Meaning Checks

Practice meaning checks in everyday conversations. When a friend tells you about their day, resist the urge to jump to advice or your own story. Instead, paraphrase, name the emotion you detect, and check if you got it right. The conversation often opens up when the person feels accurately heard.

Feeling heard is a powerful gift because it lowers the need to defend. Reflection does not solve the problem by itself, but it gives the person enough safety to explain what is actually happening.