5 Questions That Always Get Me Thinking
“A prudent question is one half of wisdom” - Francis Bacon
There’s value in a good answer but there’s depth in a good question.
The five questions below are dear to my heart exactly because they stop and make me think. Some I have better answers for than others. Others I only have more questions.
So, let’s start with number one as it’s one of those that I’m not sure I’ll ever have an answer to.
1. As I look in the mirror - Am I the one changing or am I the one watching the change?
I remember hearing this question first in Guatemala. My tantra teacher at the time dropped into the conversation so casually that it seemed obvious. But, until then, I had never even thought about it.
After that day, however, I began to question it.
That was 8 years ago now and since then I have been on a spiritual journey. What I have come to conclude is that I’m probably both - I’m this human body that’s aging but through meditation, breathwork, and psychedelic journeys, I’m also something bigger and more eternal.
I’m still not fully resolved in my answer though and a part of me hopes that I never will be.
2. What is my average perfect day?
Most days are kind of ordinary let’s be honest. We eat, bathe, wash dishes, go to work, use the bathroom, and fall asleep, only to repeat the same actions the next day.
Sure, there are vacations, day trips, and spontaneous adventures along the way, but for the most part, days are kind of similar.
So, questioning how to make these average days perfect becomes inspiring for me.
So, what does my average perfect day look like?
Among the eating, bathing, washing the dishes, going to work, using the bathroom, and sleeping, I:
Do my morning practice of chanting, 20-minutes of breathwork, and light stretching every morning
Grab a cup of delicious coffee.
Have a swim in the ocean.
Play with my cat.
Tend to my veggie patch.
Play with one of my instruments (my latest is the didgeridoo!)
Eat dinner with my beautiful girlfriend or enjoy it with friends around a fire
Why I love this so much is that it’s doable. It’s not some fairytale that may or may not happen one day if the stars align. It’s rooted in the here and now and that gets me excited to follow through.
What does your average perfect day look like?
3. What are two things that I’m grateful for today?
I first did this while leading teenagers around the Caribbean on scuba diving and sailing trips. There were so many activities going on during the day that it was nice to gather at night and share our favourite parts.
This nightly ritual stuck with me so now me and my girlfriend do it every night before we eat dinner together.
It creates a moment to reflect, pause, and appreciate the good things that happened in the day. I’ve found this practice particularly helpful on the more challenging days.
4. What if everything I thought was wrong was actually right?
This comes from one of my favourite books - Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch.
Firstly, if you haven’t read it yet then I’d highly recommend it. Then secondly, this question encourages me not to be so self-righteous or obnoxious and that’s never a bad thing.
Unfortunately, we all have a confirmation bias. This simply is a cognitive bias that favours information that confirms our belief systems.
“For example, imagine that a person believes left-handed people are more creative than right-handed people. Whenever this person encounters a person that is both left-handed and creative, they place greater importance on this "evidence" that supports what they already believe. This individual might even seek proof that further backs up this belief while discounting examples that don't support the idea.” - verywellmind.com
But what if my confirmation biases are wrong?
This question keeps me honest, humble, and curious. And “curiosity has its own reason for existing.” (Albert Einstein)
“What would happen if everything I thought was ‘wrong’ was actually ‘right’?” Every great scientist knows about this. When what a scientist does is not working, a scientist sets aside all of the assumptions and starts over. All great discoveries have been made from a willingness, and ability, to not be right.” - Neale Donald Walsch
5. What if this was the last time I’m about to do what I’m doing?
This came about after I heard a story from a fellow traveller who had broken her back. Over lunch, she shared that she used to hate being caught in the rain, almost to the point of rage. But soon after her car accident that broke her back, she was lying in her hospital bed and wishing she could be running in the rain outside as she looked out of her window.
This stuck with me. So, now whenever I’m about to do something I don’t want to do, I ask myself - what if this was the last time? And suddenly, I find a little more enjoyment and less resistance. I’ve even been known to do a rain dance.
Closing thoughts
Tim Ferriss once said: “The way that you become world-class is by asking good questions.”
So, now I’m curious: What are some questions that make you stop and think?