In Others’ Words: A Bit of Advice

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Life 12 Comments

Advice and success 2.24.14Ah, advice.

We love giving others advice — often with a “take it or leave it” qualifier.

But when it comes to hearing and accepting advice from someone else? That’s not always so easy, is it?

Maybe I’m the only one with the virtual deflector shields of “I know what I’m doing” and “I can figure this out on my own.”

But then there’s the truth: Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed.ย (Proverbs 15:22 NIV)

Advice, a.k.a. counsel, can be a good thing. Our failures — and the wisdom we glean from them — can often lead to both our future success. And others’ success too.

In Your Words: It’s Monday. And I’ve learned enough from all of you to know that you’re wise. So today, please share some advice — truth, wise counsel — that you’ve given others because of a lesson you’ve learned.ย 

With many advisors there is success Click to Tweet

Lesson Learned: What Advice Would You Share Click to Tweet

 

 

Comments 12

  1. Boy, is that one a keeper. I counsel/encourage others w/ more grace-filled advice than I give myself, and sometimes stop and think, “What would I tell a student or acquaintance in this same circumstance?” And that helps add objectivity.

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  2. This is awesome, Beth. I am REALLY good at giving advice to others and then turning around and not taking it myself. LOL! One of the things I like to tell friends is to hope big and trust God that his dream is even bigger than yours. And yet, sometimes I’m the first one to doubt that in my own life. I’ll find myself holding back, just a little bit…so, dude, Melissa, listen to your own words. ๐Ÿ™‚

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  3. Wash your hands thoroughly after getting into poison oak.

    Especially before ‘using the facilities’.

    Also, don’t try driving forward on the freeway using your rearview mirrors as your sole visual reference. It sounds like it would work on a straight stretch of road.

    It doesn’t.

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      Andrew:
      Ah, the dreaded poison oak.
      An addendum: And if you are burning the underbrush (where poison oak might be lurking) don’t stand upwind of the smoke.

      Your other bit of advice … yeah, I’ll let that one stand as is.

  4. If you really hate winter then either move further south or shut up and learn to live with it. Stop complaining about it!
    This advice from a Michigander transplanted to Texas. ๐Ÿ˜‰

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  5. Beth, I like today’s quote. “The best way to succeed in life is to act on the advice we give to others.” So many times we give great advice but end up not following it ourselves. The wisdom God gives us can be partially used by sharing it with others OR acting upon it ourselves. But it can be fully used if we do both: share it AND follow it.

    So, my advice today is to listen to the advice you give others… and then act on it yourself. People learn best by seeing an example anyway, for the most part, so living out your advice for others to see visually might increase the impact of giving that advice.

    Blessings,
    Andrea

  6. Great words this Monday morning, Beth. The number one piece of advice I give is to FORGIVE people who hurt you. Because I’ve experienced the wonderful freedom that forgiveness provides, I know how much it allows us to fully live a full life of love and service to God.

    1. So true, Donna! I’ve found the same freedom when I release my anger. I finally realized that anger poisons my life but does absolutely nothing to the person or circumstances. What freedom to leave the situation in God’s hands.

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