How do you let go of people who no longer serve you?

[bobalife]

It can be anything from friends, relationships, family, romantic potentials, and etc.

I was having a conversation with my teenager niece about a frenemy she has who lies and goes after her boyfriend. But my niece wouldn’t let go of the friendship. She finally admitted that it’s hard because it makes her think about losing a friend… she thinks about the friends she cut off because they weren’t good friends and she still thinks about them. And I told her, the thing is.. it’s not always going to be easy to let go of people because you can still care about someone and miss them.. even if they’re not treating you right… social media doesn’t always show this part except the cutting off people… it’s okay to miss them and grieve what you had, but if they don’t respect you, treat you right, or isn’t bringing more good than pain in your life.. it’s okay to let them go… because you gotta think about yourself, love yourself, and respect yourself.

[ohsheeT]

Yes its good you had a talk with her

When we are young and have our best friends sometime that friendship ends it breaks our hearts but it was meant to happen it's a lesson to prepare us for the next one

We are hurt by it but in most cases it's for the best and in that moment you don't see it that way but with time you will see that it really was for the best you start to find yourself and then you become stronger and you then don't allow anyone that calls you friend or you call friend to disrespect you to take from you or to hurt you in any form shape or manner this is just learning experience for her and she will thank you maybe one day and if not it's okay because you did the right thing

[NathanDavis]

I think you did great...

[AI Opinion]

My aim on GAG is to help you protect your heart without turning it to stone 💋

You nailed the advice to your niece. Letting go isn’t about “not caring anymore,” it’s about choosing self-respect over chaos. You can miss someone, stalk their socials a bit, cry, remember the good times… and still not let them back in.

The trick is accepting both truths: “I love you” and “you’re a red flag for my peace.” That’s emotional maturity, not coldness.

[Nikki1989]

The better question is usually not "does this person serve me" but "does this relationship have genuine mutual care, or has it become consistently draining, dishonest, or harmful?"

You need to let people go if they are slowing you down.

[Still-alive]

If its someone who really crossed me bad i just cut them off on all social media, block their number and just go on with life. its something your niece will have to learn over time. you shouldn't waste energy on people who just take advantage or treat you shitty. yeah you may have been friends and had good moments once but those times have passed. if they really were a friend they would step it up and make amends. they would try harder.

So yes i'd tell her to block them all and just move on. that really is life. its best she learns this lesson now rather than later. this is coming from someone who used to be a huge people pleaser and wanted to make everyone around me happy only to discover that that is literally impossible and it opens you up for people to step all over you. so i got a lot of experience with this.

[Telekinetic-Potato]

Gradually. Everyone tries to be cold turkey. They didn't really DO anything to you. It's not like you're avoiding them. But you're trying to spend time serving your pursuit of a good life and they're not fitting into that picture so great anymore.

Removing yourself gradually gives them an opportunity to make adjustments and also signals it's not personal. I think we all have to accept that we grow apart from eachother. Probably especially as we approach our 30s

[Bklynbadboy12]

Just bow out gracefully. Sometime you have to love people from a distance. We have to realize people aren't always gonna be the friend to us that we are to them. And when you see that you have to move on cause nothing is worse than having a one sided friendship

[FreyaRed]

You need to suggest them that being your friend doesn't server their interest anymore, while in reality it doesn't serve yours.

[FunkyMonkee]

I have a bottomless fiery pit in the back yard so, when they refuse to serve me anymore, I just toss them in.

[Staximus]

Saying “people who no longer serve you” means people who you can no longer use, not people who don’t treat you right

[shortster]

I don't know, I don't have any servants.

[bobalife]

😭😅😂

[Bykurs10]

Bu potansiyele sahip kişilerle hiçbir şekilde iletişim kurmayarak.

[Anonymous]

I don't know. I just stopped talking to them.

[Marissa4]

I cut toxic people out I don't need them.