Monday; August 18
It is nice to be asked
for our advice. There is something
satisfying about people thinking enough of us – and our opinion – to seek our
input. It gives us a chance to share
what we have learned from life. When
people do what we suggest, especially when it works, it makes us feel good. However, there is another side of the
coin. How does it make us feel when
people choose not to take our opinion to heart?
One understandable implication for seeking advice is that we reserve the
right to accept or decline it. We hold the
right of refusal. So, how does that make
us feel when we people say, “Thanks, but no thanks.”? Often, we get so focused on our advice that
we tend to forget that just because we say it, they don’t have to do it – even
if we think it is the right answer. That
doesn’t make our advice bad or mean that they are bad people, it’s just part of
the information gathering process. We
shouldn’t feel compelled to remind them of our advice until they follow it or,
if they choose to reject our advice and they fail, we shouldn’t tell them, “I
told you so!”.
Let’s be willing to help
when we are asked, but let’s not feel so stuck on our advice that it impacts
our relationship. Let’s be wise and
encouraging.
Think About It!