THE ART OF HOLDING SPACE: HOW TO BE PRESENT FOR OTHERS WITHOUT TRYING TO FIX THEM

Have you ever shared something personal with someone, only to receive immediate advice when all you really needed was to be heard?

We often think that helping means offering solutions. That supporting someone means giving answers. But true connection doesn’t come from fixing—it comes from holding space, from allowing someone to be seen, heard, and understood without judgment or interruption.

Holding space is one of the greatest gifts we can offer. It tells someone: You don’t have to perform. You don’t have to justify. You are enough, just as you are.

Take a moment to reflect: When was the last time someone truly held space for you? How did it make you feel?

What does it mean to hold space?
Holding space means creating an environment where someone feels safe to express themselves without fear of being judged, corrected, or rushed into a solution.

It’s not about fixing—it’s about presence. It’s not about responding—it’s about listening.

Think about a time when someone gave you their full attention, without interruption, advice, or distraction. How did that change the way you felt about yourself and your experience?

Why we struggle to hold space
Many of us are uncomfortable with silence. We want to fill the gaps, to ease discomfort, to offer solutions so the other person feels better (and so do we). But sometimes, the most powerful response isn’t words—it’s presence.

The next time someone shares something with you, try this:

• Resist the urge to fix. Instead of offering advice, ask, Do you want support, or do you just need to be heard?

• Allow silence. Not every pause needs to be filled. Sometimes, space itself is healing.

• Reflect instead of respond. Try saying, That sounds really difficult. I can see why you feel that way.

What shifts when you stop trying to solve and start simply being?

The healing power of being seen and heard
We all crave understanding. To feel that our emotions are valid. To know that we’re not alone.

When we hold space for someone, we remind them of their own wisdom, their own strength. We’re not there to carry their pain—we’re there to walk beside them while they navigate it themselves.

Imagine how your relationships might change if, instead of rushing to respond, you simply offered your presence.

Holding space isn’t about having the right words—it’s about being fully present. Sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do for someone is to remind them: I’m here. I see you. You are not alone.

So, I ask you: What’s one way you can hold space for someone in your life this week? And how would it feel to receive that same gift in return?