When we are listening to a parent, friend, or relative bitching and complaining about the same person every day, are we really helping them?
It’s easy to believe we are being a fantastic friend, daughter, brother, etc. by listening to the same complaints over and over. But in reality, we may just be enabling them to stay with their damaging partners.
Like a balloon about to pop, an air hole will gradually release the pressure, stressing out the rubber over time. Cover up the hole, and the problem will burst. It will be forced to come to a head.
Sometimes a friendly ear is just what’s needed to help blow off steam at the end of the day. But if the daily complaints become routine, a band-aid approach may be the worst thing possible for the ones we love.
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