2 Tips for Filtering Information, Input, and Advice
When I consider the flood of information people are consuming, I think about how we’re meant to filter and navigate all of the inputs without becoming overwhelmed. Many individuals claim to have the answer or know the best path.
Then I think about how I am presenting myself and my perspective, doing my best to offer value by sharing what I have learned without presuming or claiming to know what’s best for everyone else.
One of the most transformative pieces of advice I received in my late 20s was: “Don’t vent, complain, or download about your problems or relational concerns to those who can’t help you grow past the issue.”
This simple yet profound advice significantly narrowed who I sought feedback from. In healthcare, especially among nurses (and in my family culture growing up), venting and complaining were common ways to process trauma and toxicity. Realizing that I could choose a different approach was liberating!
butterfly on glove
Top tips
Don’t vent, complain, or download about your problems or relational concerns to those who can’t help you grow past the issue, barrier, or challenge.
Learn to here God's voice for yourself and then engage in frequent dialogue with Him.
I began to focus on seeking solutions from people of understanding and wisdom for my physical, mental, and emotional struggles rather than just venting. It was a labor of love filtering and discerning who was trustworthy and who was full of hogwash.
While helpful, I later discovered that the advice I had collected over time, even from the most educated and wise sources, had its limitations. Experts and advisors, no matter how knowledgeable, can only provide guidance based on their human beliefs, lenses, and life experiences. Their perspective and naturally biased opinions might not always be what is needed to empower an individual to find their unique path.
The next significant step in my “input filtering” journey was learning I could hear and how to hear God’s voice for myself. WOAH!!! Dialoguing with the Creator through Divine Exchange has absolutely been one of the next most profound gifts I have received on my way to wholeness.
It’s something I believe is often missing from the guidance offered by leaders, teachers, and influencers. While expert advice can be valuable, if we don’t also engage God (not self) directly about which path is right for us, we may end up working harder rather than smarter.
When I am invited to engage and support someone on their journey to living their best life, I cannot help but ask:
Have you had a conversation with God about who you are and what you have experienced or are experiencing?
Have you sought His divine guidance on which tools and options He wants you to deploy in your life?
These 2 pivotal “ah-has” transformed my life and hope they will be helpful for you as you navigate your wholeness and integration journey!
How about you? Did you know you can ask God specific questions and receive specific answers? How do you hear His voice in your life? I would love to know!
xo Coach Dana
Note: While the words and ideas are original, I used ChatGPT, an AI tool by OpenAI, to help with proofreading and refining my draft prior to publishing.