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Whose advice are you ignoring?

I really wish I could take credit for that question…but, I can’t. That is a direct quote from Andy Stanley in one of his most recent messages at church. (GREAT series BTW – ‘How Not to be Your Own Worst Enemy.‘

But, man oh man, did that question get me thinking. Am I ignoring advice? Am I even seeking advice? Do I think I can do it all on my own and don’t need to ask anyone…anything?

Hear Me written on tiles on the table | whose advice are you ignoring | Positively Jane

What about you? Are you plugging along all by yourself without any wise counsel… perfectly content to do it your way?

Or, has someone offered you advice and you are ignoring them?

Are you ignoring them because you just don’t want to listen?

Or, maybe don’t even care?

Or, maybe you don’t like what they have to say…. because it does not align with what you want do do, see or feel.

Let me put it this way –

Has your doctor advised you that you need to stop eating fatty foods… because your heart can’t handle it anymore.
Or maybe your mom has suggested that you get more sleep… because you are a bit cranky. 🙂
Or maybe a friend has mentioned that your clothes are a bit too tight… and maybe you should try a bigger size.
Or maybe you have been told to save a bit more of your paycheck… so you have money for those emergencies in life.
Or maybe it has been suggested that you do not eat lunch with your secretary….. because you are married and it might not be a good idea.
Or maybe someone has said that you need to forgive… because unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.
Or maybe someone is telling you to NOT buy that house… because it is just too much money.

On the other hand… If you are seeking advice, are you seeking it from the correct people?

Do you want to take advice about budgets from someone who is in serious debt?
Do you want to ask someone, who has been divorced 3 times, for marriage advice?
Do you want to get some decorating tips and how to’s from someone who does not have the same style as you?
Do you want fashion advice from someone who dresses totally different than you do?
Do you want to know how to grow a vegetable garden from someone who can’t keep a house plant alive?

My hairdresser told me that when he wanted to know how to make some serious money he went to the person he knows who has the most money…. and asked him all the how to’s. He then took all of the advice he was given and ran with it. He is a smart man (and sure knows how to cut my spiked hair to perfection).

What if you have a major decision to make –

Like changing jobs, moving to a new city, buying a car, or a house…. who do you turn to for advice? Do you ask your peers? Your mom? Your dad? Your husband or your wife? The bank? Do you even ask anyone? What do you do?

Recently, my retired husband decided he wanted to go back to work. He said that he missed closing the deals (which may be true). But, going back to work required extensive travel. He had a few physical limitations that would make traveling very difficult for him.

girl with hands over her ears | whose advice are you ignoring | Positively Jane

It did not matter what any else thought… he was going to do it anyway. He asked NO one for advice. He told everyone what he was going to do and then had excuses and reasons when anyone suggested that it might not be a good idea. In fact, he got pretty defensive of his decision. It was his decision and we were to leave him alone.

And, as his loving wife, I told him that I was 100% against it. I could not sit back and watch him make a bad decision without saying anything. But, since he was a grown man, I could not tie him down and make him stay home.

He had a narrative going on in his head that was far from the truth. It was a narrative that he liked and he was holding onto it with all his might… .because it is what he wanted to do. And then he tried to convince everyone that it was a good idea and that he would be fine… ignoring advice and wise counsel.