When you are having a bad day, and someone asks, “How are you?” it might just set you off. It might not make you feel better and can almost make you feel worse. It might be easier to lie and say, “I’m good. How about you?” when really you are not okay. However, not being okay is okay!
Whether it might be to a friend, significant other, or family member, reaching out to loved ones is always important to check up on each other. Sometimes, people do not want to talk about things; they do not want to figure them out at the moment if they are in pain. It is normal to want to sit in the hurt of whatever they are going through. But when wanting to reach out to someone to talk them through what they are feeling, there are other ways to go about this.
“I miss you. I am always here.”
It is always nice to hear when someone misses you. It means you matter to them and they are thinking about how they wish they were with you. Having the support of someone saying they are here for you feels very comforting. It means they really care and are here for the long haul.
“Do you need anything? I was just thinking about you.”
Hearing this makes you feel loved. I always say this when I go to the store or dining hall for my friends. I know that when someone asks this I can trust them because they care about my wants and needs. When someone says they are thinking about you, they stopped in their day and you crossed their mind. They are wondering about you and your wellbeing.
“How has your day been going?”
With this simple question, the receiver feels heard and wondered about. It makes you stop and think about the highs and lows of your day, forcing you to release any frustrations you might have had from the day.
Reaching out to your loved ones is so important and doing it in a way that they know you care is just as predominant. It is good to have empathy and to try to see what people actually want to hear and how they want to be heard.