The late-night sobbing on the other end of the phone made my heart leap. We've all been there – receiving that call, hearing someone we love in pain, wanting desperately to make everything okay.

But that pain doesn't need us to figure out how to fix it or make it go away in the moment. Sometimes it just needs witnessing.

I used to jump into asking "How can I support you?" until I realized many people don't know how to answer that – either because they've never been asked before, are not yet sure, or because asking for help is out of their comfort zone. Instead, I'm learning to simply be present: taking deep breaths, offering gentle validation with phrases like "I hear how painful this is for you" or sometimes just a soft "oh."

What I'm discovering is that support isn't about having the right words. It's about creating space for someone's pain to be heard and felt. A quiet "I'm here, I'm listening, and I'm so sorry you're going through this" can be more powerful than any advice in my experience to date. I am not an expert but I am out here feeling my way through the experiences, learning from my mistakes and trying my best with what I know right now.

How are you honoring your own feelings?

Whether you're the one offering support or navigating your own pain, remember to tend to your feelings too. Big emotions can stop us in our tracks. Honor your feelings in service of your own emotional well-being, self-awareness, and healthy relationships. When you feel the feels, you are better prepared to navigate life's challenges and foster your own personal growth. Access the Feel the Feels FREE journal.

Or explore our Tools for LYFE™ for Self to see what resonates for your current needs. Click the images below to learn more about all of our offerings.