From constant problem-solver to mindful listener: my painful lesson in social cues
I always prided myself on being helpful, so when my friend started venting about her messy breakup, I jumped in with logical steps to 'move on.' She abruptly ended the call, and I was confused until a mutual friend hinted that my advice felt dismissive of her emotions. That moment forced me to observe how others handled similar conversations, noticing that they often just validated feelings without offering fixes. I experimented by consciously holding back solutions in my next few interactions, simply saying things like 'That sounds really tough' instead. The difference was immediate, people opened up more and seemed genuinely relieved. It dawned on me that the unspoken norm is to provide emotional support first, and only offer practical help if explicitly asked. Now, I mentally pause to assess whether someone needs a sounding board or actual guidance, and it has smoothed over so many potential conflicts. This subtle shift has made me a better friend and a more socially aware person overall.