We learn not only from our mistakes or victories but also from other people. Be it someone you look up to, or a neighbor that was in a similar situation, we tend to follow some tips and tricks told by others.

Getting advice from parents, grandparents and teachers, what's the best advice you ever got? And what's something you wish someone had told you when you were younger? Scroll down for the answers shared by the Bored Panda community! Maybe you'll find something inspiring.

#1

"What's Something You Wish Someone Had Told You When You Were Younger?": 40 Useful Tips Shared By The Bored Panda Community Always, ALWAYS, listen to your gut. If something doesn’t feel right in the pit of your stomach, trust your instincts.

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To get to know more about the meaning of advice and how it affects people, Bored Panda contacted Susan K. Whitbourne, a Professor Emerita of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Firstly, we wanted to know how a piece of advice affects our ways of being or acting. The professor replied that it's often very difficult to ensure that people will follow the advice that you offer. "They have to see that your advice serves a specific need and it has to be timed so that it shows how it's relevant to that need. Advice can easily be misinterpreted, even if it's offered with the best of intentions. Timing is everything but so is the wording that you use to offer the advice. It's important not to put the other person on the defensive by beginning with words that could be interpreted as critical."

#2

"What's Something You Wish Someone Had Told You When You Were Younger?": 40 Useful Tips Shared By The Bored Panda Community My Grandma always said, "consider the source." when someone said something bad or hurtful.

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#3

"What's Something You Wish Someone Had Told You When You Were Younger?": 40 Useful Tips Shared By The Bored Panda Community Your coworkers are not your friends.

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Ritchat
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I made some of my best friends at work. Let's just agree on "NOT ALL of your coworkers are your friends". Like probably every other place in your life. Be careful who you choose to trust.

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What is good advice? According to Susan K. Whitbourne, great advice "serves the positive goal of helping people see ways that they can improve but the flip side of this is that they learn from the advice about tips for improving in the future."

#4

Go where you are celebrated, not just tolerated. (Helped me snap out of a toxic relationship!)

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#5

"What's Something You Wish Someone Had Told You When You Were Younger?": 40 Useful Tips Shared By The Bored Panda Community Manners cost nothing but get you everywhere.

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After being asked whether the advice we get contributes to forming our personality or whether self-taught lessons are of better value, the professor replied that self-taught lessons are great, but they may need a 'booster shot' from the lessons you gain from others. "Sometimes people don't have the perspective to see when they're heading in the wrong direction, which is where carefully worded advice that is tailored to the individual can have the greatest value."

#6

"What's Something You Wish Someone Had Told You When You Were Younger?": 40 Useful Tips Shared By The Bored Panda Community “Life isn't a fairy tale. If you lose a shoe at midnight, you're drunk.”
― Darynda Jones

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#7

"What's Something You Wish Someone Had Told You When You Were Younger?": 40 Useful Tips Shared By The Bored Panda Community Get to know your parents. You never know when they will be gone for good.

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#8

"What's Something You Wish Someone Had Told You When You Were Younger?": 40 Useful Tips Shared By The Bored Panda Community As a student-teacher, I was advised to always make friends (real friends, not fake friends) with the school secretary, lunch lady, custodian and IT person. With their help, you can do anything you need. I no longer teach, but this advice has proven true in every job I've had.

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Mary Hinge
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a CIO I travel the world each week to each of our factories and offices. The receptionist (who are often also the telephone operator) at every site are all key contacts that I quickly get to know personally. I know their names, their kids names, family pets, birthdays, births, deaths, marriages etc, they know mine. We often catch up for a while whilst I'm travelling, arriving or watiing for a car to leave. Same with great people who drove the company cars and buses shuttling us between airports, hotels are our locations. We have hundreds of locations. On the frequent times glitches crop up with my interaries, these are the wonderful people who will go out of their way to remove my problems and keep me safe/housed/travelling etc. People are people the world over at any level - respect anyone irrespective of their salary, grade, religion, language, gender etc. People who pull rank or ignore others as they feel superior due to their role or position are generally a*****s

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#9

1. Don't take criticism from someone you wouldn't accept advice from.

2. For panic attacks, intrusive thoughts, etc. think of 5 things you can see, 4 things you can hear, 3 things you can feel, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste.

3. Learn to accommodate yourself and work with your limitations instead of fighting them.

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#10

"What's Something You Wish Someone Had Told You When You Were Younger?": 40 Useful Tips Shared By The Bored Panda Community Drink 8-12 ounces of water when you first get up in the morning; you're dehydrated and your body and brain will work a lot better if they don't think they're dying of thirst.

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#11

"What's Something You Wish Someone Had Told You When You Were Younger?": 40 Useful Tips Shared By The Bored Panda Community Always ask: is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? - before saying anything. IF it fails any of those three tests, do not say it.

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Ashley Schriber
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think it's supposed to meet *two out of three* of those criteria. So for example, if something is true and necessary, it should be said whether it is kind or not. If something is true and kind, say it even if there is no other reason. And if only say something untrue on the occasion that is both kind and necessary.

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#12

"What's Something You Wish Someone Had Told You When You Were Younger?": 40 Useful Tips Shared By The Bored Panda Community If you see someone without a smile give them one of yours. (Thank you, Dolly Parton.)

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#13

"What's Something You Wish Someone Had Told You When You Were Younger?": 40 Useful Tips Shared By The Bored Panda Community Never write anything in a work email that you wouldn’t mind being read out in court.

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Bluetoyou
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When we first got computers at school a teacher was hired to do her job plus be the IT person. I would send her emails about issues with the computer and she would send nasty replies and never do her job she was paid to do. I waited a couple of weeks and got a stack of them. Then replied " you know emails can be printed out". Then I acted on it.

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#14

"What's Something You Wish Someone Had Told You When You Were Younger?": 40 Useful Tips Shared By The Bored Panda Community Famous one: back in the 70s, Readers Digest once made a survey: "What is the No. 1 advice fathers give to their sons?" They expected some sophisticated or philosophical answers about life and relationships, but the winning answer (by a huge margin) was much more concrete:

"Brush your teeth BEFORE you put on a fresh shirt."

I have to say this advice has never failed me.

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karl briggs
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember once being told - "take your time, think a lot. Think of everything you've got. For you will still be here tomorrow. But your dreams may not"

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#15

(1) No. It is a complete sentence.


(2) Keep your family and friends out of your financial business, out of your intimate relationship/marriage business and keep your opinion about your friends/family spouse/gf/bf to yourself



(3) How you Live is YOUR business.
If they (family, friends, co-workers) do not like it..
Ask them this: How are MY life choices affecting YOUR life???

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Earl Grey
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exactly! When I was with my former employer (retired now), we had a Manager’s meeting that was going around in circles about how to respond to a recent politically delicate, yet absurd resource request. When it came my turn to contribute, I said simply “ ‘NO!’ is a perfectly good answer” and left it at that. Well, I was puzzled that others in the room were taken by surprise by what I thought to be obvious, and no one could offer any counter argument. At my retirement some years later, a few colleagues echoed that back to me as one of their most memorable moments, and to this day I do not understand why.

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#16

"What's Something You Wish Someone Had Told You When You Were Younger?": 40 Useful Tips Shared By The Bored Panda Community Don't lose better chasing perfect

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randombard avatar
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Apologies Glasia, first time posting and it didn't look like it had saved when I hit the button. I did report it as a duplicate and ask for it to be deleted. If there is a way I can do that myself I would be happy to learn it

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#17

If you'll be ashamed when someone finds out you did something, don't do it. (My dad)

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#19

"What's Something You Wish Someone Had Told You When You Were Younger?": 40 Useful Tips Shared By The Bored Panda Community One of my best pieces of advice was not to tell people hurtful information if they can't do anything about it. This is very situational though.

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nearly everything in life is situational, but not telling people hurtful things is generally going to be okay. That said, there will be times when it’s a kindness to tell someone they’re being delusional…just find a way to be gentle about how you tell them,

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#20

It’s okay if someone doesn’t like you.

Just because someone calls or texts, doesn’t mean you have to be available.

Important or meaningful conversations should not be done by text or email.

Apologizing and making things right is not a sign of weakness.

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#21

"What's Something You Wish Someone Had Told You When You Were Younger?": 40 Useful Tips Shared By The Bored Panda Community Be kind to others... but to a limit. You do not want to be taken advantage of.

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scag$y
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Les Miserables, Jean Valjean steals from the priest who gave him shelter and sneaks out into the night. The police apprehend him and return him to the priest to give back what he stole. The priest then asks his wife to fetch the silver. She argues, but he insists. Telling the policemen that Valjean had not stolen anything from him, he hands the silver to the thief, saying 'Here, you forgot to take this'. The priest insists that Valjean is set free as he has committed no crime and the officers acquiesce. This is a turning point in Valjean's life. My questions would be, at what point should you stop being kind and why are we so afraid of being taken advantage of? BTW I'm not religious.

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#22

"What's Something You Wish Someone Had Told You When You Were Younger?": 40 Useful Tips Shared By The Bored Panda Community Cheap products are the most expensive.

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#23

"You can always add, but you can never take away" My mother said this to me while I was dumping spoonfuls of sugar into tea. I use it whenever I am cooking and if she never said that to me I would be horrible at cooking/baking. Thanks mom!

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#24

"What's Something You Wish Someone Had Told You When You Were Younger?": 40 Useful Tips Shared By The Bored Panda Community Something my uncle taught me when I was learning. Thanks uncle Sonny !
When you are learning to drive always be looking for an out. You never know how much that quick glance around while driving will give you a place to go in an emergency.

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Lauren S
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was taught this. I was also taught to ‘drive like everyone around you is an idiot’ and also ‘the right of way is yielded never taken.’ Just because that person is supposed to stop doesn’t mean they always will. It helps you prepare to react to others when they make mistakes. Seriously, think of how many times you’ve seen someone do something dumb when you’re driving.

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#25

Learn how to say no. Do it in a calm and pleasant way if possible but saying no is the key to following your own path in life.

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#26

"What's Something You Wish Someone Had Told You When You Were Younger?": 40 Useful Tips Shared By The Bored Panda Community Always change the toilet paper roll as soon as it is empty.

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#27

If your paretns, siblings or other family members do not treat you as an equal, stay away from them. They do not own you.
You might be happier cutting all ties to your family.

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Terry Tobias
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Life is too short to be around miserable, toxic people. Sometimes the best way to deal with them is to cut them out of your life. Your well-being is important.

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#28

"What's Something You Wish Someone Had Told You When You Were Younger?": 40 Useful Tips Shared By The Bored Panda Community Always have multiple back-ups, you'll never know what could happen and who could stab you in the back.

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#29

"What's Something You Wish Someone Had Told You When You Were Younger?": 40 Useful Tips Shared By The Bored Panda Community Other people's opinions of you are none of your business.

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Tyranamar Seuss
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I kind of like knowing what other people think. Is that bad? To actually want to hear another person's opinion?

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#30

If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?

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Dodo
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sometimes it's better to just do it any way you can with your given resources than not do it at all. A quick short-term fix is better than the situation deteriorating even further 🤷‍♀️

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#31

Forgive others, not for them but for yourself

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Tyranamar Seuss
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You need to let go. For yourself. Not them. Let go of the bitterness, and the hate, and the hostility. Try to maybe see where they were coming from. But that doesn't mean you EVER have to say it was OK. Or invite them to dinner. Forgiveness has been misunderstood. Better said is to let go. And you are always allowed to feel it wasn't OK. There is too much pressure to "forgive" nowadays. And what that means has become twisted. Some people are predators and should always be viewed so. Even though we can have compassion for what got them there. It doesn't make it OK and it doesn't make them safe. And knowing that is 100% totally fine!!

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#32

A little piece of advice my therapist gave me when I was in a dark place: Always ask, is it realistic? Does this thought properly portray the situation? Is it helpful? Does this thought help you work through whatever is going on? That and my told me, "You will make it through this, you just need to hold out for the other side. If all you have the energy or motivation to do is breathe, then you just lay down and breathe."

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#33

"What's Something You Wish Someone Had Told You When You Were Younger?": 40 Useful Tips Shared By The Bored Panda Community Dry thoroughly between your toes after you bathe.

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#34

Try to only worry about the things you can actually control.

(Easier said than done.)

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Jane Alexander
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Think on it, understand it, solve it. Worry? worry will just get in the way. Worry is useless, it just interferes. Why bother?

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#35

"You are not your job, you’re not how much money you have in the bank. You are not the car you drive. You’re not the contents of your wallet. " - Tyler Durden, Fight Club -

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#36

Power is not absolute but power can corrupt absolutely.

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#37

"What's Something You Wish Someone Had Told You When You Were Younger?": 40 Useful Tips Shared By The Bored Panda Community Never buy small, cheap tools. You will always encounter a task at which they fail.

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Ivo H
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep, buy a sledgehammer right away, never just a normal hammer again. If it fails the task, buy larger one. Same with screwdriver - if it doesn’t fit, keep buying larger ones, until it fits. Trust me, if it doesn’t work for you, you’re not buying large enough tools /s

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#38

"What's Something You Wish Someone Had Told You When You Were Younger?": 40 Useful Tips Shared By The Bored Panda Community When you have hiccups bend over, hold your breath and guzzle water to get rid of them.

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