All great relationships are grounded in trust. Without it, no relationship can flourish and last for a long time. In order to build better relationships with people and maintain them, there's a terrible habit you should eliminate from your life...
That habit is gossiping.
On the surface, there doesn't seem to be much, if anything, to be wrong with gossip... but it destroys trust in relationships. It might seem like a great way to bond with someone and to have fun with them.
There is however a dark side!
Think about this for a moment:
If you're talking negatively with someone about people you both know, what do you think will happen when they're talking to other when you're not there? Gossip creates a nagging feeling of distrust. The feeling that when someone isn't there, you'll be talking badly about them too.
Instead try the following:
Be the person who stands up for the one not there to defend themself, the one to talk positively behind others' backs. Otherwise, tell people you don't engage in gossip or actively ask them to stop it. In these cases, be willing to walk away from the conversation if they don't stop.
