“Not my circus, not my monkeys” – the wonderfully apt Polish proverb perfectly captures the art of maintaining emotional boundaries. Frankly, not every problem needs to become our three-ring spectacle.
In life’s grand circus, we often find ourselves juggling others’ issues with our own. Soon, we’re balancing elephants on our shoulders and trying to tame lions that aren’t even in our cage.
But since when were you hired to be the ringmaster of everyone else’s show?
In the words of philosopher Epictetus, “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” So, when someone tries to hand you their emotional trapeze, politely declining the performance is okay.
Try these strategies:
- Practice mindful detachment: Acknowledge others’ feelings without absorbing them.
- Set clear boundaries: Learn to say no when necessary.
- Implement the ‘Grey Rock’ method: Become uninteresting to toxic individuals by responding neutrally.
We can be supportive without joining every circus that comes to town. Sometimes, the kindest thing you can do is to stay in your tent and perfect your act. If you choose your circuses wisely, you may replace the juggling acts with bags of joy!
