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People Share Life Advice They Received That Turned Out To Be Really Useful (35 Pics)
Interview With Author
Ah, life advice! It’s that wonderful thing that we just looove handing out (but hate listening to). Among all the pleasures in life, handing out life advice to a friend or even a complete stranger on the internet has got to rank among the top 100, for sure. And there’s hardly anything better than giving someone advice that we ourselves should be following but aren’t, am I right, dear Pandas?
For instance, I know so much about eating healthily, it’s ridiculous. Do I practice what I preach? Heck no! However, this list is about surprisingly good advice. Advice that’s useful. Timely. Concise. And, frankly, just spot-on. Internet users started sharing all these golden nuggets of wisdom after LA-based TV writer Amanda Deibert created a viral Twitter thread. Bored Panda reached out to her about her thread and you can find what she told us below.
Scroll down and upvote the advice you think is the best and be sure to share some of your own pearls of wisdom in the comment section below. But beware: even though these tips are useful, far from every bit of advice is good for us, as we’re about to find out.
More info: Twitter | AmandaDeibert.com
Image credits: amandadeibert
This post may include affiliate links.
#2
tuzdayschild 3 years ago
My parents taught me that too. "If you can't afford to give it away, you can't afford to loan it."
#3
Deal _Anneal 3 years ago
It’s better to have your nose in a book than someone else’s business. Periodt ƪ(˘⌣˘)ʃ
Amanda told Bored Panda that the thread had a lot of great advice and "a wealth of amazing wisdom." In her opinion, the reason why we're so great at giving advice instead of listening to it is that it's easier to see situations clearly for other people.
"When it is our own life, we also have to deal with our own emotions and attachments and habits. I can easily see something with detachment when it isn't my own issue. I think it is actually incredibly difficult to detach and really look at your own life," she explained.
#4
Deal _Anneal 3 years ago
Life’s too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you X﹏X
Al Christensen 3 years ago
Furthermore, just because they're family, that doesn't mean you have to love or even like them.
Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
As I know too well, and many do, the words "family loyalty" have kept people in horrible situations. You MAKE a family. DNA just happens to you.
KombatBunni 3 years ago
I haven’t spoken to my parents since September last year. Was thinking about making contact again this year but figured either I’d get a lecture or the issue would just be ignored as usual so not worth the bother. I do love my parents but rather do that from a distance
María Hermida 3 years ago
You have the right to live your life in your own terms. I don't know what happened with your parents, but I guess it is related to some decision they didn't like. Love must be based on acceptance, so you shouldn't feel guilty for choosing what makes you happy.
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Franc Esca 3 years ago
Haha my mother is almost 70 and her mind explodes everytime she gives me an order and I don't do it
Jade Lynn - Panda's Brat 3 years ago
So true. Blood means nothing if they aren't treating you nicely.
D. Pitbull 3 years ago
THANK YOU!!! I believe my DNA-connected people believe that the definition of family is: "The people you can abuse, steal from, lie to and absolutely treat like sh-- and they are obligated to still be completely there for you." - but only if it's to their benefit, not that they'd do it for others.
kasa alex 3 years ago
Wow sometimes I feel a similar way about a certain family member of mine
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Lucy Skinner 3 years ago
This needs to be higher, especially because we arre told otherwise so much.
sturmwesen 3 years ago
Family is basically coincidence. Relationships depend on shared history.
Twisted 3 years ago
But how do you know that they’re treating you badly? Personally, I have a hunch that my family’s toxic, but I feel like I could just be wanting more than I already have. Sorry.
Courtney Harris 3 years ago
If you wouldn't take the way they treat/talk to you from a friend/acquaintance, don't take it from someone just because they are 'family'. There are extreme exceptions- illness, mental illness, etc....
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Patti Coolidge 3 years ago
Add a toxic family member over here .. haven't spoken since 2008- ENOUGH
María Hermida 3 years ago
Familiarity brings contempt. Absolutely true! It's up to us to set the limits. Family or not, everyone deserves respect.
Kelly Hartle 3 years ago
My dad always told me that you are no better than anyone in your family. And since, when you get down to it, we are all one family...
Celtic Pirate Queen 3 years ago
I have two incredibly toxic sisters that I basically don't speak to for just that reason. Being the eldest doesn't mean I owe you ANYTHING - and that includes bail money or justification as to why you keep stealing or cheating on your husband.
Barbara Vandewalle 3 years ago
I have never understood why it is okay for family to treat me shabbily. But if a friend treats me the same way, why am I allowing the to treat me horribly.
Xan Maranya 3 years ago
"Right" has nothing to do it. Even though my family treats me poorly I have the ability to take care of my own feelings.
Josh Tall 3 years ago
no one is obliged to treat anyone nicely...you get treated the way you allow yourself to be treated
Dizzy Falcon 3 years ago
It's common sense to be nice. Also, many families are abusive, not because the victim deserves it, but just plain abuse
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We were also interested to get Amanda's opinion on how we can learn to follow our own advice better. After all, quite a lot of us know what we should be doing better in life but aren't following our own tips despite knowing they're good.
"I think change is difficult and scary and most good advice revolves around change. Actually, that was one of my favorite bits of advice in the thread: not making a decision is a decision... and it's the easiest one to make. I think the best way around it is to remember that. Good things are difficult and take work, but sitting back and allowing life to just happen is a choice."
‘Inc.’ points out that successful entrepreneurs “know the value of listening to advice from others,” however, they suggest having a “buyer must beware” type of mentality. In other words, you can’t switch off your mind and follow someone blindly: you might end up in the middle of the woods with no road in sight.
For instance, ‘Inc.’ suggests keeping a keen eye on the context in which the advice was given: are you at a boardroom or a bar? Also, keep in mind that far from everyone is out to help you. They might give you bad advice to slow you down or send you spiraling in the wrong direction. (Yup, corporate life can be brutal.)
#11
troufaki13 3 years ago
You don't have to be liked by everyone, just as you don't like everyone you meet! :)
Furthermore, you really should be wary of unsolicited advice. Always ask yourself: what is this person’s motivation? What do they gain from me following their advice? Is there any substance to it? Is it self-serving? Do they simply like hearing themselves talk? When you really start digging deep, you’ll find that there are few diamonds in the rough among the lumps of coal. But the gems you find—they’re priceless when polished with practice and proper application.
The thing about advice is that there’s no panacea, no single cure-all tidbit of wisdom that’s going to apply to everyone equally. Some relationship advice is going to be fantastic for somebody going through a break-up but not for someone in the middle of a marriage crisis.
#15
Similarly, specific dieting advice might work for a small handful of pro-athletes, but it might be barely effective for someone looking to lose weight. It’s all about weighing in and evaluating each bit of advice separately. What works for someone else might not work for you and vice versa.
However, we can over-think things and we might get analysis paralysis if we only think about which advice is good for us without actually testing some of it out. At least some experimentation is necessary for us to determine what tips and tricks work for us and which ones are best left for someone else.
#16
Kari Panda 3 years ago
Depends on the company and the person you answer to, sadly. Many bosses do want to be asked about every little thing.
The problem is that most of us have an opinion about most things. And it can be… difficult to see the difference between somebody’s opinion masquerading as advice and actual advice that the person has applied in their lives and found success. So asking a few follow-up questions is always a plus. Best-case scenario? You go in-depth and fill that noggin of yours with even more useful knowledge than you thought was available. Worst-case scenario? You find out that the person hasn’t been following their own advice and is only speaking on a theoretical level.
#21
achilles get down from there 3 years ago
wasn't there a study done investigating a correlation between severity of criminal conviction and time since the Judge's lunch break?
Speaking of which, isn’t it amazing how bad some of us can be in following our advice? We know what works. We’ve seen it work. We’ve doled out the advice to others and watched it work miracles, but we still won’t cut back on our sugar intake/go for nature walks/try meditating every day. Sometimes, it all comes down to just doing it because our minds can (and will) find every excuse known to humankind just to keep you in your comfort zone.
#23
Aragorn II Elessar 3 years ago
When I run for President in 20 or so years, I’m going to go for the philosopher angle. Hopefully, the difference between me and the other candidates (and previous presidents) will make people at least stop and think. I don’t want to win, but if I can just make two people closer or make one cop stop and think before he shoots, that will be worth everything.
This isn’t the first time that Bored Panda has written about TV writer Amanda. We’ve already featured her threads in articles before, including about a seemingly ordinary-looking house listing that’s actually got tons of mannequins posed inside, as well as her thread about women sharing all the ways they protect themselves while running.
#25
Sheila Stamey 3 years ago
Some days when you can just barely show up are because of the day before. But show up! Today is the day to start making your happy ending. Until the day they put you in the grave, is never too late to have one.
#26
Fred Van Der Zee 3 years ago
Just make a decision. If it turns out wrong, learn from it. If it turns out right, learn from it. And: not making a decision is also a decision.
#27
Dippin Dot 3 years ago
In addition, stories make the interview feel more like an informal chat instead of being stuffy. And chatting makes you more relaxed, making it easier to show your true self!
#28
Sara Elizabeth 3 years ago
I always try to give myself overnight or at least a few hours after writing something important for work. Fresh eyes let you see a lot.
#31
troufaki13 3 years ago
I love cooking, but every now and then I will indulge myself to a souvlaki! :)
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What do you think ?
chi-wei shen 3 years ago
Am advice my father gave to my brother some 30 years ago, when my brother was in his early 20s: "Alcohol is the most potent solvent known to mankind. It dissolves bank accounts, careers, and families. It all starts with a few glasses now and then." About ten years ago, shortly after my dad has died, my brother confessed to me he should have listened.
meepmeep 3 years ago
I was mormon so didn't drink until in my 30s. Honestly I learned that it's really unnecessary at best. I like being able to have a good time with all of my mental faculties with me.
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Kate Kyffin 3 years ago
My favourite is always - just because someone is a drama queen - it does not mean that you have to stop and watch the show.
Giles McArdell 3 years ago
"Explain and Excuse are not the same thing" - IE just because you can explain someone's behaviour does not excuse it.
Celeste Grant 3 years ago
Best advice I ever received was "you are not required to set yourself on fire just to keep someone else warm" I've used it both professionally and in personal relationships.
Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
My mom: "Never have sex with someone you wouldn't want to share child custody with."
sturmwesen 3 years ago
My advice for relationships that are neither good nor very bad: Ask for a small favour (do you have chewing gum?can I borrow a pen?). My theory is 1. person feels recognized/needed 2. you got them to do something for you which might stay in their subconcience and built a connection and a reference for future contact. Google Benjamin-Franklin-Effect
Amanda Reicha 3 years ago
It's okay to accept limitations and live your life the best way you can and be happy. Other people may have expectations for what your life should be, but don't waste your life trying to be something you're not. Live your life for yourself, not for someone else.
Donna Thompson 3 years ago
I'm mostly housebound due to chronic illness that started in my teens, this definitely resonates with me!
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Eshaa Venkatesh 3 years ago
Here's one: People are not good or bad - it's circumstances that make them so.
Janet C 3 years ago
And here's another. Once I was thinking about letting an employee go who had screwed up in a similar fashion two times. I was considering giving him a third chance. My friend said, "Once is a pattern." Her statement proved to be right so many times. Everyone makes mistakes, but it's the way they make it (or the way they own up to it) and how the work to correct it that shows the very first time if it was an honest one-off mistake or a pattern. Pay attention when someone does something or says something. You're probably seeing a repeating pattern. Cut your losses early.
Janet C 3 years ago
When I was debating about getting a divorce from a man who wasn't "that bad" my sister gave me this advice: Ask yourself these two questions: 1. If it never got any better than it is right now, is it good enough 2. If it never got any worse than it is right now, is it bad enough I took her words to heart. It wasn't good enough. I got a divorce and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Things don't have to be falling apart and on the verge of catastrophe before you make a decision to let something go. Her advice has served me well in many decisions over the years.
chi-wei shen 3 years ago
Am advice my father gave to my brother some 30 years ago, when my brother was in his early 20s: "Alcohol is the most potent solvent known to mankind. It dissolves bank accounts, careers, and families. It all starts with a few glasses now and then." About ten years ago, shortly after my dad has died, my brother confessed to me he should have listened.
meepmeep 3 years ago
I was mormon so didn't drink until in my 30s. Honestly I learned that it's really unnecessary at best. I like being able to have a good time with all of my mental faculties with me.
Load More Replies... Kate Kyffin 3 years ago
My favourite is always - just because someone is a drama queen - it does not mean that you have to stop and watch the show.
Giles McArdell 3 years ago
"Explain and Excuse are not the same thing" - IE just because you can explain someone's behaviour does not excuse it.
Celeste Grant 3 years ago
Best advice I ever received was "you are not required to set yourself on fire just to keep someone else warm" I've used it both professionally and in personal relationships.
Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
My mom: "Never have sex with someone you wouldn't want to share child custody with."
sturmwesen 3 years ago
My advice for relationships that are neither good nor very bad: Ask for a small favour (do you have chewing gum?can I borrow a pen?). My theory is 1. person feels recognized/needed 2. you got them to do something for you which might stay in their subconcience and built a connection and a reference for future contact. Google Benjamin-Franklin-Effect
Amanda Reicha 3 years ago
It's okay to accept limitations and live your life the best way you can and be happy. Other people may have expectations for what your life should be, but don't waste your life trying to be something you're not. Live your life for yourself, not for someone else.
Donna Thompson 3 years ago
I'm mostly housebound due to chronic illness that started in my teens, this definitely resonates with me!
Load More Replies... Eshaa Venkatesh 3 years ago
Here's one: People are not good or bad - it's circumstances that make them so.
Janet C 3 years ago
And here's another. Once I was thinking about letting an employee go who had screwed up in a similar fashion two times. I was considering giving him a third chance. My friend said, "Once is a pattern." Her statement proved to be right so many times. Everyone makes mistakes, but it's the way they make it (or the way they own up to it) and how the work to correct it that shows the very first time if it was an honest one-off mistake or a pattern. Pay attention when someone does something or says something. You're probably seeing a repeating pattern. Cut your losses early.
Janet C 3 years ago
When I was debating about getting a divorce from a man who wasn't "that bad" my sister gave me this advice: Ask yourself these two questions: 1. If it never got any better than it is right now, is it good enough 2. If it never got any worse than it is right now, is it bad enough I took her words to heart. It wasn't good enough. I got a divorce and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Things don't have to be falling apart and on the verge of catastrophe before you make a decision to let something go. Her advice has served me well in many decisions over the years.
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