If you had a friend who talked to you like you sometimes talk to yourself, how long would you allow that person to be your friend?

what?

This question is beyond my capacity.

I think maybe I didn’t word the question right…A friend had asked me that earlier and I thought it was a good question to ask. Basically I said no, I wouldn’t be my own friend because i’m way too critical of myself.

@KrystaElyse I agree with your line of thought… too negative to be my own friend. I think it would create a black hole of negativity and suck me in haha

I would kick my ass to the curb, pronto!

So this question is really asking, “are you more negative toward yourself than you are to your friends?”

My internal dialogue is mixture of both. Though when it’s negative, it can be rather cruel. Despite this, I find its honesty refreshing and its criticisms on point. Plus we share the same sense of humour. So, yes. It can stick around and carry my books.

@Vinifera7 – Well, not exactly that question….Basically I want to know if someone were to speak to you the way you speak to yourself, either positively or negitively, would you want that sort of person around you or as your friend? Does that make sense? lol…I think I need to just get some sleep.

That person would be my best friend.

i hate hearing the truth about myself but i love knowing the truth about myself

I doubt I would put up with a friend who talked to me like I talk to myself for very long. I do enough internal beating myself up without needing a friend to do it for me. I don’t want my friends to be anywhere near as judgmental of me as I am of myself either. I can be pretty horrible and depressing when I talk to myself sometimes and I just don’t need that shit from my friends – I’m capable of controlling myself well enough.

Also, I am really rather nice to and about myself most of the time and I wouldn’t want a friend doing that either, it would be a bit creepy.

I’d probably let me stick around my whole life.

Oh. Wake-up call, this.

To answer your question: Two seconds. If that long.

Hmm. My internal dialogue is complicated. I used to think I was pretty talented, but no one ever appreciated it, so I realized I must be mistaken in my assessment of myself. I turned around and became my own most vocal critic, while, somewhere, deep down, maintaining this belief that I did some things well. After a while, though, the negative voice became more dominant, and it was helped along by depression.

On the other hand, I have had mild manias where I thought I was pretty good. Unfortunately they are drowned out by the depression.

So my friend would be pretty schizophrenic. One day he would be tearing into me, and the next he might be singing my praises. He might sing my praises just enough that I would be willing to put up with the times he thought nothing I did was good enough. It would probably end up being a pretty codependent relationship—unhealthy, and difficult to save. I would feel bad about that, and that it was my fault. I would not want to give up on it, out of loyalty to my friend, and the good things in him, even though the relationship is killing me.

Of course, the fact that my “friend” is really me, it makes giving up on myself all the harder, even though I know that’s the way toward living a more contented life.

Wow! GQ, Krysta!

I change my moods with myself all the time. Just as we do with external communication with others. I’ve always wanted myself as a friend and thought I would make a good one to myself. Then again when I get in negative moods and I put myself down, I could do without haha. BUT everyone’s mood always changes, you just have to bear with or enjoy it.

I would allow someone like me to be in my life, yes. Haha.

Like someone said above, that person would be my BEST friend. I’m a realist. My friends have to be realists. NOT “A-kissers” or “Yes” men.

(Unless I was sick and dying. Then I want them to LIE, LIE LIE!!!)

@Mr_M – Plus, if the world was full of yes-men, who would give directions?