About this quote

Caring for someone else often pulls you out of performance and into honest feeling. Letting emotion show can open a real conversation and lead to concrete help. If you stop yourself because you think tears look weak, try naming the feeling and then do one small thing, like sending a message or bringing a meal. Who do you let see that side of you? Let one person in today.

When to use it

• At my sister's chemotherapy appointment I couldn't stop crying; I told her, "I'm crying because I love you, and I'm here."
• After a teammate missed the final and sat alone on the bus, I wiped my face and said, "I cried for you—let me help get you back on the field."
• When a coworker lost a client and broke down in the office, I stayed and said, "I cried because I know how hard you worked—what can I do to help?"
• In the library after my classmate lost his scholarship, I said, "I cried for you; let's look at scholarships and part-time options together."