We all want to believe the best in people.  It feels good to think that those who smile at us, cheer us on, and stick around are truly on our side.  But the truth is, not everyone in your circle has your best interests at heart. Some people wear masks — pretending to care, pretending to listen, pretending to be genuine — while secretly harboring envy, selfish motives, or just plain dishonesty. The danger isn’t just that fake people waste your time. They can sabotage your goals, deplete your energy, and even wreck your self-esteem if you permit them to remain in your life unchecked.  The key is learning to spot the red flags early so you can protect yourself before the damage is done. Red Flags You Shouldn't Ignore 1. Their support feels conditional. Fake people are easy to find when things are going well — but when you stumble, they seemingly vanish into thin air. If someone only applauds you at your highs but disappears during your lows, pay close attention. This signal...

Finding out your significant other has cheated on you can be utterly devastating. You gave this individual everything -- your love, your trust, your loyalty -- only to discover they didn't value you enough to do the same.  It can be difficult to see a silver lining in such a horrible turn of events. But something good usually comes out of a bad situation, and this one is no different.  Here are three ways you can look on the bright side after you've been dealt such an emotional blow: 1. You're now more familiar with the red flags to watch out for. The writing was on the wall early on. You were either oblivious to the signs, or you sensed something might be amiss, but you gave your partner the benefit of the doubt. This terrible experience has at least sharpened your ability to sniff out a cheater. Going forward, the chances that someone's infidelity will go undetected are far lower. Now, this doesn't mean we need to become cynical with every pe...

As tempting as it may be to lie (even when it's those seemingly innocuous white ones), it is always best to refrain from doing so. As soon as someone catches you in a lie, or vice-versa, it raises red flags, let alone a bunch of questions. However serious the lie, the act constitutes a breach of trust.  You begin to ask yourself things like: Why couldn't the person just be sincere? Is he or she a chronic liar? What happens if more serious lies are on the horizon (e.g. cheating, stealing money, etc.) It's better to be forthright with someone than lie and later see it blow up in your face. For example, let's say you accidentally bump into your wife's parked car while you're pulling out of the driveway. Your wife comes back from a business trip and notices a huge dent on her bumper. (Assume it left no visible damage on your car.)  You could be dishonest and say you have no clue as to how it happened. But once your wife puts 2 and 2 together, she ...