You know how friends sometimes give the worst advice? Read this and you’ll never be that person.
There’s a reason why I text my friend R* daily. She is the queen of advice—like Kendall Jenner but without the model squad and stardom. A fight with my mom? A job I’m not sure I should take? Whether to insist my husband come to the three parties on the calendar? R* is guaranteed to tell me exactly what I need to hear. I save her wise texts to reread, I quote her to other friends, and I have actually copied her one liners onto Post-Its and stuck them on my computer, like she’s my personal meme generator.
We all deserve a friend (or five) like R*—and because doling out and receiving honest advice separates true emotional friends from superficial acquaintances, we want to get good at giving it too, says psychology professor Andrea Bonior, author of The Friendship Fix. Problem is, most of us are not IRL agony aunts. Half the time when we’re asked for advice, we make it up as we go along; the other half, we play to our biases or spout off a prettied-up version of The Rules.
It’s not surprising, then, to see a rise in invite-only Facebook girls’ groups that crowd source dating and life advice for members who may not trust (or want) their friends’ suggestions. “Advice is inherently difficult, and we’re pretty terrible at giving and receiving it,” says Silvia Bonaccio, a US-based associate professor of organisational behaviour, who researches how people give their two cents. “Advice means taking someone else’s perspective, which can be challenging.”
This story is from the April 2017 edition of Cosmopolitan India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2017 edition of Cosmopolitan India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
How To Make The Most Of The Meta-Universe...And Thrive Unscathed In It
Natasha Jog-Head, Public Policy, Instagram, Facebook India (Meta)-lists the company's safety measures, and tells us how to make our favourite apps work in our favour.
What's Dating Like In 2024?
Here's some swipe right moments that caught Cosmo intern Serchen Chokyi off guard.
Is Making Yourself Sad The Ultimate Happiness Hack?
Dopamine fasts are being touted as the cure to bad habits and low mood...But does the science really stack up? Morgan Fargo puts it to the test.
Do Women Make Better Leaders Than Men?
Psychologists, women entrepreneurs, their male counterparts, and a human resources expert weigh in.
Living the dream
From planning their start-up and building the right team to successfully marketing their brand, these entrepreneurs will teach you a thing or two about taking care of a business.
The new masculine
Gender is a construct; but one that invariably factors into attraction. In a 2024 world where the scope of gender is more multifarious than ever, what does it mean to be 'masculine'?
I was sober, now I'm not.I feel...weird about it?
After more than a year of being teetotal, Jennifer Savin found herself with a glass of red. Her emotions have been *complex*
VEDANG RAINA WIRED TO WIN
Actor Vedang Raina opens up to Cosmo India Editor Pratishtha Dobhal about his love for music and cinema, his passion for the arts, and why he chooses to live in the moment.
Pixels to pearls
Is 3D printing the next big thing in the jewellery landscape?
One jacket, four ways
Cosmo India challenged top-tier celebrity stylists to turn muse for us as they showcased their unmatched personal style with one common designer ensemble. Class in session, people!