Encouraging folks to own their emotions is crucial in self-empowerment. For example:

You say: Your cat jokes aren’t funny.

Instead say: I don’t think your cat jokes are funny.

You say: Your cat jokes are offensive.

Instead say: I think your cat jokes are offensive.

You say: Your cat jokes are disgusting, disturbing, inhumane, psychopathic, and terrifying.

And I say: Hey, do you have any cats I can borrow?