The old saying goes, "Advice is worth what you pay for it." We can all see how asking your uncle about your tax investments or your root canal could yield disaster, but in personal matters the adage is less certain. There are many people who have survived the life experiences you face. There are many circumstance you have overcome that seem daunting to your friends and associates.

You may have a great deal of valuable insight and information to share, but the subtle art of sharing your experience with compassion is the lynchpin of any loving relationship.

In other words, you've got to learn how to share yourself without sounding like a pompous know-it-all.

Dr. Neil Clark Warren was a practicing psychologist for 35 years. Seven years ago, he took the fruits of his knowledge of working with troubled couples and founded the online relationship service eharmony.com. We asked him for some guidelines to remember when sharing your experience with others.

1. Wrap the advice in a compliment.

Dr. Warren credits his first suggestion to the famed UCLA basketball coach John Wooden. "Coach Wooden was a master motivator. If he needed to instruct or criticize he followed a definite formula. He began with a positive statement, then gave his critical advice. At the end of the conversation he finished with another positive opinion. This allowed him to deliver the message without insulting the receiver."

2. Pick your time wisely.

If you want your advice to be appreciated, it's important that you wait for a time when stress, fear and fatigue are at their minimum. "Many of us learned as children that our parents are sometimes less than agreeable," Dr. Warren points out. "We become skilled at approaching them when they are relaxed and happy. The chances are much greater that we will get our way. As adults, this lesson figures importantly in our plan to extend advice in an effective manner. Make sure that your advice comes during a time when it won't be seen as another demand."