True friendship lies beyond having fun at the weekend – there are moments in life when someone close to you may be going through a turbulent time, and it’s your choice to step in and be the support they need. You may be struggling to know what to say or do when they’re forced to deal with life’s toughest challenges – but simply showing that they are in your thoughts can be more than enough to help them pull through.
The good news is that there are many ways you can connect with your loved ones and help cheer them up during these situations. Take a look at some of the ideas below:
1. Help them snap out of a negative headspace
When going through a tough time, it’s natural for the mind to wander and come up with the worst-case scenario for every situation. However, this is an extremely damaging coping strategy that can cause thoughts to spiral out of control. As a good friend, it’s your job to step in and break this thought cycle. Instead of allowing your friend to sink deeper into their worries, aim to replace these catastrophic ideas with more realistic outcomes.
2. Send a gift
Sending a gift to someone is a small token to show that you’re thinking of them. It is often the case that when going through difficult times, people can feel very alone and disengaged from what is happening around them, but a random kind gesture could instantly brighten their day.
The act of gift-giving isn’t just limited to friendships – business owners who have grown to know their employees on a personal level may choose to send a complimentary gift, such as a box of chocolates from Dallmann Confections, to show their staff members that they are in their thoughts when personal difficulties arise. The bottom line is that regardless of your relationship with the individual, it doesn’t have to cost much to put a smile back on their face and give them a newfound sense of hope.
3. Send an inspiring text message
When home alone or without distraction, thoughts can start to ruminate and become overwhelming. During these daunting periods, it is always a pleasant surprise to know someone is backing your corner. A simple ‘Hey – you’ve got this’ text message or a few motivational quotes can inspire someone to snap out of their negative headspace and appreciate that someone has taken time out of their day to check in.
4. Go for a walk
Getting out in nature has been scientifically proven to benefit both the body and mind – especially when feeling low or dealing with mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression. Why not ask your friend to go for a walk when they’re struggling? Doing so will remind them that there’s a world out there beyond their dark mindset that is waiting to be explored.
Everyone deals with life changes, health issues, and stresses in totally different ways, but we hope that this guide has given you some basic ideas to cheer someone up that is close to you when they’re struggling.
