I saw this phrase “not my circus, not my monkeys” posted on Facebook a while back and absolutely frikkin’ fell in love with it!

I’ve never really liked the circus so I want to avoid them anyway…all of them, whether they include a big red tent or not.  Unfortunately, I seem to find myself in situations that seriously look like a circus.

I don’t like drama in my life.  I don’t want to be surrounded by negativity.

I want peace and calm and to deal with life’s ups and downs (which are bound to happen) in a healthy way.

So what do I do when I find myself in the midst of someone else’s circus?

I don’t feed into it.

I might even call them on their crap.  Have you ever met someone who is constantly complaining about the same thing happening to them over and over and over again?  Try asking them what they are going to do to stop it from happening again.  And just keep asking the same type of question over and over again…speak to action moving forward.  They’ll stop coming to you to complain (unless they really are trying to shift their life for the better).

I might even be honest with them.

If I’m feeling the urge to be more direct with someone about what I’m observing or experiencing personally by what’s going on with them, I always ask permission.  I ask them if they are open to some feedback. And I give it to them.  I’m honest and direct.

And if all else fails…

I let them go.

I create distance between us to allow for my sanity to stay in tact.

Above all else, I have to honor myself and my needs.

Yes, I come first.  It doesn’t matter if it’s family or friends.  I must come first.

And when the circus is in town, you won’t find me there.

And you won’t see me with any monkeys either.