50 Wildly Unhelpful Pieces of Advice People Hear All the Time

“Follow your heart” might sound like a line from a whimsical story, but it’s a phrase that needs a pinch of salt. It’s true; our hearts can lead us to some pretty wild and wonderful places, and sometimes, that gut feeling is spot-on. But the heart can be like a kid in a candy store—overwhelmed and over-excited, not always thinking of the stomachache later.

That’s why the head needs to step in to add some reason to the passion. We’re complex creatures, not guided by logic alone, nor should we be led by impulse unchecked. The best choices usually come from a balance between the two—a step of emotion, a step of reason, and a twirl of gut instinct.