Advice

 I made a big life decision for my friend. Well, not 'made' it for him, but advised him on it. And he chose in line with my advice. And now I have started to feel nervous that he will hold me accountable if it doesn't turn out well/as expected.

My knee-jerk reaction was to reach out and make sure to fully cover the other side, the cons, and give the 'full picture'. This way I could assuage my guilt and discharge my possible responsibility. Give myself plausible de-responsibility.

But I wonder if indeed I would be 'responsible' if it turns out to be a net unpleasant choice (I don't really believe in 'wrong choices' as all of them lead us to becoming who we are meant to be)? 

On the one hand, thinking this way has a disempowering element, creating a version of reality where he is not able to choose and he solely acts at my behest. On the other hand, it seems so many people are looking for others - friends, religious/spiritual leaders, parents, strangers on the internet - to remove the burden and stress of 'choice' and responsibility and instead outsource their life decisions.

"It's not your fault, but it's your responsibility" - Terry Pratchett

I wonder how to balance giving honest and sincere advice to people who are looking to others to make their own life decisions for them. Can this be done? I fear not giving the advice could lead them to land in less caring or informed hands, however, could giving 'advice' that will certainly be followed be akin to commanding others' lives? Can I give advice to someone who will certainly take it, yet still believe they are empowered and 100% personally responsible and owners of their choice? Will I truly be able not take responsibility, or feel responsible, for how things then turn out? Does giving advice carry responsibility if followed? Does it carry responsibility when it's not? If it does carry responsibility, even partially, does that imply that people are not fully responsible for the choices they make in their lives?