IdleGlory | He had to be a genius or nothing, and since he couldn’t be creative he turned to bohemianism, eccentricity, social versatility, conquests. – Allen Ginsberg

And utter them again as God shall please.”
Proverb, unknown

From my understanding of human behavior, ranging from freely asking questions to friends, co-workers, classmates, peers, professors, employees and business partners to employing similar tactics to people ranging from the insecure and cautious, observant and cryptic, ambitious and brimful with determination, to naive and cautious, there are only three things to remember that can be applied to any situation requiring advice.

What to do

1. Be a good listener

Listen to what the other person is saying and trying to communicate. Do not interrupt or cut them off. Once you have formulated an idea of what they are communicating, try listening to what they are NOT saying. This is sometimes helpful in pointing out the other person’s subconscious thought pattern.

2. Repeat what they have said

Establishing common ground is necessary for all communication platforms. It is important to repeat what you have understood from their queries before continuing with your advice. Sometimes what we have heard is not the same as to what the other person is trying to say.

3. Allow free-thinking

Remember that your advice is simply sharing your opinion with another person. Whether it be based on prior experience with a similar ex-lover, or solving the pitfalls of procrastination, it is ultimately how the other person utilizes this advice to reevaluate their understanding of their situation. As much as we would love to save our friends and family from unnecessary suffering, we can only help others to help themselves.