There are essentially two types of help that we’re able to offer people — unsolicited and solicited.
Offering unsolicited help often falls on deaf ears because, by definition, it was unwanted in the first place; thus it’s often eschewed by those receiving it. And it only benefits those offering the help — some of whom are bent on insinuating themselves into the lives of others.
Then there’s solicited help. That is, help people ask you for — whether it be in a personal or professional context.
It’s logical to conclude that when people are seemingly sincere about asking something of you, particularly when they’re troubled, they’d be inclined to act on the help, recommendation or guidance, or at the very least, give it consideration. But that’s often not the case.
Some people don’t want to be helped — in spite of their protestations to the contrary. And you know this is the case when they repeatedly come up with excuses or rationalizations for not acting. There are various and sundry reasons for this: They may be poor listeners; may be unable to get their head around the advice or guidance, or find themselves embarrassed or even defiant that they didn’t think of what you’ve offered them in the first place. Simply put, they can’t be reasoned out of their position – as stuck as they may indeed be.
So I suggest you don’t try, because you can’t offer vision to the willfully blind.
