6 Types of People You Should Not Trust

I learned this the hard way.

In my early twenties, I used to think that if I was kind, patient, and loyal, everyone around me would be the same. I believed that being genuine would somehow make people genuine back. But life has a way of teaching you lessons that no book or quote can. The truth is, not everyone who smiles at you is for you.

Over the years, I’ve met people who taught me what not to tolerate and who not to trust. These are the types I now watch out for:

The person who disguises insults as jokes.
I used to laugh along with them, pretending it didn’t hurt. But when someone constantly hides behind “I’m just joking,” what they’re really doing is testing your boundaries. They chip away at your confidence little by little.
The person who never takes accountability but always blames you.
They can make you feel guilty even when they’re the one at fault. You end up apologizing just to keep the peace, and that’s how they control you.
The one who says they want the best for you but works against you behind your back.
These are the ones who will smile when you talk about your dreams, but secretly hope you fail because your growth threatens them.
The person whose words and actions never match.
You’ll notice it if you pay attention. They talk about loyalty but disappear when you need them. They preach honesty but hide things from you. Their actions always reveal what their mouth tries to cover.
The one who plants doubt under the name of “concern.”
They’ll say things like, “I just don’t want you to get disappointed,” but deep down, they don’t want to see you confident or sure of yourself. They make you second-guess your own goals until you start shrinking just to feel safe around them.
The person who always sabotages you and always has an excuse.
They’ll forget to tell you something important, show up late, or do something that makes your life harder. But every time you call it out, they have a reason that sounds “innocent.” It’s not innocent. It’s intentional.