WORDS TO ACTION
When Words Become a Course of Action
Do you make a distinction between sharing your opinion, giving advice, and advising? I do! I began randomly gathering other opinions on July 1st. I did not know my research would be assessed on July 5th. I have developed a fondness for the phrase “in my opinion.” It feels like safe space. One’s opinion is theirs… period. The listeners can agree or disagree, but they can’t—or shouldn’t—deem it wrong. When an opinion is shared that I don’t agree with, I have come to rely on another phrase: “I beg to differ.” It allows me to insert my rebuttal, or my own opinion, without negating the validity of the other.
We have all been faced with a request for our opinion and/or advice. KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. I cross a fine line when I advise another person to do something with my opinion or my advice, especially when it may be based upon limited experience, limited facts, or no facts at all. Experience and facts are extremely helpful, but they are not requirements for an opinion. Generally, people ask for an opinion when they are seeking validation for a decision already made.
Being asked for advice, or asking for it, is an entirely different matter. The ask implies the person believes you have knowledge or experience about the subject matter. However, the fine line appears again. It is crossed when I turn my advice into advising. The requestor can choose whether to use my advice or not. Advice is words. The responsibility for the decision remains on the requester's shoulders. When advice becomes advising, words become a course of action. I become co-owner of the decision and, to a degree, the outcome. REMEMBER THIS IS MY OPINION.
On July 5th, my husband walked me into the emergency room of the local hospital. We did not go seeking validation of our opinion about my chest pain, although I was sure I was having a heart attack. My opinion was based upon feeling, not fact. We went seeking advice and to be advised. The triage nurse did not offer an opinion after the EKG, nor did the nurse who hunted unsuccessfully for a vein in my arm to insert the port, draw blood, and administer fluids and medication. Even with experience and facts, they kept their opinions. The attending physician asked questions and, despite ours, refrained from diagnosis until the test results were available. Then, and only then, did he share his opinion, give advice, and advise us regarding next steps. We became co-owners of the action and the outcome.
Here it is, July 11, 2026, and I am still muddling over my thoughts from July 1st while trying to align them with my July 5th, sixth, and seventh experience.
My conclusion is that opinions are good for dialogue and stimulation of thought. Advice is grounded in need and in the trust that one party has experience and knowledge beneficial to addressing that need. Being advised, or advising, is a quantum leap of accountability for both. The medical profession can teach us something about how we share in any of these spaces.
Three days of tests revealed a healthy heart and unhealthy but treatable pancreas. And that’s not my opinion!!!
PONDER THIS THOUGHT: Know the receiver before giving an opinion, giving advice or advising.
I am so blessed to hear you are okay. Your heart and soul have certainly blessed me. I have come to you on a number of occasions for advise, with your words of wisdom and guidance “Walk in the Light” hopefully will be published sometime in 2027. Final editing is now in process. Best to you and Gary.
This was a thoughtful entry. Yet, truthful. Praying for you.