she said "He says that I'm trying really hard". So I said "Maybe he is saying something positive
She already had her interpretation, you putting the opposite interpretation is saying she is wrong without even exploring why she thinks this way.=invalidation. You went straight to "T" without any "S & E"
Try:
You" do you take that in a positive or negative light?'
Her " negative'
You "In what way"
Her' because... ."
You " that must make you feel hurt to think thats how it is meant... "
Her " yes it stinks'
You " Have you considered that he may not mean it that way"
Her "what else could it mean?"
You "Have you considered xyz... ?
Her " Thats BS... '
You "You probably know him better than me"
You considered her view, introduced your reality, sowed the seed, then didn't go on to sell it, hence avoided pushing her into escalating defensiveness. Not selling your reality is often the better way for them to review something without "loosing face' and admitting they were wrong.