There's a quiet magic in acknowledging someone's pain without rushing to fix it. I've found that simple phrases like 'This really hurts, doesn’t it?' or 'I’m here with you' can create space for grief to breathe. Sometimes, the most comforting words aren’t words at all—just sitting together in silence, sharing the weight of it.
When my friend went through a brutal breakup last year, I sent her handwritten notes with memories of her strength ('Remember when you solo backpacked through Portugal? That courage still lives in you'). Tangible reminders of their resilience often help more than abstract platitudes. And if they’re open to it, sharing how you’ve seen them grow through past hardships can gently reframe their narrative from 'broken' to 'becoming.'