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We’re often told not to cut ties with people because you never know who you might need in the future. It’s said like it’s the golden rule of survival in life. But honestly, it’s one of those rules that sound smart until you realize how damaging it actually is.

Sometimes the very people we’re told to “keep around” are the ones who broke us in ways that took years to heal. They’re the ones who shamed us, abused us, made us doubt our worth, and made us question if kindness was weakness. But society still insists on not burning any bridges. 

I’ve always wondered why we glorify connection at any cost. Why do we treat cutting ties as a sin, even when the relationship is rotten to the core? I think a big part of it comes from anxiety, you know that nagging fear that maybe, one day, we’ll need something only that person can offer. Maybe a favor, a connection, a recommendation, or even an opportunity. And because we don’t control what the future holds, we try to play it safe by keeping everyone, even the toxic ones!

That kind of thinking and living keeps you trapped. You spend your life walking on eggshells, maintaining ties that drain you, smiling at people who never mean well, and pretending everything’s fine when it’s not. You end up keeping connections out of fear and uncertainty, not trust.

The whole “you never know who you’ll need” comes from scarcity mindset. You believe that the world is stingy with good things, that blessings are rationed out, there isn't enough to go around, and that burning one bridge means you’ll never find another better and greater path that will work for you. But that’s not how life works. Sometimes the bridge you’re so afraid to burn is the one blocking you from peace and blessings!

If you’ve ever stayed connected to someone who humiliated you because “you might need them,” I get you, been there, done that. You already know the feeling. Every interaction becomes a reminder of how much of yourself you’re willing to swallow just to be polite. You start losing your voice little by little. You forget that your dignity is worth more than a potential favor in the future. And now the crazy part! The people we hold onto “just in case” are usually the last ones who’d ever help us anyway. When life actually falls apart, it’s never the ones we were scared to lose who show up. It’s the ones who offer help with no conditions and no ego.

So maybe it’s time we stop treating every connection like an investment. You don’t have to keep everyone in the front seat of your life out of fear. Some people aren’t meant to be part of your life's next chapter, not because you’re bitter, but because growth requires pruning. Plus, your peace has to be your priority.

I think this mindset also exposes how uncomfortable we are with uncertainty. We crave control over outcomes, over people, over the future, over how we’ll be perceived. Cutting someone off feels unpredictable. We worry that we'll regret it. What if we need something only they can offer? But what if you don’t? What if the future actually rewards your courage to walk away?

You'll start having more confidence when you stop clinging to “just in case” relationships. You start realizing that genuine connections don’t require fear to sustain them. They thrive on mutual respect. And if you truly believe that what’s meant for you will find you, then you don’t need to keep every door unlocked, especially the ones that lead back to pain.

It’s funny how we only talk about abundance when it comes to money or success, but rarely when it comes to people. We forget that abundance also means trusting that there will always be better company and better friends ahead. That you’ll meet new souls who bring light and healing without you having to earn their kindness.

It’s okay to let people go, even if everyone else calls it “burning bridges.” You’re allowed to protect your peace, even if it means some connections never circle back. You’re allowed to outgrow people who once made you feel small. If anyone ever tries to guilt-trip you into staying close to those who hurt you, remember that survival shouldn’t come at the cost of your soul. You don’t owe anyone continued access to your life just because they might be “useful” someday. If they were cruel to you when you had nothing to offer, they don’t deserve a seat at your table when you have everything.

Bestie, I genuinely hope you’ll never be in a position where you have to smile through the company of those who once ridiculed or embarrassed you. I hope you never have to pretend that betrayal was “just a misunderstanding” for the sake of keeping peace. I hope life gives you all you need in abundance, so much that you’ll never have to break bread with those who made you feel unworthy of love or respect.

The truth is, we don’t need everyone we once knew. We just need a circle that feels safe, not a strategy for survival. And that, I think, is worth every bridge we leave behind.



Thanks a bunch for sticking around.

See you next time, bye!🤎

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