Solicited Advice

Listen to your friends, especially when you ask for their opinion. Close friends always have something to say whether solicited or not. Usually, it is second nature to discuss a problem with your best friend or someone trustworthy. Moreover, they redirect you to the right path. But an advice is still yours to sustain or denounce, it’s always up to you to imbibe and apply what they say. This is because they view things on a different perspective, from the outside looking in, which is not ultimately precise. Yet for the same reason, they're vision might be clearer than yours.

   

Now why is that so?

   

It’s like playing cards; your view is limited to your deck. You see the players but you don’t know who’s got the Ace. You tend to act according to your hand's best play. Risking your King may be the key to winning, since you don't know what the future holds—you move unfavorably. A friend is someone who sees via a different angle. Since I used playing cards as a metaphor, this friend appears to be an accomplice in cheating the game. Well, as long as the thought gets through.

He or she looks at your situation in a more comprehensive and mostly objective manner, which is the ground for feeling antagonized, unless your friend has an unseen or unannounced stand. They may propose something which doesn't acquiesce with what you think. They might also perceive aggressors you never deemed as such.

   

What should you do?

   

Never disregard opinions especially when the intention is for your gain. Yet, never act without re-aligning their perspective with yours. This might be beating around the bush rather than hitting the mark. Take it into account because your friend’s advice deserves credit, however, place your position and infuse your line of sight. This may not be all-the-time fruitful but it usually is.

   

Where is the problem?

   

Your dilemma heightens when you neglect sympathetic counsel just because it sounds adverse or even ridiculous to the point of being obnoxious. When an individual ‘seeks’ another’s guidance, it is blatant incapacity to decide. Expectedly, that individual accepts an advice. But if he or she shrugs that off, the possibility of making a mistake is high.

Bear in mind, you have a limited view of the matter. Unless you have multiple perspectives, be accommodating of potentially contradicting standpoints. And if you do have that, it won’t hurt to have an open mind. An outside angle is inevitably different from an inside viewpoint. Also, credibility is causal to a positive result. But the varying stance remains unchanged unless you make a choice. So it is important to listen and act.

   

A friend may be inexperienced when it comes to love and relationships but his or her meticulous assessment could be beneficial. He or she might not be a Business major but is able to identify a plausible market. All the more, seeking counsel benefits you. Because when you don’t listen, you tend to end up in tears as you sober and soak your friend's shoulder until he or she asks, “Do you need a bucket?.”

   

Indirectly, friends get hurt when other people berate you for your fault. They get affected because it’s as if they weren’t there for you. They may feel the worst feeling of being powerless as you keep on banking insults.

   

And what do they do?

   

They end up defending you. They get hit by tomatoes and coleslaw too. It won’t stop until you accept defeat; you stop denying and try to stand once more. Now, if you fall face-first again—your friends leave you but your true friends will kick your ass and punch you with reality. They may not be as lenient as before but it only means they care. Now if friends have done their part, you should do yours.

  

Just what is that?

   

Listen and act.