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Safe People

Character Traits of Safe People

Unsafe Person

Think they have it all together

Act Religious (live in law/judgment)

Are defensive

Are self-righteous

Apologize but keep repeating the same mistakes

Avoid working on their problems

Demand trust

Act perfect

Blame others

Lie

Are stagnant

Avoid closeness

Concerned mostly about needs to self

Unsympathetic to others pain or emotions

Can’t set or respect boundaries

Confront with guilt and shame or not at all

Condemn

Create Parent/Child, Superior/Inferior relationships

Unstable over time

Negative influence on us

Gossip

Envious

Self-sufficient

Entitled

Dependent/Counterdependent (antidependent)

Self harming, self destructive

Struggles with intimacy

Insecure with attachment

Lives in law

Rejects negative parts of self / good parts of others. Focuses on good parts of self / bad parts of others.

Others controlling / others controlled

Safe Person

Admit their weaknesses

Are Spiritual (relationship comes first)

Are open to feedback

Are humble

Apologize and repent (change their behavior)

Deal with their problems

Earn trust

Admit their faults

Take responsibility for their actions

Tell the truth even when it hurts

Grow

Try to connect

Concerned also about the needs of others

Sympathetic to others’ pain or emotions

Allow people to say “NO” and respect it

Confront with truth in love and grace

Forgive

Desire and create equality in their relationships

Consistent over time (reliable)

Positive influence on us

Keep others’ secrets confidential

Genuine happiness for others’ success

Interdependent

Humble, giving, serving

Interdependent

Self care

Pursues intimacy

Feels secure with attachment

Lives in grace

Accepts self / others,

with both good and bad traits

Self controlled

Reference:

Safe People, © Drs. Henry Cloud & John Townsend, Zondervan 1995

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