One important thing that makes for both good (enjoyable) friendships and good (enjoyable) romantic relationships...emotional validation:
Has anyone ever made you feel like your emotions are truly valid? What did it feel like? Most likely, it made you feel understood, accepted and safe to process your feelings to their fullest.
Being able to give someone emotional validation is one of the strongest communication tools you can have in your arsenal when building relationships. Whether at home, in school or even in the workplace—validating language fosters mutual respect and empathy.
However, just like any other communication tool, knowing how to properly validate someone's feelings is a skill. And it takes time and intentional practice before comforting someone will become second nature.
You can read the full article here:
There are a number of websites about emotional validation, and I may end up posting more on this over in the Epicurean Lifestyle sub-forum.