Who Should You Take Advice From?

Don’t listen to every dumb-ass that tells you what to do!

If you find yourself constantly second-guessing your decisions based on feedback and advice from others, here is a story that will help you.

You know the scenario all too well. You make a decision — about a job, a house, what to wear to a party — and then begin to second guess yourself when you hear what someone is wearing, working on, or buying.

Maybe I should do what they are doing, you think. They sound so confident about their decision. And you begin to waffle, changing your outfit or your plans and in the process losing your confidence.

The problem with indiscriminately looking to others for direction is that when you go against your better judgment or take the advice of someone else after you’ve made a decision that felt right for you, you abdicate your power to another.

Every time you don’t follow your inner guidance, you feel a sense of loss of energy, loss of power, a sense of spiritual sadness. — Shakti Gawain

There’s a story about a father, a son, and a donkey that rings true and sounds like the advice from Ricky Nelson: You can’t please everyone; you’ve got to please yourself.

After all, you have to live with the consequences of your decisions so it's best to know yourself and trust your ability to make decisions that are right for you.

A boy, his father, and a donkey

A boy and his father set out on a long journey. They had a donkey so the father placed the young boy on the donkey and they began their trip.

Soon they met a man who saw the boy riding on the donkey while his father walked beside the beast. He scolded the boy: How selfish of you to make your old father walk when you are young and strong. You should get down and let your father ride.

The boy and the father shrugged and changed places.

Soon they met an old woman who scolded the father for riding while his son walked beside him. What an awful father you are! Making your young son walk while you ride.

The father got down and walked beside his son for a while until they met another man who laughed at them. Why aren’t you using that donkey? Why should you walk when that donkey is strong enough to carry you both?

The boy and the father thought this made sense so the father hoisted the boy up onto the donkey, climbed up behind him, and they continued on.

Soon, they met a farmer who was aghast that they were both on top of the donkey. That’s much too heavy a burden even for a donkey. You are both selfish!

By the time the father and son entered the village at the end of their journey, they were carrying the donkey!

The moral of the story: no matter what you do, there will be people who cast doubt on your decisions. Listen to wise mentors, but give ignorant or inconsequential people no place in your decision making.

I find that the more I trust myself the simpler life becomes. Big decisions become a matter of trust. Are you seeking simplicity? At Simple Life Simple Faith we talk about the things that matter — no stress, no fuss! ~Mary