How to know if someone REALLY cares

How do you know if someone you hold in high esteem really feels the same way about you?

What's a surefire way to tell whether they're in for the long haul, or if they'll disappear when least expected?

Let them see you at your worst -- with health issues, money woes, and problems at home or work.

Allow them to see you racked with self-doubt, anxiety, or depression.

If, despite all this, they choose to stand by you, then you know they genuinely care about you.

Those who bolt at the first sign of hardship aren't true friends or loving partners. They're likely in the relationship for selfish reasons, though they might try to create the opposite impression.

Obviously, we should never take on the role of savior for anyone, as they're responsible for solving their problems on their own.

Still, if we truly value the individual, what kind of a friend or partner would we be to abandon them in their time of greatest need?

At the same time, those who only seem to pop up in our lives for weddings, birthdays, and other happy occasions -- but never when we yearn for their support during tough times -- are not worth it.

As I've argued in prior posts, people may profess to care about you. But if their actions don't back up those words, these individuals are being disingenuous.

Caring isn't merely a word. It's an action.

If the other person isn't as committed as you are, they may assume that they don't have to be there to lend a hand or ear when needed.

You might still decide to help them out when, say, you get an unexpected text asking for money or advice. It speaks to your kind, giving nature.

But if it's evident that your well-being is never top of mind for this person, you may decide that your time and energy will be better spent with people who would be happy to give you theirs.

In conclusion, someone who truly cares will want to be there for you in good times and bad ones, through thick and thin. If they fail to display any kind of sympathy for your plight, yet they expect you to scratch their back, then they're users -- hypocritical ones at that.

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December 2, 2019 at 2:29 AM

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