Ask better questions (and more of them)

I love questions; questions that make you think, questions that make you reflect, questions that make you see things in a whole new light.

Questions activate the part of your brain that wants to find the answer. According to information gap theory, when we are posed with a question about something we don’t have a complete answer to we are motivated to seek out an answer to ‘close the gap’.

This means that by asking yourself questions intentionally, you are giving yourself the ability to uncover answers you may not have realised without the question.

Regularly asking yourself questions like the below allows you to open your mind to different perspectives, ideas and realities — and, when approached with honesty, help you live a more mindful life.

So, grab your favourite journal and pen and dive into the following questions:

1. What if the opposite were true?

It can be really easy to focus only on one side of the story, one perspective or one option. But sometimes it’s helpful to play devil’s advocate.

2. Why haven’t I succeeded yet?

Asking myself this question made me realise that I had my definition of success wrong. I had told myself I was seeking success in a certain way, yet my repeated actions were showing a different story. When I reflected on what success truly meant to me, I realised that I was already living pretty close to it.

3. Why am I obsessed with…?

This is a great question for getting to know yourself better. Amplify this question by asking ‘why?’ after each answer until you get to the very core reason.

4. If I wasn’t trying to impress anyone, what would I create?

As a creative, I’m constantly trying to understand my motivations for creating. Is it for me? Is it for validation? Is it to be understood? I believe creativity is a form of expression and connection but it’s an interesting question to ask to disarm fears.

5. Is this dream worth more to me as a dream or as my reality?

I’ll have to try and find the video source for this question because it’s great. It can be a little confronting, but, as they say, the truth will set you free.

6. Where will my life end up if I keep making the same decisions?

This question can also be a bit confronting, but completely worth it if you’re wanting to change your reality. If wanting something good isn’t driving you to act, not wanting something bad surely will.

7. Is it true?

This question comes in 4 parts and is particularly good for anxious thoughts (in my experience):

1. Is it true?

2. Can I absolutely know it’s true?

3. How do I react when I believe that thought?

4. Who am I without the thought? (you can leave this question out if you don’t want to dive into the philosophical and spiritual aspect)

8. If you were the only person left alive, would you still create?

I think most of us would have a clear answer to this question — which I think says a lot in itself for those of us wondering if creativity is for ourselves or for others.

9. Why am I here? What am I doing? Why does it matter?

I recommend asking yourself these questions more than once in your life.

10. What does a good day look like?

One of the first steps to living a more mindful life is to know your answer to this question.

11. Who am I?

Perhaps one of the greatest questions of all time that I believe we should ask ourselves regularly. Knowing yourself is a foundation of living a more mindful life.