Listening Like a Friend

When someone we care about is struggling, we don’t usually rush to tell them to stop feeling the way they do. We listen. We lean in. We give them space to share, and we try to let them know: “It makes sense you feel this way.”

But when the feelings are our own, we often do the opposite. We dismiss them, criticise them, or push them down.

What would it be like, just for a moment, to turn towards your feelings with the same patience you offer others?

You don’t need to fix anything. You don’t need to have the right words. Simply notice what’s here and gently acknowledge it.

• “I hear that I’m feeling overwhelmed.”

• “I notice that I’m carrying sadness right now.”

• “This part of me deserves some attention too.”

Sometimes, the act of listening inwardly — without judgement, without rushing — is enough to bring a little relief. It says to yourself: “You matter. What you feel matters.”

This week, if you can, pause once or twice a day and simply listen. Not to change anything, but to let yourself be heard.