What’s the Motivation Behind the Advice?

When someone tries to convince you to quit pursuing something, it’s important to recognize the motivation behind them telling you to do so. Perhaps they think that what you’re doing may inconvenience them, and they would just prefer you stop. In this case, it’s not really about how you’ll be affected, but how they’ll be affected. On the other hand, perhaps they really believe it would be in your best interest in the long-run to change directions. They’re confronting you because they really are looking out for you.

Both motivations can have their place. But if someone is trying to dissuade you from pursuing something important because of how it may affect them, that’s totally different than someone who comes to you out of a deep concern for your future well-being. Regardless of the underlying reason, you’ll have to make a decision whether to listen to their advice or not. And having a sense of the motivation behind what they’re saying can be helpful in determining how to proceed.