Beware of the Rattlesnakes in your life! (3)

By Dr. Michael Brooks

This week, I will wrap up this article on the rattlesnakes in our lives. Hopefully, this helps in dealing with those people who could be a problem for you.

I got back in my truck, drove back home, and felt like a ton of bricks was lifted off my shoulders. So, my question to you is this, who are the rattlesnakes in your life? Are they friends, co-workers, family members, maybe your parents or kids? Can you identify the rattlesnakes immediately or have a suspicion on who they are? If you absolutely know who they are, why are you hanging around them, what purpose do they serve in your relationship with them? Are you fearful of the consequences if you break off the relationship? At some point and time, you need to stop hanging around snakes. They’re not good for you; they mean you harm. A baby rattlesnake is just as dangerous as a big one, and they bite too. How many times do you have to be bitten by a snake to know that maybe, just maybe, you should move on?

I suggest that you hang around good people who care for you and about you. You want people that encourage you to grow in your life. I suggest that when you hear people who are up to no good, that you see the poison in their talk and actions, leave those kinds of friends immediately.

I can recall a friend of mine back in my hometown who seemed to have it all together. He was a family man, a churchgoer, a great job, and well respected in the business community. I always enjoyed our talks and his country boy humor. He was funny and made you laugh. But, behind his eyes, there was something he was hiding, I could sense it; something just wasn’t right. I couldn’t put my finger on it. I was overly cautious in what I said and shared. Then one day, he asked me to do him a favor. I listened to what he wanted and immediately said no way, I was shocked by what he told me. He was a poisonous snake, and I was done with our friendship. Sometimes you have to be quick and end a relationship that has potentially a bad outcome.

In closing, I want to give you a heads up about some people who are outright bad for you and need to be called rattlesnakes. Do you know who they are? If you do, do yourself a favor and end that relationship and move on. There are a lot of good people who would love to be a friend to you.

Dr. Mike has Zoom classes on “Boundaries in Dating,” By Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend, on Thursday’s. “If you’re interested in attending this class, it’s on Thursday from 5:00 to 6:00 PM. You’ll need to send Mike your email address to get a link for the Zoom class. Send your email address to mike@applicablecoaching.com. You can sit in and listen or be a participant. These classes are free.

If you are interested in any of these classes or have questions, send an email to mike@applicablecoaching.com or call 303.880.9878.

Do you feel like you’re living in a rattlesnake relationship and want help in deciding your next steps? Do you need help trying to figure out who you are married to and why they treat you the way they do? Do you want to know more about the motivations of the rattlesnake individual? Do you want help in managing and understanding your ups and downs with an unhealthy partner? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need to contact Dr. Mike and set up an appointment. Please call Dr. Mike at 303.880.9878.

Dr. Michael Brooks is the founder of Applicable Counseling and life coaching Services. It is affordable, accessible, anonymous, and available by appointment from the privacy of your home. To avoid travel time and the comfort of home, many clients prefer to meet with Dr. Mike over the phone or via Zoom (if you want to have a Zoom meeting with Dr. Mike, send him an email at mike@applicablecoaching.com to set up an appointment). The convenience of this type of Counseling/Coaching is the most effective means of Life Coaching for those who live outside of Colorado. Give Dr. Mike a call! You’ll be glad you did!

Beware of the Rattlesnakes in your life! (1)

By Dr. Michael Brooks

I was at a marriage conference in Colorado Springs last weekend when I noticed a sign by the hotel entrance that said, “Beware of Rattlesnakes.” I looked around the area, and I could see where rattlesnakes could be a potential problem. Rattlesnakes had the perfect habitat; there was sandy soil, lots of places where the snakes could hide, and lots of sun. I have had a few close encounters with rattlesnakes, and honestly, they scared the daylights out of me! Out of nowhere, while walking a hiking trail, I heard the rattle of the rattlesnake that gave me the warning to stay clear, which I did.

Some people are like rattlesnakes too. A rattlesnake from a distance can cause alarm, but you’ll be on your guard. Whereas a rattlesnake hidden in the weeds or around the corner when you’re walking, can strike at you without any warning. Those are the snakes that we must be aware of in our lives, the hidden ones. The ones that catch us off guard, the ones that strike without warning. These are the people I want to warn you about.

Some people can fool you when you least expect it. I can remember hearing guys at work slam our boss (Frank), granted he was hard to get along with at times. I would watch these guys set him up and tease him about the clothes he’d wear. They’d make fun of his shoes, shirts, pants, whatever they could embarrass him about. They’d tease him about not having a car, because he walked to work. I never thought it was funny, only hurtful. Frank wasn’t overly complex; he was simple in many ways. I liked that about him, as I felt he was extremely easy to get along with. Why these other guys felt that he was a target of their attacks was beyond me. I was a teenager when working for this company, it was a summer job. Most kids in high school would simply avoid getting entangled with adults being mean to someone at work. I was pretty shy when I was in High School.

Frank would seek me out when we had a lunch break. I liked to listen to him talk about his wife and kids, he was proud of his family. He didn’t really care what the others would say about him, I just knew that they were the rattlesnakes in his life, and they liked spreading their poison. That left a lasting impression about the people I needed to avoid in life. If I hear someone gossiping, I will confront them. Gossip has destroyed friendships, businesses, families. I call this one of the main venoms we all deal with, each and every day.

Next week, we will continue with the rattlesnakes in your life and relationships. Learn how to deal with these volatile people you encounter in your families, friendships, and work.

Dr. Mike has Zoom classes on “Where to Draw the Line,” setting your boundaries by Anne Katherine, on Thursdays. “If you’re interested in attending this class, it’s on Thursday from 5:00 to 6:00 PM. You’ll need to send Mike your email address to get a link for the Zoom class. Send your email address to mike@applicablecoaching.com. You can sit in and listen or be a participant. These classes are free.

Zoom classes in session: How to Set Boundaries for yourself, your kids, and marriage. There will be a class on the 5-Love Languages, how to have better relationships with your spouse, family, and friends. If you are interested in any of these classes or have questions, send an email to mike@applicablecoaching.com or call 303.880.9878.

Do you feel like you’re living in a rattlesnake relationship and want help in deciding your next steps? Do you need help trying to figure out who you are married to and why they treat you the way they do? Do you want to know more about the motivations of the rattlesnake individual? Do you want help in managing and understanding your ups and downs with an unhealthy partner? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need to contact Dr. Mike and set up an appointment. Please call Dr. Mike at 303.880.9878.

Dr. Michael Brooks is the founder of Applicable Counseling and life coaching Services. It is affordable, accessible, anonymous, and available by appointment from the privacy of your home. To avoid travel time and the comfort of home, many clients prefer to meet with Dr. Mike over the phone or via Zoom (if you want to have a Zoom meeting with Dr. Mike, send him an email at mike@applicablecoaching.com to set up an appointment). The convenience of this type of Counseling/Coaching is the most effective means of Life Coaching for those who live outside of Colorado. Give Dr. Mike a call! You’ll be glad you did!