Take Your Own Advice
It’s quite obvious what your friend should do. How can they not see it? Things aren’t always this way or that way. There are many ways to reach a desired result or solve a problem. Not just the way you suggest. Of course, you speak into the lives of others but hate it when they speak into yours. Somehow your advice for them is useful. Yet, their advice towards you is unwarranted and crossing the line. Why does this exist?
I, myself am guilty of speaking into the lives of others without their asking. I hear someone explain a situation they’re facing and I just step right in with words of wisdom and advice. This is something I am trying to work on, as listening is just as powerful. Maybe, that is what they need. For me to just listen. But the solution is so obvious, I tell myself. Sure, it’s obvious to me. I am not the one facing what they’re facing. Maybe I have in the past or I never have.
In times like this I remind myself how I feel to get advice I was not looking to get?
“Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about their own.” - Paulo Coelho
Let’s face it, people are highly opinionated. Yes, that means you. And me. Some of it comes from a good place. A place of love and care for the person you give the advice to. However, if you’re not careful, it may come from a place of ego and superiority.
Imagine for a second you’re terrible with money. Yet, you give someone money advice.
Imagine you’ve never had a successful relationship and yet, here you are giving relationship advice.
Imagine you’re an absent parent in the life of your kids and you’re giving parenting advice.
Imagine that you’re 200 lbs overweight and you’re giving health advice.
These examples sound ridiculous. Don’t they. But, you do micro versions of this all the time. It’s easy to speak on the life of someone else. It is much harder for you to correct your own. Take your own advice before you give it. Solve your own problems before you talk about someone else’s.
Thought Provoking Questions : How would you feel to get advice you weren’t asking for? Instead of giving advice, what would listening do?
Dan Roman is a Husband, Father, and writer that releases a daily blog. A quick read. Sharing wisdom and asking thought-provoking questions.
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