Ahh. Actually, I had to learn that one.
I think for some of us, it's like default to offer advices because first thought that comes is that we wanna help the person who tells us about their problem. This happens especially if you're an independent person with people who depend on you and so you're used to being the problem solver. But yeah, I realized that some people want you to listen and that's all they want. To let out the feelings they hide. They don't need you solving it.
Some may even get offended for it.
But see, that is where good or bad communication comes in. The giving and receiving part of it. As much as we want to be understood, we need to put in the effort to let the other person understand us. It would also be unfair, I think, to suddenly have someone mad at us and expect they know why when they apparently are not and they might not even mean to offend or hurt us. Just something I learned in time. So I guess it takes a certain level of maturity to learn to read and adapt to situations. From both sides. Always from both sides.
So I learned to try working in a certain way. It is kind of hard at first since it's different from what I'm used to, but it's a work in progress and I am working on it because I think it is important. That whenever I sit with someone after being invited to talk, I need to ask them, "Are you happy if I just listen or can I offer you some advice?" or something along those lines.
