Questions can be almighty and powerful.
I recently wrote about some questions that I ask myself on a daily basis. Since then, I've been learning a lot, and therefore have upgraded the questions I'm asking myself. I feel this is a small, yet important step in my development, so I'm sharing them with you.
(I've also written about the power of questions in another post, which I recommend if you haven't read it.)
Asking the right questions is essential in creating a life of fulfillment.
Some questions are empowering, and point us in the right directions. Others send us spiraling into hopelessness and despair.
The difference in the questions we ask is the answer they produce.
Here is the updated list of questions that I ask myself frequently. I've noted the ones that I no longer ask regularly, and have added some new ones under them.
Do any resonate with you?
What should I do with my life?
I no longer ask this, because I know its futility. Instead, I ask, How I can best serve the moment in front of me?
What should I do with my day?
Am I on the right track?
Is this normal, or should I be worried?
What if I die today?
What else should I be doing to accomplish my goals?
What are my goals?
Am I missing anything?
How do I make money?
What are some side hustles I can start?
What are side hustles I want to start?
Now, I'm focusing on writing every day in this blog. I still wonder how I can create multiple streams of income, but the worry has been replaced with the question, How can I best serve people through this blog?
What if I don't achieve what I want in life?
What if my girlfriend leaves me?
I'm less worried about this, now that I'm learning to disassociate with my thoughts. This is a great example of a common, thousand year old thought that isn't mine, so why should I give it any attention.
What if my relationship isn't as good as it could be?
What if I never master my emotions?
Now, it's different. Now, it's a question of how much I'll disassociate with my emotions, and realize that they're not me, and I am not them. That we are different, and I simply observe them.
How can I master my emotions?
Same thing here - I am less worried about mastering my emotions, and more concerned about learning to just observe them non-judgmentally, therefore not giving them the power they want to take over my life.
What if I let fear take over my life?
How can I overcome fear?
Now I ask, where does fear tend to come up? That's all - I don't judge it or try to overcome it. I just notice when it arises.
Am I smart enough?
Am I skilled enough to start my own business?
What business could I start now?
What ideas could I pursue?
When will I become financially free?
My biggest learning since I last wrote this post was how I don't even need to overcome my thoughts and emotions. I don't need to wrestle with them or try to overpower them. I just need to step back and observe them. I need to notice when they arise, and maybe ask myself why they come up when they do.
I learned that the more I buy into them, the more energy I put on them, the more they feed off that.
I'm thankful to be on this journey toward a more fulfilling life, because it's helping me ask better questions, and find better answers.
Live with substance!
Gabe
