Thoughts on feelings

‘No man can come to know himself except as an outcome of disclosing himself to another person.’     The Transparent Self – Jourard. S. 1971

Frequently, when people become aware of anxiety or fear in someone else they think that in order to be accepting, they must give reassurance by saying something like…’’Everything will be all right’’. Actually reassurance communicates your need for the person to stop having that feeling, because you are uncomfortable with their feeling/s. Reassurance can also show lack of interest in the person’s feelings and will often imply that their fear is unfounded and wrong.

Don't we all want to be heard from time to time? Friendship is also about lending an ear (again and again).