Silent Sam is the worst

Don’t stay silent!

Your friends, your family, your co-workers: all around you, people are going through really hard times. When they share a story of loss or disruption, it can be hard to know what to do or how to respond.

So, we often default to silence.

“I don’t want to make it worse or say something stupid…”

But Silent Sam is the worst because we crave connection in our pain.

Instead of staying quiet, trapped by your discomfort, consider these tips:
-You don’t have to be perfect in your response, release yourself from the trap of perfection/making it all better
-Saying a heartfelt, “I am so sorry to hear that…” expresses emotional resonance and goes a long way
-If you don’t know what to say, lead with that, “I don’t even know what to say, but I care about you.”