15 pieces of wisdom that people found surprisingly helpful
Occasionally, the Internet can be a place to get some good advice. It usually starts when someone asks a question and leaves it open for people to answer.
In this case, Twitter-user Amanda Deibert asked about advice people had received.
What is a piece of advice someone gave you that ended up being SURPRISINGLY good?
— Amanda Deibert🏳️🌈 (@amandadeibert) March 21, 2021
Here are some of the best answers:
1. Every day can’t be the best
We always get told to try our hardest and make the most of every day. And that’s great, but it’s also impossible.
In fact, sometimes it’s healthier to just acknowledge that the day isn’t going to be life-changing and just get through it and try to enjoy the sights along the way.
The secret to being happy in your work is to do your best every day and never compare today’s best to yesterday’s best. Some days you will change the world and other days your best will be the fact that you just showed up.
— Kimen Petersen (@Kimen_RMT) March 22, 2021
2. No bullies
Oddly enough, sometimes family can be the cruelest.
But if your relatives think they can insult you since you’re so “close,” there’s no reason you can use that logic to defend yourself with equal force – or just walk away.
Not all family is good for you.
Just because they are family, they have no right to treat you poorly.
— AmericanWindmillCancerSociety (@tbruso67) March 21, 2021
3. It’s easier to add than take away
Just like cooking, it’s easier to put more in than take something out. The same applies to anger.
Once you pass a certain point, the repair is tough. But you can always work your way up when it’s necessary!
You can almost always escalate a situation at some point in the future, but you can rarely deescalate once you go down that road.
— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) March 22, 2021
4. Sometimes you have to blend in
We can’t wait for the day that it’s no longer necessary to be just like someone else in order to have them respect you. But human nature is to be attracted to things like you.
At least when it comes to clothing for a work presentation, it’s relatively harmless advice.
The day before a big presentation to senior management, the best boss I ever had told me, “Dress like them. If you look like them, they’ll think you’re one of them and they’ll listen to what you have to say”
— Mike Babulic (@MikeBabulic) March 21, 2021
5. Always be prepared
How many times have you been asked a question in an interview that started with “tell me about a time you…”? Because we’ve heard it at EVERY interview. And it’s hard to come up with a story on the spot.
This is really good advice for job-seekers.
When prepping for a job interview, get ready to tell some stories to illustrate the points that you want to make about yourself. People like stories more than assertions and generalizations.
— Steve Tracy (@DrStephenTracy) March 21, 2021
6. Just do it
The day before a big presentation to senior management, the best boss I ever had told me, “Dress like them. If you look like them, they’ll think you’re one of them and they’ll listen to what you have to say”
— Mike Babulic (@MikeBabulic) March 21, 2021
7. Some people…
We tend to believe there are more than two types of people. That seems a little simplistic. But it does seem to be the case that at least some people tend to be good listeners in the service of understanding while others simply hear things that they can use later.
Some people are philosophers and some are politicians. Philosophers want to reach truth/understanding. Politicians want to win.
Helped me rethink some relationships, how hard I was working to reach the other person and find understanding with them when they just wanted to win.
— Gennifer Hutchison (@GennHutchison) March 21, 2021
8. Keep your criticism to yourself
We love this. Especially because so many people love to criticize others even when they have no idea what it’s like to be in their shoes.
“Think twice before criticizing someone who has done something you haven’t.”
A film professor told me that at FSU. I appreciate that wisdom more as I’ve gotten (much)
older.— Mike Avila, “Dumb Woke Count” (@mikeavila) March 22, 2021
9. Don’t argue with idiots
People who don’t know what they’re talking about have an awful lot to say about everything. And they’re usually just in an argument to win it, so they’ll pull out every random “what about…? -ism” they can think of.
There’s no prize for interacting with them because they never learn.
You can win an argument with a smart person, but you’ll never win against a dumb person.
— Mathias Cross (@xXIMathiasIXx) March 22, 2021
10. Don’t waste your life
Ok, so you do need to do laundry, but in the grand scheme of things, chores probably won’t be what makes you proud of your life or things you reflect on fondly.
So tidy up, but make sure it’s because you had a great party first.
as my grandmother was dying, i asked her if she’d do anything differently. she said “i wish i hadn’t spent so much time doing laundry.” whenever i’m doing something that i don’t like that’s taking up too much of my time, i find a different approach.
— karyn spencer (@KarynSpencer) March 22, 2021
11. Save the advice
Listening is genuinely hard. We want to help people solve things, especially the people we love.
But how many times have you been annoyed because someone wouldn’t stop making suggestions to you while you were just trying to get some sympathy?
Sometimes all someone needs is for you to listen without hearing possible solutions
— Mission Failer (@OldrikJansen) March 22, 2021
12. Hate only hurts you
There’s only one way to heal and that’s to let go of bad feelings. That doesn’t mean you have to keep toxic people in your life – you can boot them out, but don’t keep the bitterness too. Let it go.
Hating someone is like drinking poison and then waiting for them to die.
Let the bad feelings go, don’t dwell on it.— Mitch Krebsbach (@Mitchkrebsbach) March 22, 2021
13. Don’t be gossip
Being a work gossip is bad, but being the subject of the gossip is worse.
If you won’t want work to bleed into your life, then keep your life out of work and stay professional.
At the beginning of my first company party, my supervisor said “Tomorrow everyone will be talking about someone. Make sure it’s not you.”
— Gayle (@gayleforce4) March 22, 2021
14. Learn to listen
We like this one so much it’s worth repeating.
Listening is a skill that very few people have learned.
IF they’re not asking for advice just shut up and listen.
It has served me well for decades.
— Caycee Dee, Elevationist. (@cayceedeeneely) March 22, 2021
15. Be kind to yourself
The times you feel your worst are the times you need to take it easy on yourself.
It’s tough to do, but even if you’ve done something you regret, you need to work out your own emotions first before you fix it.
Talk to yourself like you would talk to a friend. (In cases when you feel blue, screwed up, etc. Self-compassion can be challenging, but oh so important.)
— 📞202-224-3121 (@belleradio) March 22, 2021
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So, what’s the best advice YOU’VE ever received?
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
Source: Twitter – @amandadeibert, INC.com