All of us encounter something in our life where making a decision becomes tough. Seeking advice from family, friends, or even strangers is what we must do when our own brain can’t do the job. The advice given to us comes in three forms.

First, anecdotal advice that is provided based on one’s own life experience and is proven to work, at least for the person giving the advice.

Second, hypothetical advice. It means considering the scenario and then shaping the advice based on what they would have done.

Third, personal advice—putting yourself in the advice seeker’s shoes, really considering how they act, behave, and what they should do, and then giving very personal advice, or sometimes just saying what they want to hear and reaffirming their own thoughts.