Provocative Questions for Yourself
Many of us need a good shake-up from time to time to tear ourselves away from a semi-automatic, routine state. The list of provocative questions below is sobering and allows you to look at your life from different angles, become a little more mindful, understand what is important, where opportunities are hidden, and much more. There are no single “correct” answers to them, and not all can be answered immediately. But the very search for answers will help you know yourself and your needs, reflecting on what often remains out of sight.
- What will people say at your funeral? And who will be attending?
- Which of your habits stand between you and happiness?
- You are standing at the gates of heaven, and they ask you: “Why should we let you in?” How would you answer?
- If you lost everything today, how would you act? To whom would you turn for help? How would your actions and habits change?
- Are there people who mean a great deal to you? When was the last time you told them?
- What would you change in your life if you knew you would never get sick and never die?
- You have a million dollars, but today is the last day of your life. What do you do?
- How would you describe yourself in five words?
- What are the chances that you have already missed something important that you will regret for the rest of your life?
- What conclusions could be drawn from this?
- If you could be guaranteed to possess three skills right now, what would they be? Most importantly — why?
- If you could be guaranteed to get rid of three habits, which ones? How do they hinder you today and why haven’t you gotten rid of them yet?
- If you could relive three moments from the past, which ones? What is special about them?
- If you knew how to find an approach to and influence every person in the world, what would your path to success look like? What would you achieve and how?
- What is the first thought that comes to mind when you encounter a very difficult problem or failure?
- Do you believe that your anger, irritation, and rage are solely your fault?
- How many hobbies did you have five years ago and how many do you have now? If there is a difference, what is the reason?
- What are the three main events of your life? You made three key decisions and now live completely differently than you could have. Why did you do it and are you happy with the choice?
- What were you doing the last time you were so engaged that you lost track of time?
- Do you try to look for answers to life’s questions as they arise, or do you just let them go?
- Why are you motivated in the morning but lose motivation by evening? Conversely, what exactly were you doing when you wanted nothing in the morning but were full of enthusiasm by evening?
- If karma visited you, would it help or punish you? For what specifically and in what ways?
- What do you owe yourself?
- What do you owe your family and friends?
- When you think about the future—does it frighten or inspire you?
- Do you believe you should help yourself first or a person in need? In which specific cases?
- What makes you special?
- How many people do you truly love? What do you do for them and how often?
- Describe the best adventure of your life.
- Where would you like to live? Why haven’t you moved there yet?
- Do you believe more in logic or creative thinking?
- Whom do you admire and why?
- If you found out when and how you would die, how would your life change now?
- What is honor? Does it matter to you?
- Which is better: living ten years with excellent health or thirty years with mediocre health?
- If you didn’t waste any time from this moment forward, what would you achieve?
- Which areas of your life do you control?
- Are you more often inside your comfort zone or outside of it?
- Do you consider yourself a hero or a villain?
- Which scientists do you consider villains and why?
The philosopher Voltaire urged us to judge a person by the questions they ask. This is good and sound advice because through questions one can learn much: from the ability to get to the heart of things to personal priorities. Learn to ask the right questions, including to yourself—it is also a kind of art. Constantly ask yourself why something happened and how to solve a particular problem.