Not the poster, but I’ve used a similar strategy a handful of times - it’s been 50/50. Many people don’t really want a solution, they just want sympathy.
Which is long term self sabotage imo, but it is what it is.
I've definitely said to someone, "Right now, I want you to reassure me about this, even if you don't believe it."
I didn't call it a lie, but yes, that's what I was requesting.
In that circumstance, I believed things would ultimately work out, but my confidence was faltering. I needed to hear my own belief in an outside voice whether that person believed it or not.
I didn't actually need his belief. I already had my own. I just needed him to voice it.
Depends on the phrasing - you don't have to call it "comforting lie" - something to the effect of "I can offer some encouraging points about this if you like or if you want critique, we can do that" would also do. I have had people tell me in the past, "I don't want you to solve it for me, just listen", which was a learning experience.
