Many of us have rules for ourselves that help determine the path we carve out during our lifetime. These rules are formed from what we've been taught as well as what we've learned from our own experiences.
The problem is that we are so quick to gather and store information, that sometimes we don't step back and take a valid look at the source. For instance, there have been those who have gone through very extreme experiences that will leave a stain on anything that may resemble a similar environment. Sometimes they don't even know the situation that they were in was an unhealthy one or a rare occurrence and accept it as the standard.
Maybe you picked something up from this very person. Whether the lesson be about pursuing (do this to achieve success) or avoiding (don't this to avoid failure), accepting this without question usually ends up costing you later.
I can't ask you to experience everything for yourself... that's impossible with the limited time we have on this earth. But when it comes to matters important to you, immerse yourself in as much as you can about those matters. Don't just accept the first thing that comes to you, and if you are going to use the lessons of others as guidance, know where they are coming from with that information.
This is why I stress how important it is to figure out what truly is important to you. This way you can direct all that energy to be completely involved in the things that matter to you alone, and leave the things that don't matter but you can't avoid mostly to the guidance of others whose information you know is valid.
Here I am giving out advice about not just simply taking advice from others... I insist that you question it.
