There are people out there who, usually due to poor self-esteem feed off of making other people miserable. The go out of their way to either take you down a peg, show their superiority or perhaps control your actions through guilt trips or emotional threats.
Cut these people out of your life. They may be family, or loved ones but if they are uncompromising in this sort of behaviour then they are a huge liability on your life.
How hard is it to continually move towards your goals when you have someone constantly reminding you of past failures or current deficiencies?
There is a song by Casting Crowns Entitled Voice of Truth:
Oh, what I would do
to have the kind of strength it takes
To stand before a giant
with just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound
of a thousand warriors
shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand
But the giant's calling out
my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
time and time again
"Boy you'll never win,
you'll never win."
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
the Voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"
and the Voice of truth says "this is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of truth
There will always be people in your life who will only want to discourage you. It is often disguised as 'help' but do not allow these people to influence your thinking. Keep your mind shut tight against negative thinking.
People who succeed in life do not think in negative terms, nor do people who do ever reach any great level of success.
Worse are those people who seek to emotionally manipulate you to controls your actions or your love. In my experience these people have all been women but certainly it's possible for a man to behave in a similar fashion.
Typically these people will say things like, "If you really love me then you'd...", "I can't stay with someone who won't...", they may also nag or badger incessantly until they break down your resolve.
They may not be hurting your ego but they are constantly causing a huge distraction in your life. Nor is it possible to stay focused on your goals when you're constantly having to do other things to prove yourself time and again to someone who will never be satisfied.
