Here's my advice about _____ (insert relevant topic)

Throughout my life I've received and offered advice. I think we all do it. There is no question that it is all well-meaning. We've been through an experience similar to someone else or have known or watched someone else and we are eager to share the wisdom we have.
Advice is plentifully offered to....

• Recent High School Graduates

• Newlyweds

• Singles

• New Birth & Adopting Parents...and the list goes on.

Problems arise, however, when I've tried to listen to all those opinions. Not only do the opinions conflict with each other, they also conflicted with my own thoughts and feelings. I'm reminded of the Aesop fable of The Man, The Boy and The Donkey. 

A Man and his son were once going with their Donkey to market. As they were walking along by its side a countryman passed them and said: "You fools, what is a Donkey for but to ride upon?"
So the Man put the Boy on the Donkey and they went on their way. But soon they passed a group of men, one of whom said: "See that lazy youngster, he lets his father walk while he rides."
So the Man ordered his Boy to get off, and got on himself. But they hadn't gone far when they passed two women, one of whom said to the other: "Shame on that lazy lout to let his poor little son trudge along."
Well, the man didn't know what do, but at last he took his Boy up before him on the Donkey. By this time they had come to the town, and the passers-by began to jeer and point at them. The man stopped and asked what they were scoffing at. The men said: "Aren't ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor donkey of yours and your hulking son?"
The Man and Boy got off and tried to think what to do. They thought and they thought, till at last they cut down a pole, tied the donkey's feet to it, and raised the pole and the donkey to their shoulders. They went along amid the laughter of all who met them till they came to Market Bridge, when the Donkey, getting one of his feet loose, kicked out and caused the Boy to drop his end of the pole. In the struggle the Donkey fell over the bridge, and his fore-feet being tied together he was drowned.
"That will teach you," said an old man who had followed them:

Moral of Aesops Fable: 

Try to please all, and you will please none.

Here's the advice I now offer. Listen to what people are telling you, sift it through your own filter - figure out what rings true and feels right to you, keep those golden nuggets of wisdom and throw the rest away. Next, listen to your heart. Turn to Heavenly Father and you'll be given ideas and led to people and information that work for you and your situation. Trust yourself! You are the one that has to live with the consequences. I've made mistakes along the way but I've learned from them.  I believe that each of us are stronger and smarter than we realize.