Sometimes people will give you an opinion you never asked for.
And while it can look like they’re trying to help, unsolicited advice is often less about support… and more about control.
People will try to fit you into their version of what’s “right.” Their routines. Their beliefs. Their standards.
But you were never meant to live inside someone else’s box.
You’ll hear things like, “You’re not doing enough.”
Then the moment you start doing more, it becomes, “You’re doing too much—you need to slow down.”
It’s confusing. It’s contradictory. And if you’re not grounded in yourself, it can pull you in a hundred different directions.
Social media amplifies this even more.
I recently saw a TikTok of someone simply meal prepping. That’s it—just preparing food for themselves. And the comments?
“You should use glass containers—they’re better for you.”
Then right under it: “Glass containers are worse for you.”
Others were criticizing the food itself.
Everyone had something to say.
And honestly? It was exhausting just reading it.
It made me realize how quick people are to project their beliefs, fears, and preferences onto someone else’s life.
But here’s the truth:
Not every opinion deserves your attention.
Not every voice deserves your energy.
And not every piece of advice is meant for you.
Everyone is on their own journey. Everyone is learning different lessons, at different times, in different ways. What’s right for someone else may not be right for you—and that’s okay.
But what’s not okay is projecting your own experiences, fears, or insecurities onto someone else and calling it “help.”
And if we’re being honest… sometimes the loudest voices are coming from people who haven’t even figured it out for themselves yet.
So why do we give those opinions so much weight?
Instead of wishing people would stop sharing their opinions altogether (because realistically, they won’t), the real power is in how you respond.
If someone gives you advice you didn’t ask for, pause.
Take a breath.
Don’t react in the moment.
Then, if it’s needed, be clear and assertive:
“I appreciate your perspective, but I’m not looking for advice right now. If I need it, I’ll ask.”
That’s not rude.
That’s a boundary.
And the more you honor your own boundaries, the less other people’s opinions will shake you.
At the end of the day, this is your life.
You get to decide what you listen to.
You get to decide what feels right.
And you get to trust yourself over the noise.
Picture by Pixabay
