Are You Asking Yourself the Right Questions?

As human beings, we’re always asking ourselves questions throughout the day.  “What did I do with my phone?” “When will this project be done?” “Did I remember to pack my son’s lunch for school?” :-)

Sometimes the questions we internally ask ourselves are valuable, but often they can cause significant harm. “Why am I so unlucky?” is an example of a question that could have a negative ripple effect on our lives. Since our minds try to answer every question we ask ourselves, we could be feeding our brain destructive answers that create a negative identity. 

If we genuinely want to live with joy and purpose, we have to start asking ourselves better questions. This is one of the aspects of my life that I worked on a couple of years ago, and it’s paid off big time! 

Here is what I’ve done to get my internal questions under control... 

Ask yourself effective questions:  

1. Ask the right questions in the morning. Every morning when I wake up, I open my journal and ask myself what I’m grateful for in my life. I will force myself to write at least three things down. This exercise starts my day out right since I’m focused on my blessings vs. my challenges. Consider these prompts: “what gives me the most joy?” “what do I have that most people don’t?” “Why was I blessed with such an amazing spouse?” “Why do so many opportunities come my way?” I’m only asking positive questions during this exercise, and my mind answers with positive energy. I’ve found that this is an excellent way to start my day.  
2. Only ask questions that support your goals.  My wife bought me a Fitbit a couple of years ago. I’ve found the device to be very motivational since it tracks steps and heart rate. Now I’ve made a game out of getting healthier since I like to see if I can continually get above my daily goals. Since I’m trying to use the band to lose weight, I’ve focused on positive weight loss questions. “What can I eat for lunch that will still taste good but be under a certain amount of calories?” “Instead of eating ice cream, can I eat frozen berries with a tiny bit of yogurt?” “Why don’t I park at the end of the parking lot and walk in, since I’m trying to boost my daily step numbers?” I’ve found that continually asking myself questions that support my weight loss goal is very beneficial.  
3. Pay attention to yourself. Make sure to continually be making mental notes throughout the day of what kind of questions you’re asking yourself. It’s best to correct yourself on the spot when a question pops in your head that could negatively impact your goals. If a negative thought does come up, make sure to correct it with a positive question to ask yourself. For instance, instead of asking yourself, “why can’t I ever find the time to do that project?” Try asking, “If I give up TV shows this week, can I finish that project I know I need to do?” I know it sounds simple, but you might be amazed how changing the questions you ask yourself will empower you to achieve more than you ever thought possible. 

This is simple, but it’s not exactly easy. Don’t confuse simple with easy. This will stretch you, and it will take time to form the habit of asking the right questions. You will quickly realize that questions are one of the most powerful elements of your thoughts and can do a ton of good when used correctly. If you learn how to harness the power of asking the right questions to yourself, your life will improve in many, many ways. 

*Matt Zaun is an award-winning speaker and storyteller who empowers organizations to attract more clients through the art of strategic storytelling. Matt’s past engagements have catalyzed radical sales increases for over 200 organizations that range from financial institutions to the health and wellness industry. 

Matt shares his expertise in persuasion with executives, sales professionals, and entrepreneurs, who he coaches on the art of influence and how to leverage this for profits and impact. 

For more info, check out his video | https://youtu.be/pflQtzgP7X0