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Not sure how to make someone feel better?

I've written a lot of helpful wellness guides on our site here, including how to cheer someone up during trying times. So if you want to know how to make someone happy, I can help you. I'll share with you the best ways to comfort someone close to you.

Let's begin.

Contents

How To - #How-To

How To

Infographic - #Infographic

Infographic

Why - #Why

Why

Telltale Signs - #Telltale-Signs

Telltale Signs

Simple Quotes - #Simple-Quotes

Simple Quotes

FAQs - #FAQs

FAQs

More Interesting Articles - #More-Interesting-Articles

More Interesting Articles

How To Make Someone Feel Better

Sadness is a part of life. No one can escape from experiencing it. And so, everyone is sad at some point or another. While sadness is often regarded as a negative emotion, it is not. There are a lot of things you can benefit from being sad, including learning how to make other people feel better. Another benefit of sadness is that you inspire camaraderie and friendship among people who are with you and those you are helping.

Notice a friend, a family member, or a loved one feeling under the weather and wanting to cheer them up?

Step #1: Make your presence felt.

The first step to helping someone overcome their sadness is offering your ears and shoulder to them. Reaching for help is not easy. And most of the time, sad people find it difficult to communicate their feeling. Sadness is a strong emotion, and depression is tiring. So when you notice a loved one start showing signs of sadness, tell them you're there if they need someone to talk to.

Step #2: Encourage them to talk and just listen.

When you've given your intention to help, the next step is to encourage your friend to talk. Talking does not necessarily mean that they have to directly chat about the thing that's bothering them. If you cannot think of a topic, to begin with, we have an article on our site that can help.

Step #3: Be emphatic and show them that you understand their feelings.

Becoming a helping hand to someone having a tough time takes patience and dedication. Being constant in your intention is important if you really want to help someone feel better. People who are having a tough time need someone they can rely on and someone who understands the negative feeling they experience.

Step #4: Don't try to solve their problem.

When talking to someone dealing with a negative thought or poor mental health due to a problem, don't provide a solution to their problems. While telling them what you think is tempting, most of the time, people who experience negative emotions and thoughts only want someone to hear them out. Remember, they'd ask you directly if they want their problem solved.

Step #5: Tell them they're special.

A powerful way to help them is by saying words of encouragement. Little things like "You're strong and capable, and I believe in you" and "I am rooting for you because I know you'll get through it"  are incredibly uplifting and inspire positive emotion. Telling your friend other kind things to battle their low self-esteem instead of going head-on in solving their problems is a much better alternative to spreading positivity.

Step #6: Distract the person with activities

Sometimes dealing with emotional pain involves going out and forcing yourself to enjoy life. A good friend will stay during hard times, but a greater friend will help you get on your feet. Social media websites offer a lot of fun activities to try. A simple thing like a picnic can do wonders for their emotions. But if you're unsure where to start, here are some ideas on our website to cheer them up.

How To Make Someone Feel Better Infographic

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Why Do We Need Comfort?

We need comfort because we require a breath of fresh air from time to time. There are a lot of things that may cause discomfort in many different ways. For example, dealing with existential questions (read more about it here) can trigger a strong emotion, like anxiety, based on what you believe in--does anything matter or not? Regardless, comfort is something that we need to refresh our minds and emotions. It has the power to bring us back to the ground whenever we feel that everything is fleeting and out of place.

Telltale Signs That a Person Wants Some Comfort

A bad day is a thing anyone will experience at some point in their lives. But not everyone would admit to it. And so, noticing if a close friend or a loved one is having a hard time directly or through nonverbal cues or body language is essential. On the side of the person who's feeling down, it's nice to have someone care enough to notice that you're not alright.

Sign #1: Their eating or sleeping habits have abruptly changed.

One telltale sign that someone needs your help is when they suddenly become ravenous when eating. On the other end of the spectrum, refusing to eat also indicates that a person might need comforting or professional help.

Sign #2: They're not engaging socially.

Another symptom of possible depression is if someone begins to keep to themselves. They stop going out, meeting friends, or even engaging in social media. All they do is shut themselves in away from the world outside.

Sign #3: They always feel tired and want to sleep.

Stress can also make the person feel incredibly exhausted. They become so tired that they can only sleep and let the time pass this way. Sometimes, some people become too tired even to fall asleep.

Sign #4: They speak negatively about themselves.

Another clear sign that someone needs comfort is when they begin to point out things they don't like about themselves. Whether it's a physical characteristic or an emotional or mental trait, take note of the things your friend comments about themselves.

Sign #5: They are disinterested in their hobbies.

One of the saddest things a person with depression will experience is a loss of interest in doing things that make them happy. Someone with poor mental health can become so burdened with what they're feeling that they're incapable of enjoying their hobbies.

Simple Quotes That Can Lighten Up Everyone's Mood

When your friend warms up to you and tells you their problems, you can encourage them by helping them reflect on the things they're in control of. But if you're not sure what to say, we have a compilation of inspirational messages right here that can uplift anyone's spirit.

“It’s been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.” —L.M. Montgomery

Sometimes a good experience is birthed by sheer optimism. So try to look on the bright side as much as possible.

"Problems are not stop signs; they are guidelines." - Robert Schuller

Don't let challenges stop you from living your best life. Instead, it's a good idea to look at your problem as a lesson that you need to uncover.

“The first recipe for happiness is: avoid too lengthy meditation on the past.” —Andre Maurois

Dwelling in the past can be an obstacle to your bright path ahead. So keep moving forward to reach a happier destination.

"The pain you feel today is the strength you feel tomorrow. For every challenge encountered, there is an opportunity for growth." - Anonymous

When you feel down, remember that the only way you can go next is up. There's nothing wrong with experiencing challenges because you learn new things in the end.

“Have great hopes and dare to go all out for them. Have great dreams and dare to live them. Have tremendous expectations and believe in them.” – Norman Vincent Peale

Believing in your abilities and having faith in yourself is a huge step in getting better. Start being kind to yourself little by little.

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” – Psalm 23:4

Having a support system is important when dealing with negative emotions. Surround yourself with people who understand you and want the best for you.

“It is only in our darkest hours that we may discover the true strength of the brilliant light within ourselves that can never, ever, be dimmed.” – Doe Zantamata

Watch yourself shine brightly in the dark and allow yourself to learn from your discovery. There's nothing you can't do.

“It’s not exactly like you thought it would be, you think it’s a failure. What about the spectrum of colors in between.” – Sara Evans

A lot of people see a dichotomy when it comes to happiness--you're either happy or sad. It's good or bad. However, there are times when you need to see the bigger picture with a magnifying glass and acknowledge that emotions are a rainbow of colors.

“Sometimes it’s okay if the only thing you did today was breathe.” – Yumi Sakugawa

Being kind to yourself is another important step to healing. Take it one day at a time; be patient with yourself.

“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” – Carl Bard

It sounds cliche and unreal, but you can always write your own destiny. Don't let anyone say otherwise.

Frequently Asked Questions

A little bit of kindness goes a long way. So here are the answers to some questions you might ask when trying to cheer someone up.

Should you learn how to make someone feel better over text?

Yes. Cheering another person over text is as good as giving them a hug in person. Besides, texting is a lot faster than visiting your friend to see if they're okay.

How do you comfort someone who doesn't want to talk to you?

Comfort them by allowing them their space. Always respect their space and request some alone time. But make sure to tell them that you're there when they're ready to talk.

Is it safe to comfort a stranger?

There's nothing wrong with being kind. If you see someone who might need some comforting, it's better to ask them first if they need help. Consent is still essential, even with your best interests at heart.

Does every troubled person need some comfort?

Similar to the question above, it's best to make sure first. Always ask the person you want to comfort if they need it before acting. They'll appreciate your concern, but it's up to them if they like your help.

More Interesting Articles To Explore

Here are some helpful reads if you're looking for a recent post or related posts on building lasting relationships with other people.

  1. Don't know how to get to know someone deeply? Learn to navigate introductions with these questions to get to know someone deeply.
  2. Solitude might save your relationships and improve the way you look at yourself. Discover how on our post here.
  3. It's okay to explore new things when learning how to figure out what you want in life. This post will direct you on how.