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You Might Feel Awkward Asking Someone This Question, but Do It Anyway

The people in your life will thank you

Allison Burney
3 min readOct 14, 2022
Photo by Jarritos Mexican Soda on Unsplash

I once took a writing course where we were given a prompt each week and were to write something based on the theme given.

I read many beautiful pieces that month, but one stood out and has stayed with me ever since. It had one line that I’ve never forgotten and that I think more people need to hear.

Are you ready?

Here it is:

“Is this for venting or for advice?”

Did it change your world!?

Okay, maybe not quite yet. But I can guarantee that once you understand the context and start to apply it in your life, it will make a huge difference in your relationships.

In your daily life, when someone sits down with you or calls you on the phone and starts to unload their problems on you, how often do you take the time to understand their needs and why they’re bringing these issues to you? How often do you stop and say, “Are you just wanting to vent, or are you looking for advice?”

If your experience is anything like mine, I’ll bet the answer is almost never.

When someone shares their problems with me, my first instinct is usually to rush…

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Allison Burney
Allison Burney

Written by Allison Burney

Writer, ghostwriter & proofreader. On a mission to keep exploring, learning & enjoying this adventure we call life. Work with me: allisonburney.com

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