What a great question. Validating is crucial in a R.
Validating doesn't mean you agree but you are having compassion for their POV. You are not formulating a response to dispute or discount their feelings (yes, men have feelings.) No "Yes, but...." or "You are just saying that because..... don't use phrases like: You ___ always, never, all the time, constantly, etc.
Ex - "I can understand why you want to be friends first. What would that mean to you?"
"I can see why that would matter to you."
"I get why you feel that way."
Does that help?
M22,H45,W45 S21/18D12 Retain faith that you will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties and at the same time confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.
