We are created for relationships. Even those of us who enjoy our quiet time alone can attest to this truth. However, these same relationships can either make us or break us. Sadly, we (or people we know) tend to ignore the early red flags of our rational thinking and allow ourselves to be drawn into toxic relationships (and situations) that are certain to lead us towards a life of chaos. Why do we make the choices we make? How can we take control and choose better?

Our emotions, although mysterious, are so powerful that our natural logic seems to escape us. The empty places in our hearts are so hollow we ignore the danger of the void fillers we select; we so desperately want the loneliness gone. The wounds in our soul are so painful we discount the alarms in our spirit in hopes that this will be “the one” who takes all the pain away. Understand that no matter how much we want to make something true out of the imaginations in our mind, the truth will eventually rear its ugly head. If we want to take back our life, we MUST wake up to this reality.

Self-awareness is crucial to thinking responsibly when developing healthy relationships or simply making decisions. Just because we deny or ignore what is real does not make it change. We cannot choose the emotions that rise up but we can utilize our self-awareness in order to better control the course of our reactions. We must take responsibility for who we are and the choices we make, but first we must search for the truth behind the pattern of past destructive choices if we are to learn to create an abundant future filled with thriving relationships.