How many times do you hear someone say “Well if I was in your shoes or if I were you, this is what I would do”?

I appreciate that this is often very well intended, but fundamentally there is a major flaw with this. No matter how similar they may be to you they simply are NOT you!

They don’t know you like you know yourself.

They don’t have the beliefs that you do.

They don’t have your experiences or skills.

They don’t have the same values and fears as you.

So, the next time you hear someone say “if I were you”, please think twice about what you are being told to do. Maybe it’s time to thank the person for their opinion and then trust yourself to know the right answer.

Let’s be honest then, that well-intended helpfulness based on others opinions, often isn’t that helpful!