62: How to Get over Your Significant Other’s Colorful Dating History | Feedback Friday

Connection Etiquette

Navigating the complexities of maintaining connections without being intrusive is a skill that Jordan Harbinger emphasizes. He suggests addressing unresponsive contacts directly by acknowledging their unread messages and offering alternative communication methods. This approach often prompts a response, as people may not realize their oversight or prefer different communication channels 1. Jason DeFillippo shares his experience of volunteering for a project where the lack of clear communication led to frustration, highlighting the importance of setting boundaries and knowing when to move on 2.

If the connection was good in the past and then fell off, I would just call it out.

--- Jordan Harbinger

Ultimately, knowing when to cut ties with unresponsive contacts can save time and energy.

   

Supporting a Friend

Supporting a friend with depression requires a delicate balance between empathy and self-preservation. Jordan Harbinger stresses the importance of setting boundaries while encouraging friends to seek professional help. He advises against shouldering the burden of a friend's mental health struggles, emphasizing that one cannot force change upon others 3. Jason DeFillippo recounts a personal story of a friend struggling with anxiety and depression, illustrating the challenges of maintaining a friendship when one party is resistant to change 4.

You are not required to suffer with your friends or family.

--- Jordan Harbinger

Encouraging professional treatment and maintaining personal boundaries are key to supporting a friend without compromising one's own well-being.