Why good advice won't change your life

Advice can't change your life.

Sure advice can set you on the right path.

It can even help you come to your own realisations.

But advice alone means nothing.

In the courage to be disliked the philosopher tells the student:

"Answers from others are nothing more than stopgap measures; they’re of no value."

And it got me thinking, advice can be helpful but it doesn't have the power to change your life.

The only thing that makes a difference is coming to your own realisations.

You quite literally have to figure shit out for yourself.

But how do you come to your own realisations?

1. Taking action - There are no substitutes for taking action, learning through making mistakes then iterating is the fastest way to improve.
2. Walking - Walking allows us time to be alone with our thoughts, work through ideas and explore concepts without the pressure to conform or worrying about being wrong in front of others. Many great thinkers were walkers.
3. Writing - Writing enables us to clarify and communicate our thoughts. “Writing is thinking. To write well is to think clearly. That's why it's so hard." - David McCullough.

The only answers that really matter are the ones you figure out yourself.