Problem Solving...

So I have this tendency to become attached to my friends' problems. These problems have absolutely NOTHING to do with me and have no (or very little) effect on my daily life. So, why then, do I care so much about their issues? I get legitimately upset as if it's my problem. I don't understand why. This need to protect them takes over and then I can't drop the issue/s until it/they're taken care of. I hate seeing my friends suffer and I hate even more when they convince themselves that it's their fault when it definitely is not or when they think they should stay with someone because they used to be amazing and they hope they go back to being amazing or some other reason that should not play a factor in the decision.

One of my friends was being taken advantage of and I didn't say anything for the longest time. Now, if you know me, you know it is unlike me to keep my mouth shut. lol. When someone starts taking over your apartment and is there more than you and doesn't seem to think they need to help with rent and utilities, that's a problem. Now why did that upset me? It shouldn't. It has nothing to do with me, it's not my apartment that's being invaded by someone who somehow doesn't realize how selfish they are (or they just don't care.) I hated seeing my friend get upset every time he went home because he couldn't just be in his apartment. That's an issue. When my friends have issues with their significant others, I usually sit there and listen. Most of the time they're minor issues that are easy to fix. Other times, they're issues that keep repeating over and over and over and over like a broken record. Why put yourself through that? I wouldn't say I'm a believer in "once a cheater, always a cheater" but I do believe that if there was even a suspicion of cheating, that person better go out of their way to gain that trust back, not continue to do stupid things and hurt the person they "love" over and over for years. Again, that shouldn't bother me. It's not my boyfriend.

So I've decided I'm going to try to be less involved in my friends' issues because it only adds stress to my life when there's no reason for their to be stress. I have no problem listening to whatever troubles they may have but I need to learn to care less. It can't be healthy to get legitimately upset over things that have zero effect on my life. I love my friends and will do anything for them, but it's really hard for me to sit around and watch them struggle and be hurt. I guess at some point you have to just let it go and let them go through the pain and suffering until they figure it out and finally stick up for themselves.