Don’t just think outside the box today…
Think like there is no box.
How?
Start by asking yourself better questions — the kind that open your mind and filter out the excess noise that’s been cluttering your thoughts.
The power of a positive imagination is unleashed by constraining your focus. Constraints drive creativity, openness, and mindful thinking. It may sound counterintuitive at first but, in a backwards way, you break out of the box by stepping into the right shackles.
And that’s exactly what the following questions can help you with — shackling the noise in your head by channeling your focus into meaningful thoughts and moments of self-refection. Let these questions shift your perspective and bring you clarity:
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A slightly deeper dive into self-questioning
As I alluded to in the intro, the questions you ask yourself on a regular basis can be quite influential. Self-questioning, when leveraged effectively and consistently, gradually frees your mind to focus on what matters most. This process is something Angel and I have successfully guided hundreds of coaching clients and live event attendees through over the past 16 years, to help them cope with various debilitating sources of stress.
If you’d like to better cope with the stress in your own life, I’ll give you a few bonus questions to consider. Unlike the questions above, which focus on the big picture of what’s important to you, the following will support you when you’re derailed by the frustrations of life’s smaller everyday encounters. So next time a random life situation starts to get the best of you, pause, take a deep breath, and then ask yourself:
- What’s the story I’m telling myself about this situation?
- Can I be absolutely certain this story is the truth?
- How do I feel and behave when I tell myself this story?
- If I stopped telling myself this story once and for all, what else might I see, feel, or experience?
Give yourself the space to think it through carefully. Mull it over consciously. And see how doing so opens your mind to responding more peacefully and appropriately on the average day.
(Note: Self-questioning and other self-coaching practices are also covered in detail in our New York Times bestselling book, Getting Back to Happy: Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Reality, and Turn Your Trials into Triumphs.)
Now it’s your turn…
Above all, what you need to remember is that it’s not the answers you get from others, but the questions you ask yourself that will help you grow stronger. So I challenge you to re-read and reference all the questions above in the days and weeks ahead. And keep in mind that they have no right or wrong answers. Because asking the right questions of yourself, consistently, is the answer.
And before you go, please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
We’d love to read your response to question #1 above: In one sentence, who are you?
(Also note that many of these photo-illustrated questions were originally created for our sister site, Thought Questions, but since we rarely update that site we decided to share the questions with you here. And finally, many of these questions have also been re-published in the guided journal, “The Good Morning Journal”.)
Rebecca Norrington says
Who Am I?
I am Conscious Awareness, aka pure Presence, having a human experience.
Joan Silvia says
I didn’t realize I needed these questions for answers I don’t have at the ready, at least for most of them. I’ve written 10 of them down in a journal I keep separately from the one I purchased from you. I’ll turn to them often now to consider how my life looks for me. Seems I’ve been doing a lot of introspecting of late. Perhaps it’s the age; I’m 65 and I have time to think, reflect and take stock. Thank you for helping me to find insights I didn’t realize I needed. You guys are wonderful and I appreciate the things you share.
Meg says
Who am I? I am energy soaring through this human form that holds the source of all that is. I am awareness and the observer. Every day is an opportunity for growth and evolution into the best version of myself. I am grateful, kind, love and light! Walking through shadows to find more light each day. This is a beautiful life in my mind. I lived for 40 years with anxiety and I am healed by the power of my mind and the source of love that dwells inside me. Not a day goes by that I do not give thanks to the creator and our universe!
Barbara Kelly says
I’m 74 years old and still learning and evolving in life, every single day if I allow myself to.
Thanks for these questions.
Meenakshi says
I am a person who is trying to learn from her many mistakes.
Richard Fallegger says
Thank you for all these mindful questions… Some of them are easy to answer for me, some of them quite a challenge… but your input to break the box is a very helpful thought…
Who am I? I am a 65+ man starting to live my life alone but with a wonderful family (2 sons and 2 daughters) with the aim to help others in their life with sharing my life experiences. And get some gratitude back which helps me in my own life…
Thank you again for your questions and shared thoughts.
Jayla says
Who am I?
I am someone who is trying to be less lazy and more intelligent
What i appreciate about my current situation?
The fact that I don’t have school work to do
What’s something I take for granted every day?
God’s mercies
Something nobody can ever steal from me?
My love for my family
Terie G. says
I am a woman who loves God, her husband, her children, her grandchild, and helping people.
These questions were quite thought-provoking and a few were not easily answered. Honestly, I have never directly asked myself or even deeply thought about who I am, which is quite wild when I think about it now.
Ray Gebauer says
About a year ago, I decided this is my identity statement. I am a lover of God and others.
I define love in 4 distinctions / dimensions
Caring
Connecting
Committing (for a win-win)
Creating value
These four C’s correspond to the four elements in what’s stated in the Bible as the greatest commandment which is to love with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.
JJ says
To answer your first question: I am Source having a human experience.
Betty Jane Gardner says
I am a passionate, active, creative, energetic, caring, God fearing and positive woman of 79 years who looks forward to every day with purpose, goals, and determination as I care for a disabled spouse of 59 years and appreciate and enjoy the love and help from our children and grandchildren who have the same ethics along with the same gratitude.
I look forward to your thought provoking words of wisdom and self care. These should be put on Billboards across America. Thank you.
mark says
I am a resilient reed, my tip stuck in the mud, struggling at age 70 to find purpose after losing the love of my life last year.
Gracie says
To answer your question: I am a life-long work in progress!
And thank you for these inspiring questions.
Susan says
I am a successful, intelligent, and confident professional who is an inspiration to those around me, and a caring and loving mother who works hard to create a happy home environment for my children and family.
David says
Great questions to reflect on. What comes to mind in reference to your question, is a hymn that I learned many years ago.
“I am a stranger here within a foreign land, my home is far away upon a golden strand, ambassador to be of realms beyond the sea, I’m here on business for my king.” That’s me. Hugs.