Advisory

People like to be helpful. I think we all have this innate quality. We hear of someone's problem and we are ready, willing and able to fix it for them. Some are able to suppress this, whereas others should suppress it and don't.

As a man, I am told that we, as men, are the natural handymen and repairmen. When we are in conversation with women and hear their problems, we too often offer advice on how to fix them, when all they want to do is vent their problems. What we need to do is listen for a key question similar to this: "What do you think I should do?" Beware. This does not necessarily mean that you are now free to fix the problem. Feel her out. She still may be venting.

What is even more troublesome, though, is the good-natured person with good intentions that uses today's social media networks to give advice. There are those that like to post quotes and Scripture, as I do. I do this solely as a means to encourage someone. There may be someone out there in cyberspace, unknown to me, that could use what they read for their own personal situation.

Then there are those who seem to think they have training in counseling or psychology and freely give advice. Unfortunately, it's not clearly thought through and flawed. These are good-hearted people that just fall short in their intentions. Initially, it sounds good, but when you look more deeply at their advice the flaws are evident.

This is dangerous. It's a danger to those who are emotionally and spiritually vulnerable. To those who are doing this, I have just one simple request. STOP.