Taking Your Own Advice: A Bitter Pill to Swallow

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Earlier today, a friend’s Facebook status caught my eye.  It said this:

Just because someone doesn’t follow the advice they give you doesn’t mean it isn’t good advice.

I agree with that statement.  To some degree, wisdom is wisdom.  It’s hard to argue with.  It’s easier to attack the person who spoke it.  But I’m not here to talk about wisdom.

I’m calling out the person who speaks it.

The Wisest Man that Ever Was

Ever heard of a guy named Solomon?  He was a king of ancient Israel and the son of King David (you know, the guy who killed that really tall person).

Solomon is known as the wisest man who ever lived.  How did that happen?

The way the story goes, Solomon asked God for wisdom.  Because Solomon asked for wisdom instead of money, fame, or vampiric super powers, God granted his request and then some.

People came from all over to seek Solomon’s advice.  Solomon was loved and adored.  He was wealthy and powerful.  Life was good.

What Happened?

Put simply, Solomon did not follow his own advice.  He did not follow the law of his country or the law of God because he found himself to be above it.

He horded money, livestock, wives, and just about anything else you could horde.  He overtaxed the people and built alters to pagan gods.

The wisest man in the world lived his life like an idiot.

And it didn’t just affect him.  After his reign, the nation of Israel split in two and never really recovered.

Talking is Easy

Lately, I’ve been finding myself as a guide to other people.  It’s kind of scary and a little weird, but for whatever reason, people started coming to me asking for advice, guidance, encouragement, etc.

What’s crazier is the fact that it’s been going really well.  There have been numerous situations where I apparently told the person “just what they needed to hear” or gave them a perspective they “hadn’t thought about”.

Sometimes, I would say a bunch of things, pause, and be like “where did that just come from?”  To be honest, I don’t think I’m that “wise” of a person.  I don’t know where the words come from (though I have a pretty good idea).  They simply flow, and it makes me feel kind of good.  I like helping people.

The Hard Part

I can’t count the number of times I told someone to do something and thought but do I do that?

Or I would say to someone it’s going to be okay but then I think is it going to be okay?

And now I’ve been writing this blog and as much as I’m speaking to an audience, with almost every post, I’m talking at myself.

But most of the time, I’m not listening.

I can’t help but think if someone told me the same things I am telling others I would roll my eyes and say “whateves.”

Sure, it’s great if I’m helping other people.  As the quote at the beginning said, good advice is good advice.

Still, what if you did all of those things you told other people to do?  What if you lived the life you expected others to live?  What if you were your own best example?

Putting My Money Where My Mouth Is (Metaphorically)

So here it is.  I’m going to try and follow my advice.  I’ve been working on this book for a little bit now.  The rough draft was done back in August.  Truth be told, it should be finished by now.  And so, I am finishing it.

I am going to fight every day to finish this book.  It will become a habit.  I will avoid distractions.  I will fill the blank pages.

And it will be done by….2012.  I am giving myself just over a month to complete this thing to best of my abilities.  I have all of you to hold me accountable.

Speaking of you, if you have some advice that you have been giving but not following, I urge you to change that.  If you know you should be doing something that you aren’t, start doing it.

Now.

Seriously, get off this blog and go do it.

(and share this page.  The little button is right there waiting to be pressed!)