https://omaciel.github.io/tags/empathy/Recent content in Empathy on Og Maciel's JournalHugoen-usFri, 03 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://omaciel.github.io/posts/2025-10-03-do-they-need-advice-or-just-a-hug/Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://omaciel.github.io/posts/2025-10-03-do-they-need-advice-or-just-a-hug/<p>A few days ago, I encountered a note with a simple message: <em>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t give a lecture to someone who needs a hug.&rdquo;</em></p> <p><img src="https://omaciel.github.io/images/do-they-need-advice-or-just-a-hug.heic" alt="Photo by Marco Bianchetti on Unsplash"></p> <p>This simple phrase resonated deeply with me and sparked reflection on how I communicate with the people I care about most.</p> <h2 id="the-power-of-listening">The Power of Listening</h2> <p>Often, people don&rsquo;t want solutions when they&rsquo;re upset; they want to be heard. I&rsquo;ve learned this lesson the hard way through experiences with my daughters and in my marriage. When someone is struggling, my instinct is to jump in with advice, to fix the problem. But I&rsquo;ve discovered that rushing to give advice often backfires.</p>