When your partner shares a problem, pause and ask: "Would you like my help or would you like a hug?" It cuts through the default urge to fix things and lets them tell you what they actually need, emotional support or practical help.
Chapters
If you want your relationship to last, you must do this. I call it the help or hug question. When your significant other comes to you with a problem or something that's bothering them, a lot of times we want to help them fix it. So we go into fixer mode and we try to help them solve the problem. But the issue with that is that sometimes they're not coming to you to fix their problems, they're coming to you to feel seen. So before you try to fix their problem, say this. Say I'm so sorry to hear that. Would you like my help or would you like a hug? If they need your help, then they'll tell you. But if they tell you that they need a hu, then what they're really coming to you for is just to listen to them and to make their feelings be heard and feel validated. So use this help or hug question and I promise you that you'll find a deeper connection in your relationship.