Easier said than done

I'm not entirely sure why, but quite a few of my friends come to me for advice on a regular basis. I don't mind, I'm more than happy to help them if I can, and sometimes I am able to learn things in the process as well.

One thing I've learned is that advice is a lot easier to give than it is to receive. Like I said, I'm more than willing to help a friend in need, but when it comes my turn to get advice...not so big on taking it. Another thing I've learned is that when you tell somebody the right thing to do...it's easier said than done.

I have a friend who, because of things in his past, is scared of being in a serious relationship with somebody. He was hurt very badly by somebody and now is afraid it might happen again. I can't blame him, having experienced similar hurt myself. He's asked me for advice, and really what do you say? It'll get better in time? Time's already passed and it's not helping. Sometimes you just have to suck it up and try again. And that's basically what I told him, sometimes you just have to face a fear head on and make yourself do something that could potentially hurt again, but could also help things get better. It's a risk. Life is a risk.

But I also have certain fears that I have trouble getting over. Things from my past make it difficult and scary sometimes to do certain things, or handle certain things. I could tell my friend all day long till I'm blue in the face to face his fear, but when it comes to me? Different story all together.

Unfortunately though, because I didn't face my fears this time, I ended up hurting somebody very dear to me in the process. The things you do in life don't just affect you, it ripples out to all sorts of other people. Sometimes that's a good thing and sometimes it's not such a good thing. This...not such a good thing. Hopefully I can fix what went wrong, judging by things that were said this afternoon/evening I think there's a pretty good chance of that, but even still it'll take a while for things to get back to "normal".

Lesson of the day: just because something may not be easy to do doesn't mean I don't have to do it. I can't focus on myself and what I'm afraid of, sometimes I have to just suck it up and face my fears.