Say This, Not That: 9 Tips for Being a Supportive Friend

Saying how you are feeling is a lot harder than telling somebody what to do. But it’s a far more vulnerable and trustworthy place to begin. When you really listen to your friend, you’ll hear something far more rewarding than the empty echo of your own brilliance.

Related: 3 Tips for Being a Good Sounding Board

We know this is going to feel super-hard. It will get easier over time. If you take nothing else away, remember this: Almost never, ever, dole out advice at all.

—Excerpt from There Is No Good Card for This: What to Say and Do When Life Is Scary, Awful, and Unfair to People You Love

This article originally appeared in the June 2017 issue of SUCCESS magazine.