Kathryn Lewis -
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Kathryn Lewis's Blog
July 22, 2008 - 11:53am
No one wants to be the person who gives and gives and never recieves anything in return. The one-sided relationship is very much like that. It is an unhealthy relationship, not because there is an unequal balance between the give and take, but because it can lead to bitterness and an overwhelming amount of built up tension and stress.
I don't remember where I got this quote from sadly, but I remember reading it in a book. Pent up bitterness and grudges don't hurt the person that you are holding the grudge against. Half the time the person is completely unaware that they've caused a problem. Instead, it hurts you.
So if you feel like a relationship or friendship is becoming one-sided, confront the person. Try to get to the root of the problem before it gets worse. Maybe there is something else going on that you don't realize.
The other thing to remember is that people change. Their priorities change and their ideals change. Sometimes spouses or friends grow in opposite directions instead of together. That doesn't mean that each time it happens you should just shrug your shoulders instead of mourning your loss. But just realize that it happens everyday, to everyone, allow the person some time and if you grow apart, you grow apart. Trying to force a relationship to continue will hurt you both more than just letting it go.

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