How do you balance being a supportive friend and being an honest friend?

I think all of us have had various times in our friendships where the decisions and behaviors a friend made were obvious sources for their subsequent unhappiness and failure and other disappointments. How do you all approach being a supportive and validating friend while also wanting to direct your friend's attention to their own possibly destructive choices?


Source.

I believe being an honest friend is the best way of being a supportive friend.

Hammer meets nail head right there....

Just be honest - it's the best way to be supportive.

I mean, ok, you might well be lining yourself up for one of those 'looks could kill' moments - but if you're true friends....

A friend will never not be honest no matter if the truth hurts a bit. Just to listen and be there for them and honesty. Is support.

Honesty is key to any relationship even friendship. I support my friends by being brutally honest. I hope for the same in return.

The close friends I have, expect me to be brutally honest with my opinions. That's why we're close friends: )