Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.
-Voltaire
…because asking the right questions is the answer.
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Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. Also, check out our book if you’re interested in reading even more thought-provoking questions.
Title photo by: Colin Kinner
For all other photo credits please refer to ThoughtQuestions.com
Celena says
Yikes… eye opener! (got sick at my stomach just thinking about some of these questions) I have changes to make.
Dana says
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.
Joe T. says
Quite a few things to think about here. Thanks for the wake-up call.
Michelle says
It definitely makes you re-examine your life and come to the realization that some changes are in order. An eye opener indeed!
shockerz says
I think it’s time to change some of the habits of mine and straighten my life again. Thanks for such awesome post!
Shawn says
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.
Beck says
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…
Abbie Allen - Lifestyle Elements Personal & Corporate Concierge says
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.
Cindy says
Thank you for putting into print that has been in my mind… time to contemplate a few things…
donna says
#11. Never thought of it from that perspective.
Wellie says
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?
J. D. says
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.
Ani Todd Smith says
Sheesh! You’re killing me here. 🙂 Great questions!
Paul Teague says
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
Katie says
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…
Jake says
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
Carol says
Thank you so much, for your thought provoking questions today. They provide much food for thought….
Lana says
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?!
Julie says
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.
Dawn says
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
Jason says
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.
Narmin says
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.
brett says
Thanks Marc and Angel. You both continue to motivate me and positively push me to be my best self.
Angel says
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.
Stephanie says
Stop! Stop it! 🙂 Stop making me look in the mirror… sometimes it’s TOO real.
cindy b. says
Can’t say enough how much I LOVE this site. WOWZERS! Each and every time you open my eyes … and heart. thanks!
jael roman says
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 🙂
vytiense says
You folks are brilliant. I love what you do, and you keep doing it! Amazing. You make other people’s lives better. Thank you!
Musume_ says
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.
celicia says
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 🙁
Melanie Grant says
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.
Brandon Dean says
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.
Debbie@happymaker says
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
Pamela says
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!
susan says
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.
loretta says
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.
Guy Farmer says
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.
Patty M says
Thanks for everything! You both are awesome!
Phil H says
Wow… I am in such a rut, and these questions I know I should have asked of myself ages ago.
Marilyn Nimmo says
I LOVE these questions… they each make great journaling prompts!
Kev says
Thanks for this thought-provoking exercise. I answered all the questions and, although a bit tough, thoroughly enjoyed it.
Brad Alexander says
#20 is the key for me. We in the process of creating our future right now. Life does not just happen to us.
Pankaj says
Thanks for making me think about how to get back on track.
Glori says
Wow… for better or worse, some of these questions questioned my entire existence. Eye opener!
Sarah says
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!
Biken Shrestha says
Awesome questions! Some are hard to answer, but worth it.
Teri says
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!!
Angela says
What great, thought-provoking questions… I tend to just stare at my journal blankly every night lately, might stick these in there.
Nea | Self Improvement Saga says
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.