The Hard Truth About Cut-Off Culture – I Don’t Spin the Block!

A warm and inviting scene emerges as a woman enjoys coffee and conversation in a softly lit room about cutting one another off.

In this cold-blooded—and I mean COLD-blooded—era, it’s trendy to flex how strong your game face is after cutting folks off. One red flag, and boom—you’re “over it.” Social media is flooded with boss chick reels preaching, “If he ain’t acting right, then blah blah”—but let’s be real. If cutting people off is so empowering, why does it sometimes feel like losing a limb? Can I be honest? It’s not as smooth as people make it seem.

Sure, shedding dead weight is necessary for your peace of mind, but there’s more to it than glorifying the cut-off.

When “Wellness” Turns Into Isolation

I recently read an article in NYLON titled “Is Wellness Culture Making Us Worse Friends?” by Laura Pitcher. She shared how, just months after her father passed in 2020, a close friend broke up with her via text, saying:

“I’m trying to align myself with people who share my beliefs about wellness and positivity.”

Ma’am…her DAD just died, and you’re worried about vibes?!

Pitcher pointed out that wellness trends have started encouraging extreme individualism, glorifying cutting ties with people who don’t fit a certain aesthetic of positivity. TikTok is full of “Alpha females don’t run in packs” videos, suggesting that the ultimate power move is being alone.

Look, I get it—we should surround ourselves with uplifting people. But let’s not act like friendships, love, and human connection are disposable.

Toxic? Or Just Human?

In another piece from Potentash titled “Why I Have a Problem with Cut-Off Culture” by Laura Ayienga, she reminded us how overused the word toxic has become.

It’s like people suddenly discovered it in 2019 and haven’t stopped throwing it around since. Toxic friends, toxic family, toxic co-workers… Everybody’s toxic. But let’s be real—some of y’all are just impatient, and some of y’all are the problem.

If you keep ending up in toxic relationships, at some point, you have to ask yourself: Am I the common denominator?

Ayienga pointed out that cut-off culture makes it easy to forget self-accountability. Instead of constantly cutting people off, maybe—just maybe—we should check ourselves first.

Should I Cut People Off or Learn to Work With Them?

Remember when relationships lasted for decades? When people actually worked through their issues instead of treating human connections like fast fashion? That’s because they had a skill we’re slowly losing: conflict resolution.

According to an article in Psychology Today titled “Should I Cut People Off or Tolerate Them?” by Leon Garber LMHC, people struggle with this question because they’re operating from a place of duty, guilt, or self-righteousness.

Garber said:

“If you're used to cutting people off, this will be just another reason to. If you're a people-pleaser, you'll keep hanging on. There isn’t much thought given.”

And that’s the problem. We’re not actually thinking—we’re reacting.

Cutting someone off shouldn’t be an ego move. It should be a boundary move. The question isn’t just “Are they toxic?”—it’s “How much of this relationship can I handle without losing myself?”

What’s the Real Glow-Up?

I watched an episode on YouTube from my favorite creator, Aaron Doughty, where he coached a young Black woman on releasing her Bad Girl energy. It was powerful because she was real about her emotions.

That’s what I’m realizing: The real glow-up isn’t about cutting everyone off—it’s about standing in your truth and not letting others dictate your actions. You should be able to communicate, set boundaries, and grow through relationships. But if someone continuously disrespects you? Yeah, it’s time to let them go.

But Let’s Be Honest...

I won’t lie—I still reminisce about lost friends. It’s not always easy. But healing isn’t about erasing people from your past. It’s about making peace with who they were to you, what they taught you, and where you are now.

So, should you cut people off? Maybe. Just don’t make it your personality.

This keeps your bold, witty, and thought-provoking tone while making the flow smoother and more engaging. What do you think? 🔥