When a friend calls to talk through a crisis or problem they’re facing, we want to be supportive and comforting. But it can be difficult to know what to say if we don’t have specific experience with what they’re dealing with.
Old adages such as “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” may sound trite or make it seem like we’re downplaying or dismissing their struggles. It’s hard enough to manage a crisis — and all the emotions that come with it — without being told why it isn’t a crisis.
Listening and being a source of support are crucial in situations like these. In fact, research shows that having strong social support can not only help someone bounce back from a difficult situation, but also improve their physical health. So keeping our loved ones focused on the basics, especially when it comes to taking care of themselves, can make all the difference in how they move forward. These quotes may help you help them, by offering perspective and gentle words of encouragement.
You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.Maya Angelou
When tough times come, it is particularly important to offset them with much gentle softness. Be a pillow.Vera Nazarian
Sometimes you go through things that seem huge at the time … While they are happening, they feel like the only thing that matters. And then … you move on, and the event is behind you. And you may find, as time passes, that you remember it less and less.Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
We would never tell someone with a broken leg that they should stop wallowing and get it together … Getting help isn’t a sign of weakness — it’s a sign of strength.Michelle Obama
If you prioritize yourself, you are going to save yourself.Gabrielle Union
Tough times never last, but tough people do.Robert Schuller
Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow.”Mary Anne Radmacher
Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.Thích Nhất Hạnh
You’re still here. And that matters.Morgan Harper Nichols
Featured image credit: Africa Studio/ Shutterstock
