"Of course, the time that goes too fast/ These subways full of drowned/ The truth that avoids us, but/ But to see a friend cry."
In 1977, Jacques Brel put his words to the disarray that seizes us in the face of the grief of our loved ones.
What to do to console a friend left by his spouse, fired, sick or in mourning?
Is it really about "doing" something?
“Consolation is indeed an action, a choice, a movement that requires sympathy
, confirms Saverio Tomasella, doctor of clinical psychology and psychoanalyst, author of
These
friendships
that transform us
(Editions Eyrolles).
But a discreet and benevolent listening remains the prerequisite for any consolation and sometimes the only possible offering.
Even when you cannot hope to quickly console a loved one in the grip of grief, listening and remaining silent will already be of great help according to Florence Ehnuel:
“It would be absurd to try to put the loss experienced by this friend into perspective
, underlines the philosopher , author of
The Empathic Reformulation
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