Thanks for your comments, and the link to your own exploration of how it feels to give & receive advice – as well as looking at the sustainability impact of advising vs asking insightful questions!
We can be lucky to have some moments where friends/family/colleagues are able to ask us poignant questions that help us create a perspective shift. We may not recognise those moments or questions as tools that we can draw upon in other challenging situations; and sometimes we might need a series of questions & reflections that really help us open up whatever was holding us back.
Your blog mentions that Coaching is a brilliant opportunity to access our inner wisdom, and that this provides a growing foundation of tools & resources that we (Clients) can use going forwards. I’ve always loved the idea that as a Coach, part of my purpose is to make myself redundant in this way! And of course, there is always the option to come back for more focused Coaching support should a new brick wall show up that you aren’t sure how to start tackling!

With love & curiosity,
Sam

I wrote a blog post on this subject some time ago that deals with some of these issues: http://coolbeesplace.blogspot.com/2008/11/giving-and-receiving-advice.html

I think it is so important for coaches to be non-directive. With friends and colleagues it is also important to let people talk and figure things out for themselves rather than jumping in and ‘advising’ them!