#WW: πŸ˜… Stop saying ‘my condolences’ to those who are grieving. Here’s what you can do instead.

2 mins read
Published on Jul 6, 2022

Wholesome Wednesdays (WW): Bringing you curated positive content on Wednesdays to uplift your hump day.

As July begins, it is say goodbye to the first half of the year. We look at two stories of comforting others who are griefing. We often find ourselves saying ‘My condolences’…can we do better?

1. How NOT to show empathy

2. How to write a condolence message

How NOT to show empathy

black and white printed textile

What’s going on here & why we like it

Calm Collective, an awesome Singapore mental health organisation, shares a quick guide on showing empathy and the pitfalls to avoid. This is a succinct carousel post on how we can do better when helping friends through their hardest times.

“Compare their experiences with someone else. This gives them the signal that their emotions are not important”

Wise Steps

When engaging with friends who are in tough times, whip out this post to avoid the pitfalls. Train yourself to be mindful in your responses.

Check out the awesome post below!

How to write a condolence message

two hands

What’s going on here & why we like it

Option B, an insta page dedicated to mental health shares on how we can write condolence message. Spoiler alert: It is more than saying ‘My condolences’ which tends to ring empty. We like it as it is actionable and also gives you ways to approach those who are greiving.

“Acknowledge the supreme shittiness of the situation”

Wise Steps

Apply active listening and empathy when engaging with friends who are in need of a ear. Saying filler phrases like “I am sorry for your loss” can be replaced with better phrases like “Is there anything I can do for you right now?”

Check it out below


Bringing you practical wisdom for a happier life.

Benefited from our content?

Contribute to our efforts to inspire more individuals like you to apply Buddhist teachings in their daily lives.Β