Guidance and experience (links to 'Describe a piece of advice you received')

1. Why do people often turn to others for advice?

I think people look for advice mainly because they want a fresh perspective. When you’re stuck in a situation, it’s easy to get emotionally involved and lose objectivity, so an outsider can see things more clearly. On top of that, asking for advice is a way to seek reassurance; people want to feel that their choices are reasonable and that they’re not facing their problems entirely alone.

2. Who do you think gives the best advice, family or friends?

It really depends on the issue, but generally I’d say family members give more long-term, values-based advice, while friends are often better at understanding your current lifestyle and personality. For instance, parents might think about stability and security, whereas close friends may prioritise your happiness and personal growth. Ideally, you’d balance both, taking into account family’s life experience and friends’ more up-to-date, flexible viewpoints.

3. Is it better to learn from your own mistakes or from other people's advice?

In an ideal world, we’d learn from other people’s experience and avoid the pain altogether, but in reality, personal mistakes tend to leave a deeper impression. I suppose it depends on the stakes: for minor issues, trial and error is quite beneficial and builds resilience. However, when the consequences are serious, like financial decisions or health matters, it’s far wiser to rely on expert advice and proven examples instead of experimenting blindly.

4. Why do some people ignore good advice even when they have asked for it?

People often ignore good advice because it clashes with what they secretly want to do. Sometimes they’re just looking for confirmation, not genuine guidance, so when the recommendation doesn’t match their desires, they reject it. Another reason is pride; admitting someone else is right can feel like admitting weakness. And occasionally, the advice is sound in theory, but it demands too much effort or sacrifice, so people convince themselves it’s unrealistic.