When someone's struggling, saying "it'll be okay" feels dismissive because it skips over their actual feelings. Instead, listen, stay present, and say the situation sucks. Don't try to fix it. It's uncomfortable but it's what builds real connection.
Why doesn't it feel right when you're dealing with a setback and someone says to you, it's gonna be okay, you're gonna feel better? No, no, it sucks because your feelings have been dismissed. You don't feel like you've been listened to. So if you want to be genuinely empathetic when someone is sharing with you a setback, then do this: listen. Be present. Acknowledge that it sucks. Don't try to fix it. Don't try to solve it. And it may feel uncomfortable for you in that moment, but it's gonna feel right for them, and that's gonna deepen the relationship.
The Feedback Shift: Moving from Directives to Co-Active Growth | Joel Silverstone
Apply a Framework Designed to Improve Influence and Communication | Joel Silverstone | Ep. 170
