Best Traits when Supporting a Griever:
- Supportive, but not trying to fix the person
- About feelings
- Non active, not telling
anyone what to do
- Admitting he/she can't make it better
- Not asking for something or someone to change their feelings
- Not time limited
- Able to sit and tolerate
silence and tears
- Able to sit and listen and listen and listen
- Interested in the story the griever tells
Worst Traits when with a Griever:
- They want to
fix the loss
- They are about our discomfort
- They are directive in nature
- They rationalize or try to explain loss
- They may be judgemental
- Not about the griever
- May minimize the loss
- May compare or contrast the loss
- Put a time-line on loss and grief
- May share their own loss
instead of listening to mine at this time (there is time for that in the future, just not right now).