, a colleague, or even a family member, is contributing to the negativity in your life. 

But if spending time with someone consistently leaves you feeling worse, it’s worth taking a closer look at how that relationship affects your mindset. So, it’s not so much about cutting these people out (sometimes you literally can’t), rather it’s about creating boundaries and trying to focus more on being around more positive people.

Build healthy habits

Overall, cutting out toxicity isn’t just about what you remove, it’s about what you replace it with. The habits you build in its place will determine how successful you are in creating a positive environment. The people you are around are a nice example, but when it comes to what you consume, well, maybe cut out social media (or the news) and instead focus more on something uplifting like the Bible, your church family, other books, and adventures that encourage you to build healthy habits. And surround yourself with simple things that you love, like wildflowers, string lights, and comfortable bedding.