What to say when you don’t know what to say is a question many of us find ourselves asking – especially as the holiday season approaches and emotions run closer to the surface.

This past November, I had the privilege of presenting at the annual Hand to Hold Mental Health Conference. My session centered around a simple tool I’ve leaned on for years: scripts.

Scripts are short, empowering phrases you can carry with you for moments when the right words feel just out of reach. They offer steadiness when emotions are high and conversations feel loaded.

My talk focused on how helpful these scripts can be for NICU parents, who often find themselves navigating conversations with medical teams, family members, and well-meaning friends who don’t fully understand the complexity of what they’re living through. In those moments, having a prepared phrase can make all the difference.

But the truth is, this tool isn’t just for NICU parents.

We can all benefit from knowing what to say when we don’t know what to say – especially during the holidays.

This season can stir up old stories, unresolved emotions, family dynamics, and the pressure to show up with cheer even when our energy is low. The holidays can be both beautiful and overwhelming, full of connection and nostalgia, but also grief, loneliness, and exhaustion.

In moments like these, a simple one-line script can offer space to pause, breathe, and respond in a way that feels true to you rather than reactive or rushed.

A core belief in my coaching work is that clarity creates calm. When we speak from steadiness, even gently, we’re more likely to be met with understanding.

If this resonates, I invite you to explore a few of my favorite scripts and the deeper thinking behind them in the full piece on Substack.

Read the full reflection on Substack here →
✨ When You Don’t Know What to Say…

You can also find more reflections like this on my blog.