Is It Advice,,, or an Influence? In our lives, we are called upon by family members and by friends when they are dealing with difficult situations. They come to us seeking our perspective on their situation. They come to us for emotional support. And, they come to us for advice. But, what is it that we actually give them? So often, the predicaments they are sharing with us involve us, even if just tangentially, which starts to cloud our ability to give impartial advice.