Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

It takes strength to admit when things aren’t going well.

The ability for others to listen is just as important.

I know we all want to give advice on what the person should be doing because it is human nature.

What is not common is the ability to listen when someone states they are having issues.

Not giving advice
Not shaming their actions
Not saying, “Well you got yourself into this mess.”

Sitting with the person and listening may be just what the doctor ordered.

The act of speaking the words out loud will help the person gain a better understanding of the situation.

Hearing it outside of your head can be less frightening, because sometimes people just need someone to hear their story and not judge.

— Nicole Barden 4/29/2021

Originally published in The Orange Journal on Medium