What is the ‘account’ that we draw from when a family member or friend or work colleague needs our advice? How do we craft an answer that comes from our heart and represents our best shot at helping this person who is afraid or in pain?
It has to come from our experience, our autobiography. Otherwise, we’re just making stuff up to sound smart or authoritative.
If we listened carefully and thoughtfully dispensed the best advice we can give then the other person might say, “Thank you for your wisdom.”
And perhaps the next time, when it’s our turn to seek advice, we might stop and realize: Wisdom means taking our own advice.