It's very normal here for people to tell you what you should/should not do and why, and though without a doubt it's with the best of intentions I find myself inclined to inadvertently bristle...especially when the advice is directed at me!
As I reflected some more on the situation I began to find I wasn't as convinced of our Western hands-off approach as I'd previously thought. I guess it's like so many things where our cultures tend to express polarising extremes...and if we could learn from each other we'd both sides be a good deal better off. I actually think it's sad that we're so reluctant to take advice from others, or allow others to guide us where necessary. Of course people can give us advice but only when we ask for it...the problem is we don't always recognise when we could so with a bit of guidance...either that or we're too proud to ask? In the West we value individualism so highly, and the right to "do it my way" we can end up missing out on that much needed word of encouragement to look at something again, or the gentle rebuke or chiding from someone who might really care.
I can't fully endorse the sometimes bombardment of unsolicited advice offered here (often with more confidence than it rightly deserves)...but neither am a fan of our Western "hands-off" approach. I reckon sensitive advice/opinion offered lovingly is good for the giver and the receiver. When we offer advice out of the right heart we get a bit involved, take a bit of responsibility for the person/situation; we live in relationship rather than on the other side of the line which separates my world from yours. Conversely, we don't run around giving everyone our opinion on their situation because we respect peoples' individual thoughts and freedom to make their own decisions.
However, we often make the best decisions for ourselves after we've listened well to others ;-)
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