"If a friend tells you about a difficult situation in their life, something challenging or painful they're struggling with, the next time you see that friend, take the initiative and ask them about that situation. Show them that you remember by asking a follow-up question to what they shared before, no matter how much time has passed. Ask them how that particular situation is going, if anything has changed, how they're doing with it."
"The point is to just tip your hat to the fact that you heard them when they shared before, and that it mattered enough to you, and they matter enough for you to remember it and carry it with you. It's a simple but profoundly powerful way to show someone that they've been seen, and that what they say doesn't just disappear into the ether. When you ask, you give someone the remarkable gift of feeling known."
Loneliness can occur inside friendships when people feel unseen even while in a relationship. A common response is to avoid asking about a friend's pain to spare them discomfort, which increases disconnection. A simple, radical choice is to take initiative and follow up on a friend's disclosed struggle by asking how it is going, whether anything has changed, or by mentioning that the situation stayed on your mind. Remembering and asking signals that the friend was heard and matters to you. This small act fosters feeling known, deepens connection, and alleviates loneliness. Even brief follow-ups communicate care and sustain relational intimacy over time.
Read at Psychology Today
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