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You had a wonderful idea for that extra money you got from your tax returns. You've been wanting to do it for awhile but never seem to have the funds. Although you were quite sure of yourself when the money wasn't there, it is quite another story now that the opportunity has presented itself. There's only one thing to do, pick up the phone and ask your best friend if she thinks your plans for the money are a good idea, but when you hang up the phone you are even more conflicted than when you first got your IRS check.

Why do we as human beings seek out the advice of others? No, I am not referring to the financial advice you get from your financial advisor or the tax advice you get from your accountant. I am talking about the advice that's sought out from friends, family, political leaders and various people in the community. Why do we often times forsake inner guidance for the opinion of another? Well, from an early age there are many external stimuli that are calling you this way and that way. There are many booming voices of opinions that are sometimes so loud you begin to forget your own.

Is advice useful or necessary? Not really! Advice is a personal opinion or recommendation offered as a guide to action. Even when the advice is given from a loving friend, parent, or confidant, it is still their point of view. This means that they are telling you what should be done based on their perspective of the situation at hand. There is nothing wrong with this and it is quite natural, for we can only see and feel things from our own perspective. The unfortunate part about the above description is that we are telling someone to do something. However, action that is uninspired from Spirit within cannot lead to what is wanted; it's unlikely that it will make you happy.

Does this mean we can never seek another's insight? Au contraire, seeking insight as opposed to advice is a very different situation all together. Insight is the act or result of apprehending the inner nature of things or of seeing intuitively. Insight does not attempt to give direction, it is simply the revealing of information. Information is quite neutral and what is done with the information may very well lead to the inspiration necessary for appropriate action.

Oh yes, Advice and insight, two very different things!

Learn more about this author, Andrea Gardiner Ph.D..
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