We all have had that person in our life that thinks they just have the best advice to give. When they really aren’t helping and are making everything much worse.
You hear the “Just stop overthinking, pray more, just calm down...” Wow, thank you! Yes, I feel so much better now, said no one EVER!
This seems to happen a lot, unfortunately, with family members. Or the ones you are super close with. You think that they will have the magic words to help you in that moment, but you just end up walking away feeling worse or like you are the problem.
I struggled with this a lot from family members and I think I finally figured out the best way to handle it…
1. When speaking to that person and they start giving the horrible advice, say to them, “I just need you to listen to me. Please let me vent. I don’t need you to give advice or to fix my problems. I just need to be heard.”
2. Don’t seek advice or vent to a family member or even a friend when they are known for bringing you down. Especially when you have already tried Step 1.
3. People are not always going to understand or be able to sympathize with you when they have not walked in your shoes. Some will understand more, and some will understand less. There will be ones that genuinely are clueless and want to understand. Then there will be ones who are just plain nasty and don’t care.
Be selective in your choice of an Advice Giver. Keep your circle safe, but don’t be afraid to open up to the ones who can truly help and listen to you.
As Always,
You Deserve Peace
You Are Not Your Diagnosis
You Deserve Peace
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