Advice On Relationships

Is someone asking for your advice on relationships? Do not do it!

It seems just about everyone has been asked for their advice on relationships, at some time in their life. With the exception of your children or parents, the best advice is no advice. Stay away from giving advice on relationships. With friends, It almost always ends up with the person to whom you gave the requested advice, blaming you for the outcome, seriously damaging your friendship.

The person requesting your advice wants you to side with them, naturally. But be aware there are two sides to every story. What you do not know will often come back to bite you. Could you just imagine your best friend coming to you with a tale of woe about a man she has been involved with, She described him as a handsome and honest guy. You go along with her and tell her she should stay with Prince Valiant. You later find out that he is married, but since she took 'your advice', you are now, according to her, responsible for 'destroying her life'. So, the next time you are asked for your advice on relationships when you are not a party to it, do not go there! Avoid it like the plague.

There are a bunch of ways to handle such a request and still maintain a good friendship with the person who is asking. One way would be to suggest that they seek out relationship problem advice to help them.

You can let the person know that you are happy to listen, but that you just don't think you are qualified to advise them. Explain to them that your personal relationship with them would naturally bias your response, which might lead to a poor decision and you do not want to interfere in that kind of way. They will probably agree with you, because they will realize all they really need to do is to vent. They will make the final decision on what they plan do anyway.

You might also want to suggest a counselor or psychologist, someone who is not quite so close to the relationship, might give them dynamite advice in a heartbeat. They are professionals, with expert training and a balanced view.

Another way you might be able to help is to suggest they check out some relationship advice self help type of books. If you can't think of one off the top of your head, go look online and read some reviews. Hand your friend a short list of what you have found and let them make the decision. This can be a very helpful strategy because you show that your friend's relationship problems concern you enough to make an effort to find more quality professional advice on relationships. Besides, by the time you dig up with some books, the lover's spat may have already been resolved!

Now, stay ahead of the game. The next time someone asks you for your advice on relationships you have got some great book suggestions right at hand!

There are plenty of individuals who are eager to give their advice on relationships. Less politely stated, it is called meddling. So, if you are the one seeking advice and run into a meddler, more than willing to tell you what you should do, say 'Thanks, I think I just figured it out myself! See ya!'