A PIECE OF WASTED ADVISE

" Many receive advise, but only the wise profit from it." 

- Anonymous 

A Sign Pasted at the Entrance of a Court in Northern Nigeria

I saw the above sign at the entrance of a Court premises somewhere in Northern part of Nigeria and it got me thinking: 

An advice may come to one as a result of a specific request for it (solicited), sometimes it is volunteered out of concern. It may also be given out of a sense of duty or obligation (unsolicited). 

The fact that an advice is given does not necessarily mean it would be taken. Acting upon an advice depends on many factors: the circumstance under which it was offered, relationship between the adviser (one who gives) and the advisee (one to whom it is offered), the integrity or pedigree of the adviser, the advisee's state of mind, advisee's past experience(s) and whether or not the piece of advice is realistic or not - among other things. 

Taking an advice is completely the discretion of the advisee. The popular saying goes: "you can take a horse to the river, but you cannot force it to take water". Water here represents advise offered. 

Sometimes, an adviser feels disappointed when his/her advise is not taken and or utilized in good faith - especially if it was offered out of love and concern. 

There is also what I would call "self-advice". This is when a person advises himself/herself. Tautology right? Right! I couldn't find a better way to put it. Lol! There is always a small whisper in the deep recesses of your heart that is constantly 'advising' you. We usually her people say, for instance: "something told me to call her". Well, that 'something' is your God-given conscience, and it is always on duty! I also love to consider conscience as the 'moral or spiritual watch dog' of every human being. Of course, many people ignore it to their peril and they later regret "ah! something told me". And guess what? "Something" is usually right! 

Some people solicit advise not because they really need it, but because they are looking for someone to validate their motive for doing something - especially when their conscience and common sense is warning them against it. 

There are situations in life where an advise is absolutely unnecessary, (like the one in the picture above). Common sense tells you (not an advise) what to do. For instance, when you approach a parking lot and find that it is full to capacity, an advise telling you to park elsewhere is actually a wasted advise and an effort in futility. What would you do if the advisee refuses to heed to your counsel? Will he park his car on top of other cars? You see? 

Next time you suspect that a person knows the right thing to do, don't waste your advise on such a one. 

A Crowded Car Park in a Mall in Abuja, Nigeria

Proverbs 12:15 

"The way of fools seems right to them,

but the wise listen to advise." [NIV] 

Bonus: 

What is the difference between 'advise' and 'advice'? 

Advise is a verb meaning “to give counsel to; offer an opinion or suggestion as worth following.” 

Advice is a noun meaning “an opinion or recommendation offered as a guide to action, conduct, etc.” The -ice ending of advice is pronounced like “ice,” while the -ise ending of advise is pronounced like the “-ize” in “realize.”

Source: click here