It can be hard to be friends with someone who is negative all the time, but there is a way to handle them well.
Talking Points:
- Be patient. When your friend is acting negatively, don’t react right away. Don’t get mad. Be patient and listen to what they have to say. They might just be looking for someone who will listen. Ephesians 4:2
- Focus on your positivity. If you spend your time keeping a positive attitude, it will be a lot harder for them to drag you down. In the same way that their attitude can rub off on you, yours can rub off on them – but this will take work and intention!
- Don’t take it personally. If they start being harsh or rude to you, it’s probably not because of something you did. It’s probably because of the situation they have going on and they are projecting it onto you.
- Set boundaries. This doesn’t mean completely cutting that person off. Setting boundaries could start with a conversation with them about how the attitude is affecting you and how it’s making it hard to be their friend. They may listen, and they may not. Proverbs 13:20
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Have you ever had a negative friend? Or have you ever been the negative friend? What happened?
- Have you ever reacted in a bad to way to a negative person? What happened?
- Read Proverbs 13:20. What does this verse tell us about how the people around us can affect us? What does this mean for relationships with negative people?
- Read Ephesians 4:2. Why do you think it’s important to not just completely cut negative friends out of your life? How do you know when someone goes from being a negative friend to a toxic person in your life?
- What are some good boundaries you could set with a negative friend?
- What other tips would you give to someone who is dealing with a negative friend?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
