You Can Lead a Horse to Water… A gentle guide to understanding both sides of advice.
We’ve all been there.
We see someone we care about struggling, unsure, or headed down what looks like the wrong path.
And so, with love in our hearts, we offer advice. We point toward a way forward that worked for us.
But what happens when they don’t take it?
And what happens when we’re the ones on the receiving end — already overwhelmed or unsure — and someone offers advice that just doesn’t sit right?
This blog explores both of those tender spaces:
💬 the one giving advice
💬 and the one receiving it
It’s human to want to help.
When we offer advice, we’re often sharing choices we made, paths we took. We do it with care — hoping to make someone’s journey a little easier.
But unintentionally, it can become about more than just sharing.
We may feel hurt when the advice is dismissed, or frustrated when it’s not followed.
Because, deep down, we want the person we care about to be okay.
We want them to drink the water.
But it’s also human to feel overwhelmed.
On the other side, when you’re the one being given advice — especially in a moment of doubt or confusion — it can feel like pressure.
Even when it’s well-meaning.
You might already feel lost. Already unsure of your next step.
And now, here’s a new path being offered — one that isn’t yours.
Instead of clarity, it can stir up even more noise.
So what do we do?
I believe we can still share.
We can offer our stories, our lessons, our lived experience — but with no need for someone else to follow that same path.
And if you’re the one listening? You don’t have to take it in as truth.
You can hold onto it gently… and let it sit quietly beside you.
Sometimes what doesn’t feel right today may become meaningful later — or maybe not at all. That’s okay too.
Want to go deeper?
This reflection is part of a full series designed to help you explore both sides of advice — giving and receiving.
Watch the full YouTube Discussion:
“You Can Lead a Horse to Water… | A guide to understanding both sides of advice”
Download the free Journaling Worksheet:
Take your reflections deeper with gentle prompts you can explore at your own pace.
Listen to the Guided Meditation:
Reconnect with compassion and let go of the pressure to “fix” through this 8-minute audio.
Final Note.
This reflection isn’t about doing it perfectly.
It’s about softening the way we connect — so that support feels like an offering, not a directive.
And so that we can all feel a little more free to walk the path that truly belongs to us.
If this post brought up thoughts or feelings you'd like to explore further, I’m here to support you. Book a one-on-one session to gently explore what’s unfolding within you.