Some advice sounds great until you actually need it.

A light-hearted look at generic advice, overthinking and trying to make real life feel a bit lighter.

There’s advice everywhere.

Podcasts.
Instagram.
Books.
Gym walls.
Advice that makes life sound like it can be solved with a cleaner routine and a better morning.

Some of it is useful.

Some of it is absolutely useless when you’re tired, overthinking, trying to reply to messages, make dinner, be a good partner, train, work, earn money, have purpose, stay hydrated and somehow also “live in the moment”.

“Just back yourself.”

Class.

How?

“Stop caring what people think.”

Brilliant.

I’ll do that immediately after caring deeply about what people think.

“Everything happens for a reason.”

Does it, though? Or did I just leave it too late and now I’m under pressure?

Generic advice can sound wise. But it often leaves out the human part.

1) “Be more positive” is not a plan.

Being positive is grand. Sometimes life doesn’t need positivity; it needs honesty.

“I’m overwhelmed.”
“I’m tired.”
“I’m avoiding something.”
“I’ve taken on too much.”
“I don’t actually want this.”
“I need help.”

That might not fit nicely on a mug. But it’s a lot more useful.

Clarity often starts when you stop trying to make everything sound better than it feels.

2) “Don’t overthink it” is usually said by people who are not currently overthinking it.

Overthinking is not fixed by being told to stop overthinking. It’s like telling someone who is drowning to “just swim better”.

Cheers.

The better question is:

What am I actually trying to work out?

Is this a decision?
A fear?
A conversation?
A boundary?
A bit of tiredness wearing a clever disguise?

Once you name the thing, it usually becomes less dramatic.

Not gone; just less like a Netflix documentary in your head.

3) “Trust the process” only helps if you know what the process is.

Trusting the process is hard when your current process is caffeine, panic, screenshots, five open tabs and pretending you’re grand.

Sometimes the most helpful thing is boringly simple.

Write down what’s on your mind.
Circle what actually matters.
Pick one thing to deal with.
Send the message.
Have the conversation.
Go to bed earlier than your ego wants to.

Not sexy. Very effective.

Most people don’t need more inspirational advice. They need something that makes real life feel a bit lighter.

A Question to sit with

What’s the worst bit of generic advice you’ve ever been given?

If you’re sick of advice that leaks and want something a bit more real, ACE Coaching is about creating space for better questions, better awareness and better decisions.