Actress Mary Njoku has advised people to be more thoughtful in how they offer encouragement, warning that well-meaning words can sometimes cause unintended harm.

In a recent Instagram post, Njoku noted that telling someone they can achieve something they personally believe is beyond their ability may feel more like pressure than support.

According to her, such remarks can lead to feelings of guilt, failure, or even depression.

She stressed the importance of respecting an individual’s self-assessment, stating that belief in oneself often fuels success, while a lack of it should be accepted without criticism.

Njoku concluded by saying that, at times, the best form of support is simply being present and listening, rather than offering unsolicited advice.

Njoku wrote, “Sometimes telling someone they can do what they deeply believe they can’t isn’t encouragement, it is pressure. It can feel like guilt, like failure. It can even feel like depression. So my dear, if you say you can, then you can. If you say you can’t, then you can’t, and that’s okay. Sometimes, the best advice is no advice at all.”