How to Comfort People

Source: https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/how-to-comfort-someone-whos-sadcrying/

Everyone feels sad and upset every now and then. Sometimes as friends, we don’t know how to comfort them during those times. Interacting with people who are sad and hurting can be extremely awkward and unpleasant for both parties. Not everyone has the ability to comfort them. Now, these are some tips for you if you unaware of what to do and believe that when your friends are crying the best possible option is awkwardly patting their backs, while saying, “It’s okay”.

To start of, open the conversation

If you are sensing that your friends are in bad or sour mood, you can always ask them about their feelings and/or problems that they are dealing with at the moment. Be aware of your surroundings as well, it is not something for the public to eavesdrop on.

Subsequently; be an attentive listener

Sometimes you just need to be there for your friends to hear their problems. It would be better for you not to simply disrupt their rants with your talking and only give feedback/opinions when they ask you to.

In addition, you need to understand their feelings

Before giving any feedback or providing them with an opinion, you have to make sure that you understand the whole story. You want to make them know that you can put yourself in their shoes; see what they see and know what they think in regards to their feelings.

To add on, if it’s possible, you should share similar experiences

Sharing your similar experiences to them shows empathy, but be careful not to turn the conversation onto you. Don’t tell them that you have had it worse or don’t go on and on about your own experience. If you haven’t experienced something similar, you can still say “That’s never happened to me, but I can understand why you are feeling that way.”

Lastly but most importantly, ask if you can do anything

You can help them by offering support with difficult tasks or just emotional support. Be sincere when you are offering your help, your intentions speak louder than words and have an everlasting effect on them.

The points mentioned above are a short compilation of tips that you can follow when you’re placed in a position where you are obligated to comfort someone.

Daftar Pustaka:​ https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/how-to-comfort-someone-whos-sadcrying/

https://www.wikihow.com/Comfort-Someone-Who-Is-Sad