I am blessed to have a lot of friends and social circles in my life and a lot of people wanting to be my friend, but one of my "closest" (most persistent) groups of friends are dragging me down.
Every time I try to excel at something, I feel like they try to sabotage me. They try to undermine my achievements or try to pick on my faults.
I don't believe it is intentionally malicious; I think they just don't want me moving on and leaving them behind. But now that's exactly what I want. I've tried encouraging them and making exceptions for them as they've been good friends and were there for me when I split with my ex, but these days I don't feel good when I'm around them, they're not very supportive and I feel I could do a lot better without them. I have a girlfriend I want to spend time with and I also want to nurture friendships with other, more mature and supportive, friends.
The problem is, they're so clingy that getting away from them would be like breaking up with an obsessive girlfriend. I can't even go 2 days without them calling me, asking me to go out. If I don't answer my mobile phone, they'll call my home phone and if I tell them I'm busy and can't make it, then they come to my house. I've even spelt it out to them that I am busy and can't see them, but they won't leave me alone.
They're all younger than me and consists of male and female friends, but the males are just as clingy as the females.
Anyone been through the same and can offer tips on getting away from them, or limiting my contact with them?
Every time I try to excel at something, I feel like they try to sabotage me. They try to undermine my achievements or try to pick on my faults.
I don't believe it is intentionally malicious; I think they just don't want me moving on and leaving them behind. But now that's exactly what I want. I've tried encouraging them and making exceptions for them as they've been good friends and were there for me when I split with my ex, but these days I don't feel good when I'm around them, they're not very supportive and I feel I could do a lot better without them. I have a girlfriend I want to spend time with and I also want to nurture friendships with other, more mature and supportive, friends.
The problem is, they're so clingy that getting away from them would be like breaking up with an obsessive girlfriend. I can't even go 2 days without them calling me, asking me to go out. If I don't answer my mobile phone, they'll call my home phone and if I tell them I'm busy and can't make it, then they come to my house. I've even spelt it out to them that I am busy and can't see them, but they won't leave me alone.
They're all younger than me and consists of male and female friends, but the males are just as clingy as the females.
Anyone been through the same and can offer tips on getting away from them, or limiting my contact with them?