Stop Taking Bad Advice — Listen to Your Voice and God’s Voice

stylesmotivation
2 days ago
3 min read

We live in a world full of voices. Friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, social media influencers — everyone seems to have an opinion about how you should live your life. But let me give you a truth that will set you free: Most people giving advice aren’t even following it themselves.

The Danger of Bad Advice

Bad advice is cheap, but the cost of following it can be your purpose, your peace, and even your legacy. A 2023 study by Frontiers in Psychology showed that people often project their own fears and failures when giving advice. In other words, many times they aren’t guiding you from wisdom, but from wounds.

Think about it:

Someone tells you not to pursue entrepreneurship because they failed at starting their own business.
Someone tells you not to homeschool your kids because they never had the discipline to educate themselves.
Someone tells you to “just stay safe” in a 9–5 job while they themselves feel trapped in their cubicle.

The truth is, people often try to live through you or keep you in the same box they never broke out of.

My Story: Going Against the Grain

When I left my 9–5 job to step into entrepreneurship, I heard the whispers. “You’re crazy.” “That’s too risky.” “What about benefits and security?” But the same people warning me about “risk” were still broke, still unhappy, and still stuck. If I would’ve listened, I would have lived their story — not mine.

When I chose to homeschool my children, people shook their heads. “You’re not a teacher.” “They’ll miss out.” “They’ll fall behind.” But now, I see the fruit of my decision. My kids are not only learning math and reading — they’re learning faith, purpose, affirmations, and investing. They’re not falling behind; they’re being built up.

Biblical Truth: God’s Voice Above All

The Bible makes it clear:

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)
“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.” (Jeremiah 17:5)
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all without reproach.” (James 1:5)

The Word of God warns us not to rely on the voices of men but to seek His wisdom above all else.

Statistics: Why Listening to the Wrong People Is Dangerous

According to Gallup, 85% of employees worldwide dislike their jobs, yet those same employees are the ones telling others to “play it safe” with a 9–5.
A Barna Group survey showed that 64% of Christian parents feel pressured to raise their children the world’s way instead of God’s way.
Research in Psychological Science shows that people are more likely to give risk-averse advice to others than they would follow for themselves.

In other words, the advice you’re getting often isn’t even what they’d live by.

Legacy: It Starts With Me

At the end of the day, this is about more than career choices or parenting styles. It’s about legacy. What will your children, your family, and your community say about you? Did you live your life according to someone else’s script — or God’s?

When I choose to stop listening to bad advice, I step into the fullness of who God called me to be. I’m not building someone else’s dream. I’m building legacy.