10 Big Questions To Ask Yourself
It is all too easy to live life on autopilot.
We crave the familiar and enjoy being creatures of habit. The challenge with this approach is that this pattern of living can prevent us from reaching our full potential.
Playing in the ‘comfort’ zone feels reassuring but it’s only when we step outside of it that we really experience personal growth.
One way to do this is to periodically ask yourself some big questions.
Take the time to write down your answers and reflect on them. They will likely hold the key to you making an important step forward in life.
There are no set questions you have to respond to. Below are some examples to help you come up with your own list.
1. When have I felt most alive?
Think of a recent activity or event that you found yourself really enjoying. What aspect of it did you find most rewarding? How can you include more of it in your life?
2. What would I do if I was not afraid?
Fear stands in the way of us doing the things we really want to do. In most cases, our fear is unfounded. Thinking about what we’d like to do if we were not afraid gives us clues to what we really desire in life.
3. What would make this easier?
This is a question that Tim Ferris asks himself when it comes to any challenge he’s facing in life. What are the resources you can draw upon? Who are the people that might be able to help you?
4. What would I do if I didn’t care what people think?
As social animals, we are afraid of doing something that doesn’t fit in with the group. This holds us back from expressing our true selves which can be a source of confusion and unhappiness.
5. What have I learnt from the negative experiences in my life?
When something goes wrong, we can feel down for a period of time. We often like to brush these experiences aside without examining them properly. Even a negative experience contains positive lessons within it.
6. What’s the one thing I’m missing in my life?
Sometimes you get a nagging feeling that although everything in life is going well, there’s still something that’s missing. Often this is the thing that we need to find in order to complete the true picture of ourselves.
7. What or who do I feel deeply inspired by?
Have you stopped to take note of the answer to this question? Try to write down five things that inspire you and dedicate 15 mins of your day learning more about them. You might be pleasantly surprised where you end up.
8. Will this activity or effort make the highest possible contribution toward my goal?
This is a question from the excellent book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. Too often we let ourselves get distracted by things that don’t help us achieve our ultimate goal. It is healthy to ask ourselves this question from time to time to make sure our energy is focused on the right things.
9. If I keep doing what I’m doing now, how will my life look in 5 years?
This is a simple question with profound insight. If you don't like the answer, you must identify the steps you need to take to change your direction. Try not to overwhelm yourself. Break them down into manageable chunks.
10. What could I study that could give me the edge?
Life should be a journey of continuous learning. Your education shouldn’t just end with school or university. There are many ways to give yourself a competitive edge. Open your mind to what’s out there.
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