Speaking from experience is usually the best way to let people know about things in life. But what happens when you don't experience things and feel as if you can't give advice about a certain thing? Do you proceed to feel hopeless and just ignore issues or problems that you see around you or family or friends?
Life is fragile and it can be very confusing to just simply be a living person. So when you see something that bothers you in even the slightest because it means something to you, even with no personal experience, (which would cause a flood of sometimes misguided feelings as well) would you be willing to stand up and confront the issue or would you feel hopeless as if nothing can be done about it?
You CAN do something about things no matter what you have been told before or how many times prior to now you have been discouraged, there are options that can involve you in a solution to the problems of friends, family, and sometimes even strangers. What I speak of is empathy, and with empathy you are able to get on the same level and mind set of the person or people affected. You are able to feel what they feel and see things how they see. But simple empathy is not fully enough to solve a problem no matter how good it is.
Hope is the next thing that you will need to accomplish the outcome that you seek. When you hope in something you truly are seeking the positive solution to a problem that affects you or someone you are concerned about. Hope should never be an unattached thing either; how much logic would it be to buy warm winter clothing but never wear them when you need them? So when you hope, don't desire for a change with a feeling of doom, instead, look towards the future with a positive outlook and always try and do your best to help out in any way possible.
Maybe you have a friend or family member who is suffering with an issue that is constant. I would have to say that it is already fair to mention that in every family that I am aware of has at least one member who is battling some ongoing internal war that they are keeping locked behind a front of a smile. You can tell that they are not really that happy yet they never talk about what is wrong. What can you do in the case where they are hiding something that they think would defeat them if they spoke about it?
The very first thing that you need to do is be there for them, let them know that you will be there to talk with them about anything they feel free. It also helps that you prove yourself a reliable friend too even while you’re having normal every day occurrences too and don't display a form of recklessness either. Another pointer is that when they ARE finally venting to you about things, they tend to yell sometimes, just go with the flow and keep your voice low at all costs, in a calm tone not exactly a whisper really. There is a certain effect on a person when you refuse to raise your voice at them while not yelling when they themselves can't stop yelling. Some people don't realize that less is accomplished in shouting matches and that more things can be dealt with in a combination of listening when they talk and a calm voice.
As far as personal subjects go, I can't council on those since I don't know your personal lives. But the basics of what I have talked about, empathy, hope, a listening ear, a calming voice; such things are critical while helping others cope with problems they face. Of course the disregards for your feelings in accord to make THEM feel better helps too, just don’t trash your own self in the process. Hope in its self does not disappoint.
