If you ask your friends, they probably have a very clear opinion, which may or may not be influenced by that one time you flaked on dinner plans for a date or spent an entire girls’ night bemoaning your latest breakup. But now, science is weighing in on how exactly relationships change who we are.
If your relationship has led you to make positive life changes—like working out more or eating healthier—then it’s made you a better person. Sweet! I don’t know what it is if that’s not the case for leaving bad boys behind. After all, shouldn’t we all be dating people who make us feel like the best versions of ourselves?
You could kick yourself for getting involved and staying in that bad relationship, couldn’t you? But before you get too down on yourself, there are actually a lot of positive things that can come out of this negative situation.
Here are the top eight reasons why being in a bad relationship makes you a better person:
- You’re Now in a Better Company
It is a shame that we don’t enjoy our own great company as often as we should. And if you have been stuck in a bad relationship, you’ve been hanging out with the worst company of all. You need someone who will accept your flaws, appreciate your kooky sense of humor, and love you for who you are. Hopefully, you know at least one person like that. Well, of course, you do … it’s you!
- You’ve Proven You Know What You DON’T Want
The fact that you can recognize and admit you’ve had a bad relationship is the first step to finding true love. There are those who find themselves in the trap where they assume it is better to be in a bad relationship than to be alone. But in order to find a better companion, you need to accept that your own good company is better than somebody else’s bad company. It is true that it may take quite a while to find your soulmate, but you’ll miss them if you spend the majority of your time hopping from one bad relationship to another. Take what you’ve learned from this bad experience, raise the bar a few notches, and look for someone who makes you feel good.
- You’re a Ball of Creative Energy
Some of the world’s greatest works of art have come from the creative energy behind a tumultuous experience in someone’s life. At the end of a bad relationship, many strong emotions are released, and if you can channel them in the right direction, you can accomplish some pretty fantastic and creative things.
- You Have the Opportunity to Rediscover Yourself
One of the marks of a bad relationship is losing your original purpose. Sometimes, a bad relationship can take so much energy to maintain that you lose a part of yourself with the effort. However, now that you’re single, you have the opportunity to reacquaint yourself with any long-forgotten dreams, goals, and aspirations. Take full advantage of this.
- You’ll Better Appreciate a Keeper
Without some bad in the world, we would never know what was good. The people who find their soulmate right off the bat may have a rougher road ahead because they may find themselves one day wondering if things could have been better. I’m sure you may know a few people who are like this. Consider yourself blessed, as your chances of maintaining a great relationship are much higher now that you’ve learned the difference between a person worth keeping and a person worth tossing aside.
- You’re the King/Queen of Compromise
Negotiating heated emotions is a technique that is best learned after being thrown into the lion’s den of a bad relationship and forced to cope and adapt. In many ways, a bad relationship puts you at an advantage because it can teach skills that will help you become a better partner in the future. These coping skills will be just what you need to make a good relationship last a lifetime.
- You Can Strengthen Your Support System
It is never good to be the one crying wolf, but a crisis can rebuild lost ties with both friends and loved ones. Take this time to forgive any small disagreements that may be holding you back from asking for help from others. People who face the pain of a bad relationship on their own may seem strong as they develop ways to mask the pain, but those who utilize a support system heal quicker and have an easier time learning from their mistakes.
This Experience Will Help Others
When we have a bad experience, we are often drawn to people who have experienced a similar challenge. These people can comfort us and understand us. Though these moments are painful, what you discover will enable you to one day comfort a friend and help them see how experiencing a bad relationship will also make them a better person.
I appreciate the positive spin on what is often a very painful experience. Recognizing that bad relationships can teach us valuable lessons about what we don’t want in a partner is crucial. This awareness can indeed help in finding more fulfilling relationships in the future.
The idea that a bad relationship can strengthen one’s support system is quite insightful. Reaching out to friends and family during tough times can rebuild and solidify those bonds, helping us heal more effectively. This communal support is invaluable.
The notion that enduring a bad relationship can help us better appreciate a good partner resonates with me. It’s true that understanding the contrast between bad and good relationships can make us more grateful for a keeper when we find one.
It’s interesting how the article emphasizes the development of coping and compromise skills through bad relationships. These skills are essential for any lasting relationship, and gaining them the hard way might indeed be advantageous in the long run.
The article presents an interesting perspective on the benefits of bad relationships. It’s thought-provoking to consider how adversity can lead to personal growth and self-improvement. The idea that we can become more creative and rediscover ourselves post-breakup is quite compelling.