Advice versus lecture, it's a tough call but what’s the difference between the two? Having grown up in a controlling environment, any advice I got was always done in the form of a lecture.

Giving advice should always come from a place of care from people who care, but unless it’s given in a conciliatory way, advice often takes the form of control. Advice should be given in the form of guidance and enlightenment.

A lecture on the other hand is a long and laborious speech that is usually done in the form of a reprimand without the recipient being given a choice as to whether they listen or not.

Although a lecture through a school or a university environment doesn’t always take the form of a reprimand, it still works on a laborious long speech. A lecture doesn’t have to be given in the form of a school or university environment.

Any advice given with good intent that comes from a place of care, without the controlling undertones is not a lecture. It’s advice. Children should therefore take heed.

They tend to think much of the advice they're given from their parents, take the form of a lecture and that's simply not true.

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

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2 comments on “Advice or lecture”

  1. The difference between advice and lecture rests with both the donor and the recipient. The most caring and thoughtful advice can be received as a lecture if the recipient sees it that way, even if that is not the intent.

    I was lucky, I received neither, so it wasn't a problem for me!

    1. Thank you. If we were to take one thing into consideration, it must be this. It depends on where the advice is coming from and from whom. If someone has your back and cares for you deeply it will always be advice they give. I think we need to consider that.

      Not everyone cares in the same way. It's about personalities when it comes down to it. There is a difference. It's all about intent.

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