How come I can give advice to others but can't take my own advice to solve all my problems?

There's no black and white answer to it bro, everyone is like that to an extent.

A neutral, external observer can always have a more nuanced view of the situation, like we can't study our own brains or lift the chair that we're sitting on, poor analogies but you know what I mean a!

Am a good listener, very laidback and non-judgemental, reasonably intelligent so mates, family, colleagues etc. come to me for advise all the time.

Yet, there are heaps of things I know I should do, that I'd recommend to other people in my situation, but I can't do it myself though I try.

Good luck and g'day mate.

Well, that's cute. And what's cuter is the way brain works. It's just like this, it's like an unwritten natural law.

I guess you are the sensible and thoughful figure that gives advice but doesn't need advice himself. At least I know that it's true for myself. I mean, the people I give pieces of advice to are confused and don't know what do to. I don't have such problem, I don't need to think over the issue over and over and to ask dozens of people for their opinions, I just act and do whatever I had decided on the first place which rarely involves applying the advice I had given to another person on the same matter.

This is completely fine and you needn't follow your own advice as long as you can handle with the situation. However, if can't solve the problem, better force yourself to take your advice and try to work it out. Don't think too much and act more, have faith in your own decisions and you'll do just well. Good luck.

You can see with a clear perspective into others' problems because none of your emotions and desires are attached to their situation. You have more hangups and irrationality in your own spider webs of thought. Also there are unchecked thoughts that you likely haven't dealt with since childhood, still playing on a loop in your subconscious. This creates mud. I can often see exactly what others should do to clear themselves of a problem. Yet once I'm faced with something similar, my mind draw blank and I can't even think of the right words to say.

You can't give yourself advice because you're looking too closely at yourself. Pan your perspective back a little. Write down what you'd tell someone else who was in your situation. Or try imagining that you are the 10-years-older "you" talking to you right now. What would he say?

You're really good at giving people advice and you're a really caring person... Maybe too caring. You need to give yourself a break. Think more about yourself, it's healthy. Do other things you enjoy or haven't done for a long time. Everyone needs help from others sometimes. Don't be afraid to ask for it. You have giving a lot so feel free to receive. The advice that you give yourself is probably just as good as the advice you give to others. Don't doubt yourself.

I hope this helps a bit. :)

not weird, i used to be like this but have gotten a little better. For your friends problems, you have a bit of distance - your own emotions are not wrapped up in finding a good solution. When it is your problem, i believe that for every answer you think of, you then think,but what about THIS part of the problem. in other word, you get into micro-management. Try seeing your problem as if were someone elses, then looking at the big picture, not the tiny details.

Funny you should say this. Years ago when the video games came out my niece then 8 yrs old told me how to play this game and what I had to do to win. Well days later she came in and I had beat the game following her advice. When she saw this she said how did you do that. I said I did as you instructed me. At which she said Oh so I need to take my own advice? I laughed. She was serious.

We all need to take our own advice but we sometimes think we do not know what to do.

I pray and get the information from God because He sees all sides of things.

(((MIB)))

Oh well this is what happens with me too and I sometimes just wonder why I cant do what I say to others .. very frustrating, but may be I think when we care about others so much we do come up with things that can help them, but wont be helpful for ourselves,

Also I agree with KILLER .. its easier said then done and its very true :)

We're all stubborn so when we give ourselves our own adivce we first think about all the cons and pros of the situation. All we can do is say to ourselves I don't care about the risk or how bad it is I WANT to do this or that. And do it if not it will take forever!

Once you realize you give good advice, but don't apply it to yourself... you need to take the next step and really apply it to yourself.

I remember giving someone advice and thinking "wow! I could be using that for myself!" lol

Yeah... I finally did use it for myself. :)

Most times, advice is easier to give than follow.

I fell this way too. But I learned I'm no different then them in this situation and acted like my advice was from someone else!