I'm sick of the "at least's"

So many times I'll be talking to someone, and I dunno I guess I word things in a very positive way, because I get a lot of responses that are like Oh well at least you do this, or at least you know/think this....Great, why don't I feel so great about it? There are so many at least's I get. At least you don't have to deal with this. At least you don't do that. It's not an every now and then thing. It's all the time. People seem to be confusing my self awareness for progress. So how would you even explain that to someone who thinks you're doing perfectly fine? I just hear sentences starting with at least that it almost sounds like a ritual.

Maybe you do more complaining than being grateful for what you have. Because if you’re being positive they wouldn’t be using “at least” unless you were either being negative or gloating.

Finding small joys in what we have or don't have can really set the tone for the day, week, year. I don't pretend to have escaped my fair share of devastation.....But things could be much much worse.

In my case ..... at least I am alive

Maybe analyze how you come across to people when talking about daily life.

Maybe it’s the new fad thing to say??? I grew up in the “ it could be worse” days

I dont' think I'd interpret their statements as assuming that you're doing fine at all. I think it's that they're the types of people that try to be positive and are countering your negative comments with something positive because of that. I don't think you're coming off as positive as you might think otherwise people wouldnt' be offsetting your comments with a positive spin like that.

When I was learning about empathy in a seminar, I was taught not to use "at least" statements but to acknowledge what someone is going through.

However, I think the people who tell you "at least" may have the best intention of trying to help you feel better. But that's sympathy and not empathy.

Yeah. I mean I don't really assume anyone has ill intentions, or isn't trying to be sympathetic. Quite the opposite really. It's just that acknowledging I could be worse off doesn't feel like much help.

I completely understand. I am currently working on it myself. I realize that after watching a YouTube video about dealing with complicated grief.

Sometimes people think they are being helpful without realizing that they are hurting the person when they say that statement.

I'm leaning towards a fad statement myself after hearing it not necessarily to me directly yesterday. I think it was more of a count your blessings type of thing? It was said to my son as he was having an uninspired hangry moment by his father. It was at least you aren't over at that table statement. It did get a smile out of this son.