Where Does Advice Come From?

These past couple of years I have started to recognize a really bad habit of mine. I will listen to someone's advice and I will wholeheartedly accept it as the truth, immediately. Then I listen to another person's opinion on the matter and my truth changes on the dime. Just like that Tilt-a-Whirl ride at the carnival, this pattern will cause any level-headed logical person's head to spin. Let alone, a kinda kooky ginger!

When in doubt, stop and watch the sunset: Salvador, Bahia

So, where does all of this advice come from actually? From the speaker's own experience and beliefs. But that took me awhile to learn. Not the fact that advice comes from the speaker's experience, but more so that it is not the listener's experience. Advice has its limits. Giving advice can be dangerous. Taking advice can be even more dangerous if not done with care.

I still find myself in that Tilt-a-Whirl trap, especially when I have some big decisions & unknowns on my mind. Ever since I kissed the Blarney Stone, I just need to talk about what is on my mind and get my close friends' and family's morsels of advice. In fact, I crave it.

That being said, I am learning to listen objectively and not take everything someone says as truth. This means no disrespect to the advice-giver, I am not suggesting to avoid giving me advice. Just don't be surprised when I don't follow exactly what you said. I am going to think about it, take what I want from it, and do my own sweet little thing. I am learning to take advice objectively, take some soul-centering time, and then acting accordingly. Just as our English and history teachers always emphasized the importance of understanding our sources, so do we as advice-takers and givers.  It breaks down to this: there's a big difference between Wikipedia and Jstor, no denying it.

Next time you are giving advice, think about your audience and choose your words wisely. Next time you take advice, think about the source: How well does this person know you? What parts does s/he know about you? And a crucial one: How well do I know him/her and what experiences have they had to give this advice morsel?