A friend says they had a terrible day, and you already have three suggestions.

A friend says they had a terrible day, and you already have three suggestions. Hold them for a moment. Ask, “Would you like me to listen, or help you think through what to do?” If they want to talk, let them finish without turning their story into your own. If they want ideas, ask what they have tried. Advice is easier to use when it answers a real request. Sometimes the useful thing you can offer is ten minutes of attention, not a solution.