post written by: Angel
40 Questions Everyone is Afraid to Ask
Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.
-Voltaire
…because asking the right questions is the answer.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. Also, check out our sister site, Thought Questions, for more photo-illustrated questions like these; and check out The Book of Questions
Title photo by: Colin Kinner
For all other photo credits please refer to ThoughtQuestions.com
If you enjoyed this article, please subscribe via email or RSS.
Or for a powerful dose of inspiration download our new ebook.
80 Comments
April 13th, 2012 at 1:35 am
Yikes… eye opener! (got sick at my stomach just thinking about some of these questions) I have changes to make.
April 13th, 2012 at 1:37 am
All are such great questions. I love going through these.
For one of them, the second one, the thing I’m most worried about my future is how it’ll turn out. I have plan’s to go to college and get a job and have a family, but what happens if I can’t get to college? I shouldn’t worry, but I do.
April 13th, 2012 at 1:39 am
Quite a few things to think about here. Thanks for the wake-up call.
April 13th, 2012 at 1:54 am
It definitely makes you re-examine your life and come to the realization that some changes are in order. An eye opener indeed!
April 13th, 2012 at 3:13 am
I think it’s time to change some of the habits of mine and straighten my life again. Thanks for such awesome post!
April 13th, 2012 at 6:17 am
Wow! A lot of my answers came immediately, some not so much. Definitely an eye opener. Takes a lot of courage to be able to answer these questions honestly (with yourself). Think it would be very beneficial to sit down with your partner and or good/great friend and go through these… would probably make for a great bonding exercise.
April 13th, 2012 at 6:28 am
Very much a wake-up call that has reaffirmed much of what I already knew but wasn’t sure how to articulate. Now to find the courage to do something about it…
April 13th, 2012 at 7:17 am
Wonderful post. I have pinned so many of these onto Pinterest. Thank you for sharing and challenging. I am really glad I have discovered your blog.
April 13th, 2012 at 7:28 am
Thank you for putting into print that has been in my mind… time to contemplate a few things…
April 13th, 2012 at 7:28 am
#11. Never thought of it from that perspective.
April 13th, 2012 at 7:33 am
These questions are very inspiring. When I read these questions and think of my answers to them it makes me feel ready and energized to just get up and make some changes in my life that need to be made. I especially like the first question: If today were the last day of your life, would you want to do what you are about to do today?
April 13th, 2012 at 7:35 am
question no. 11 really made me think! and thanks a lot for all the questions, they made me realize things that I didn’t realize about myself.
April 13th, 2012 at 7:49 am
Sheesh! You’re killing me here.
Great questions!
April 13th, 2012 at 7:52 am
Guys, I love your blog!
I can’t even remember where I came across you now, but but by bit, with fabulous, thought-provoking, challenging posts, you’ve reeled me in
Congratulations, this is excellent content, I really enjoy reading your stuff.
Thanks for the time you put in, Paul
April 13th, 2012 at 7:56 am
Great questions. The one I often wonder about is, what would you do if you knew it was your last day? I wonder if I could actually enjoy the day (regardless of the activities) if I knew it was my last. I imagine that no matter what, I would panicked at the thought of being separated from loved ones…
April 13th, 2012 at 8:14 am
Angel
Great questions that provoke thought. However, your position that everyone is afraid to ask these questions is somewhat of a generalization, and thus a lack of acknowledgement that there exists capacity in certain individuals to reflect on the same. Just my opinion.
But I truly did enjoy this post, and I am a regular reader of your articles
Kind Regards
Jake
April 13th, 2012 at 8:26 am
Thank you so much, for your thought provoking questions today. They provide much food for thought….
April 13th, 2012 at 9:00 am
I definitely know what it is I need to change in the next 12 months! The issue is - how on earth do I do it?!
April 13th, 2012 at 9:22 am
I can’ relate to these excellent questions. I’ve been asking similar questions for the last 3 years, and wonder how to get unstuck. Just when I think I make some progress, something happens that puts me back into the black hole. I cry often, and ask that my prayers are answered, and keep hoping amidst my tears that something wonderful will happen today every morning that I still wake up.
April 13th, 2012 at 10:05 am
What a wake up call for lots of us. Worry on so many fronts takes half of our time. At almost 3/4ths of a century I have answered a lot of the questions but there are others I need to work harder on. Thanks for keeping this blog. Dawn
April 13th, 2012 at 10:17 am
These would all make excellent motivational-poster-esque pictures to have in your bedroom, office or other personal area.
Personally, I’d love to have these kinds of pictures rolling in an electronic picture frame.
April 13th, 2012 at 10:41 am
I am planning to use these questions at a future girls’ night - either for a journaling exercise or simply as one that allows the girls to share openly and freely for a few minutes before we move on to other activities.
Thanks for always giving me food for thought, Marc and Angel.
April 13th, 2012 at 10:45 am
Thanks Marc and Angel. You both continue to motivate me and positively push me to be my best self.
April 13th, 2012 at 11:01 am
Julie: Keep staying strong and keep pushing forward. Not all the puzzle pieces of life will seem to fit together at first, but in time you’ll realize they do, perfectly. I promise, it gets better. And please, don’t hesitate to talk to a a friend, family member or professional coach about your pain and struggles. Oftentimes getting things off your chest is the first step to feeling better. Marc and I will keep you in our thoughts.
@Jake: We’re so glad you enjoyed the questions. Sorry you didn’t like the title. The truth is, it wasn’t our intention to say, “most people are incapable of asking these questions.” We know most people are capable of this. But you must admit, they are difficult questions to ask yourself because they require self-examination - which is never easy. The choice in a title is often somewhat a matter of choosing something that is relevant and catchy. “40 Questions Everyone is Afraid to Ask” is certainly more catchy than “40 Difficult Questions to Answer”, don’t ya think?
Anyway, hope that makes sense, and hope ya aren’t too upset.
@All: As always, thanks so much for the positive feedback and personal insights. Thanks for keeping the conversation alive. We read every single one of your comments. Please keep them coming. And don’t hesitate to answer a few of your favorite questions right here in the comments.
April 13th, 2012 at 11:34 am
Stop! Stop it!
Stop making me look in the mirror… sometimes it’s TOO real.
April 13th, 2012 at 11:48 am
Can’t say enough how much I LOVE this site. WOWZERS! Each and every time you open my eyes … and heart. thanks!
April 13th, 2012 at 11:48 am
I have to say that it makes me think a lot … then I’ll turn off the internet and restart working on my project., To do is the secret, right? when you stop “doing” you start dying slowly… I just don’t want it. Have a grate weekend people
April 13th, 2012 at 11:49 am
You folks are brilliant. I love what you do, and you keep doing it! Amazing. You make other people’s lives better. Thank you!
April 13th, 2012 at 11:50 am
I worry sometimes that no matter all the hard work I’m doing and the attempts I’m making to actually acheive my goals that I might inevitably still fail. I’m so worried that I’ll potentially never find love again and that I’ll be alone–but deep down I know that I’m not alone.
I have a great support system with family and friends and a lot of information on this site has been instrumental in helping me begin to focus on what’s important and not focus on the negatives in my life.
I do think that I need to give myself some “me” time this weekend. I tend to be very hard on myself and close myself off and focus too much on the career I want to go into.
April 13th, 2012 at 11:51 am
Wow…I have been in a horrible marriage for a long-long time and I can’t let go…..so for me a lot of these questions gave me a reality check…..specially the one about “when to start living”.
Thanks so much for giving me the push I need to start making changes
April 13th, 2012 at 11:56 am
Thought provoking list - but not something one can consider overnight. This one will take time to visit and re-visit… as with most matters of the heart.
April 13th, 2012 at 11:58 am
Motivating and thought provoking! Thanks for sharing these questions.
April 13th, 2012 at 12:13 pm
This was beautiful - the questions and the photos. I don’t think it would have as much of an impact without the photos, so thank you for including them, it was worth it.
April 13th, 2012 at 12:31 pm
We all need to ask ourselves question every day. This are some of the the best questions.
“What is one easy way to sum up life?” say it all.
Life is a journey and looking on the positive side of that journey will make it a happy ending.
Thanks for sharing and blessings to you both.
Debbie
April 13th, 2012 at 12:33 pm
I love #8. I’ve been dreaming of starting a personal project for years and always came up with an excuse for not doing it (mostly because of financial limitations). Only recently did I start pushing myself to just take a step. Even a baby step, and see where it lands me. Well, I did that and have made progress that I never thought imaginable, just by reaching out to one person (and I have needed zero $ so far). So sometimes just pushing yourself a little bit and taking one small step can lead to great things. Or at least get you started on the right path. Thanks for posting!
April 13th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
I truly love your site, it’s almost like meeting with a great therapist!
As an older person who has completed career and raising family , I still contemplate these questions. Especially with a recent diagnosis of cancer, I live with and have to mentally and positively believe I will conquer my fears and the disease itself. Living hopefully and positively in the face of facing your mortality is harder than I thought but I find living each day without worry or stress of any kind is the best way. I refuse to let anyone, children , spouse , or even a stranger make me feel bad about anything in my past present or future. It must to be our daily choice to feel good about ourselves and our life and not to allow even ourselves to negatively impact this. Thank you for reminding me of all of this with every post on your site. Only wish I’d realized some of it in my younger years, but still thankful I have now.
April 13th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
I enjoyed answering every one of the questions and even teared up at my answers on a few of them. Also shared this post with friends who reflected on the questions as well, which and got us discussing and sharing a few inner fears and secrets.
April 13th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
Thank you for this thought-provoking post. It’s always the deeper questions in life that have the most significance and lead to living more consciously.
April 13th, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Thanks for everything! You both are awesome!
April 13th, 2012 at 6:21 pm
Wow… I am in such a rut, and these questions I know I should have asked of myself ages ago.
April 13th, 2012 at 7:24 pm
I LOVE these questions… they each make great journaling prompts!
April 13th, 2012 at 8:18 pm
Thanks for this thought-provoking exercise. I answered all the questions and, although a bit tough, thoroughly enjoyed it.
April 13th, 2012 at 9:51 pm
#20 is the key for me. We in the process of creating our future right now. Life does not just happen to us.
April 13th, 2012 at 10:57 pm
Thanks for making me think about how to get back on track.
April 13th, 2012 at 11:21 pm
Wow… for better or worse, some of these questions questioned my entire existence. Eye opener!
April 14th, 2012 at 12:03 am
Julie, know that you’re not alone. Every day is a gift as it can be the start of something beautiful - just reach out and you may grab a hold of it!
April 14th, 2012 at 12:51 am
Awesome questions! Some are hard to answer, but worth it.
April 14th, 2012 at 2:44 pm
Great questions!
I live in a house with lots of visitors and parties. We always have a couple of pieces of butcher paper up with questions on them so people can answer the questions, or express themselves in some way. I will definitely use some of these questions for that! Can’t wait to see the responses! Thank you!!
April 14th, 2012 at 6:27 pm
What great, thought-provoking questions… I tend to just stare at my journal blankly every night lately, might stick these in there.
April 14th, 2012 at 11:23 pm
These are truly awesome questions. A question that I often ask my life coaching clients is, “What one action will you take today to move closer to your goal.” This really helps people to see the disconnect between what they say they want what they’re committed to having.
April 15th, 2012 at 8:16 am
Thank you for bringing these questions to my attention. I will try to answer them all
April 15th, 2012 at 5:16 pm
All these lead us to reflect on our lives, and how short it is. For me it was a good reflection!
April 15th, 2012 at 7:31 pm
One easy way to waste a life: not doing what you love and not loving who you do.
April 16th, 2012 at 12:29 am
Marc and Angel,
This has got to be one of your best posts ever. The reason I listed my comment as I did was because I think I’ve broken all of your questions and what they stand for at one time or another. I’m 75 years young and a recovering Alcoholic also was doing uppers and downers drugs but I’ve enjoyed 30 years of sobriety—-I found God when I was 50, had a very loving and supportive family and the rest is history! These 40 questions have been most refreshing! I hope everyone loved your post as much as I did! Thank you for coming into my life! Sorry to ramble on.
April 16th, 2012 at 3:42 pm
Wow, number 10… what a powerful sentence.
Such simple questions have such different perspective. Thanks for everything, I come to this blog every time I need a new angle on life.
April 16th, 2012 at 8:11 pm
I love all your posts. I hope there are really two people here named Marc and Angel, because knowing positive people like you exist helps me. Mahalo for your generosity and positivity… I share your posts with a lot with others.
April 17th, 2012 at 8:24 am
Lots of food for thought! Thank you.
April 18th, 2012 at 12:16 am
These are awakening questions. They tend to trigger some things that have been kind of dormant in our minds for some time now. Thumbs up guys.
April 18th, 2012 at 6:41 am
reply to 21. I want him to be happy, and I like him the way he is. I wouldn’t change a thing. But if I have to choose, I choose intelligence.
Thank you for your posts.
April 21st, 2012 at 2:23 pm
Ouch. Tears. Piercing right to the heart of the matter. Thanks for the wake-up call.
April 25th, 2012 at 1:33 pm
What an exceptional post, I love this!
April 26th, 2012 at 11:19 pm
What is worse than death?
Being misunderstood/misinterpreted.
April 28th, 2012 at 7:16 am
Awesome questions! These would make great postcards.
May 7th, 2012 at 2:36 pm
Wow, I can relate to a lot these questions. They make me think. I guess that’s good and sad.
July 6th, 2012 at 11:37 am
These are questions I/we can ask ourselves everyday. This is the first step and we can only take one step at a time. Read and take action constantly. That is life.
August 30th, 2012 at 6:04 am
What brilliant questions I,ll have to go through them all again. Deep, and a bit frightening.
September 6th, 2012 at 5:56 pm
Interesting! Great Questions…
November 17th, 2012 at 3:33 pm
Thanks for posting all these great questions!
Keep on making more.
November 21st, 2012 at 9:22 am
i stumbled upon your website today and what i found out is truly a treasure worth every second of my time. spent the whole day going through your articles. thanks for sharing all those wonderful stories, questions and much needed write-ups that not only provide inspiration but could turn a life around.
November 29th, 2012 at 3:23 am
A few years ago I would’ve not been able to answer these questions or I probably would’ve given some vague answer. Today, though, I have answered them very genuinely and I understand that I’m in a time dedicated to study, self discovery and spiritual development. Answering these questions helped me to understand that my life’s journey will take me to where I need it to and I’m ready…
February 10th, 2013 at 3:30 pm
A wonderful collection of superb questions and photos
February 19th, 2013 at 11:32 am
Good questions… it’s time to stop living an unconscious life.
March 1st, 2013 at 7:38 am
This is awesome! What hit me the most is “Are you holding on to something that you need to let go of?”
It hit home because I have been holding on to my relationship that has since ended, and I just realized that it’s time for new experiences!
Thanks so much for sharing!
March 6th, 2013 at 10:39 pm
These are really great questions we need to constantly remind ourselves.
Thank you for creating this website and sharing all the quotes, questions, and stories, really enjoy and love it~ =D
March 18th, 2013 at 12:17 pm
What a great list of questions.
March 27th, 2013 at 4:07 am
Love It!
April 9th, 2013 at 9:46 am
Wonderful questions all. How to get to the answers is quite hard and what to do when you get there is fraught with difficulties. How many people are trapped no matter the dream. It is an awful feeling, and wishing does not pay the rent.
May 5th, 2013 at 3:59 am
All of these questions are so nerve wracking. I have wanted to travel to so many places for so long… and I’ve wanted to live for myself and love myself. But all of that requires a lot of money, and I need money for “stability” in today’s society… I feel so stuck.
May 9th, 2013 at 1:22 am
Many are hard to answer, but a very good list for Self-Improvement. Everyone should write the answers to these questions every year to assess and notice the change.
May 9th, 2013 at 7:54 pm
Live life to the fullest and focus on the present, the not past or future. Live in the moment and make the best of what you have or don’t have. If you live inside your mind all the time you will miss out on life. Get out and live, work, play and be among people who enjoy your company. Optimism, is just as contagious and pessimism. Be careful!
Leave a Reply