Not my circus. Not my monkey.
“Not my circus, not my monkey…”
This is a great quote, and it’s been attributed to a lot of origins, but who really knows?
You don’t have to take on everyone's problems.
It’s just that simple. People will try to dump their problems in your lap, and a true Maxfieldian will stand up and walk away. This doesn’t mean you should be an asshole and never help anyone, but as you go through life, you’ll find that a lot of people are terminal problem-tossers. They never quite get their shit together and are always dumping their fuckups on friends, family, or strangers. Recognize those people and don’t be their go-to problem solver.
You’ve got enough to deal with just being alive on this shit show of a planet.
One thing you’ll notice is a big sense of relief. You may be in a conversation with someone about a friend with a big problem, which is basically gossip. You don’t have to feel it’s your responsibility to fix things while the person isn’t even there.
Change the subject and talk about cats. Even people who hate cats will talk about them.