Why Advice Is Easy to Read but Difficult to Implement
In the age of abundant information, advice is virtually everywhere. Reading advice after advice is easy and stimulating, as it shifts our attention from one piece of wisdom to another. However, implementing what we have learned requires us to delay gratification and push beyond our habitual desire to remain the same. Growing with implemented knowledge is a much more uncomfortable process than simply appeasing our current state.
The Emotion Trap
Our emotions often overpower us, and we forget the advice we have given ourselves. For example, when advising beginners in the stock market to follow discipline and control their emotions, we must remember that even if the advice feels clear, we may forget it when faced with the stress of decision-making. In such moments, the consequences of bad decisions, such as booking losses, become highly relevant.
Living a Stress-Free Life
The most stressed individuals often provide the best stress management tips, but these tips are often nearly useless for them. Reading advice on stress management is one thing, but actually implementing it is another. This presents a challenge as reading advice requires minimal effort, while execution demands actual expertise and effort.
Advising someone else does not include you, so the induced anxiety is not yours but the other person's. This externalization can make giving advice feel easier, as you are not personally confronted with the challenges and struggles involved in implementing the advice.
Personal Growth and Inertia
Advice can be as simple as this: don't worry and attend to the exam in a cool way. However, it is remarkably difficult to implement in practice. Personal growth often requires us to step out of our comfort zones and make changes that feel uncomfortable. Embracing these changes is crucial for our development, but it can be hard to move past our inertia, especially when we are used to the familiar.
When we give advice, we think from the outside of the problem. When we implement it, we are inside the problem. This shift in perspective can make implementation much more challenging. External advice is often more readily available and less emotionally taxing, whereas self-implementation requires self-awareness, discipline, and the willingness to face and overcome personal obstacles.
Conclusion
While reading advice is a relatively easy task, implementing it takes effort, discipline, and a willingness to grow. The journey of personal growth and self-improvement is a continuous process, and it requires us to consistently apply the advice we receive. By recognizing the challenges of implementation and staying committed, we can make significant progress in our lives and achieve the growth we seek.
Strive to apply the advice you receive, even if it feels difficult, and remember that growth often comes from the discomfort and challenges we face. The path to success is rarely smooth, but with persistence and hard work, you can achieve your goals.