I am wary of the ease with which people give themselves the title of “life coach.”
A polished profile and a confident demeanor do not, in and of themselves, indicate how well a person understands the consequences of the advice they give.
It’s not a matter of age. A young person can be smart, hardworking, talented, and serious. They may know much more than someone older. They can help with specific matters, pass on knowledge, offer support, or open up a new perspective.
But to guide someone through life? That’s too big a word.
At forty-seven, I wouldn’t presume to tell someone how to live. I can share my experience. I can point out where I went wrong. I can show what cost me dearly. I can warn them about the pitfalls I fell into myself.
But I can’t turn someone else’s life into a platform for my own certainty, self-promotion, or efforts to prove myself. The more a person has been through, the more carefully they speak. Not because they lack conviction.
But because they know that behind every decision lie someone’s days, family, debts, fears, wounds, obligations, and consequences that aren’t visible on the surface.
That’s why I’m frightened by the ease with which some people today offer others advice. I’m even more frightened by the confidence of those who haven’t been through enough, yet speak as if they’ve understood everything. Because a person who truly knows something rarely shouts that they know. They speak more calmly. More carefully. With greater responsibility.
They know advice isn’t just a pretty phrase. Good advice can help someone get back on their feet.
But the wrong advice can also push them into a situation where you won’t have to bear the consequences.
Instead of ready-made instructions, it’s wiser to separate your experience from someone else’s decision: “I’ve been through something similar, and this is what worked for me, but see what makes sense for you.”
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