One day, I was talking to a friend about my plans to travel to Delhi. I shared the difficulties I was facing—long road trips, unavailable train tickets, and no suitable flights. Instead of helping, she started pointing out all the flaws of Delhi. Then, without warning, she switched gears and began praising Dubai, describing it as an amazing place. Before I knew it, she was looking up flights and booked me a ticket to Dubai on the exact day I had planned to travel to Delhi. Suddenly, I found myself sitting in Dubai, wondering, “Why am I here? I have work to do in Delhi.”

How often do we change course or make decisions just because someone else suggested it? A small argument with a friend turns into sharing your side with someone else, only to end up fighting with that friend later. You have a disagreement with your partner, vent to a friend, and next thing you know, you’re in a lawyer’s office discussing divorce. You want to become one thing, but end up somewhere else because of someone else’s advice.

Whenever life feels overwhelming and I need to vent, I’m careful not to share with anyone who might push me into rash decisions I wouldn’t make on my own. I keep my distance from those people. What matters most is being clear about what you truly want and staying focused without letting others steer you off course.

Some people give advice with good intentions; others might enjoy leading you astray. Regardless of their intentions, this is your life. Whether it’s Delhi or Dubai, the destination should be yours to choose.

How many times have you changed your path because of someone else’s advice, only to realize it wasn’t the right choice for you?