Right now as I am writing this article I am sitting at Panera the person to my left is taking an online exam of what seems like an endless amount of questions. The individual to my right is preparing for another exam that is going to be filled with questions she doesn’t know yet but has to prepare. It’s odd to me how I learned to prepare and learn the art of answering questions for school but didn’t realize the power of questions in my own life, asking the right ones and finding out how to answer them. Questions are considered the foundation point of all knowledge cause the question drives the individual to seek the information, which might lead to other questions or help find the truth.
A couple of years ago I read a great book by John Miller called the Question behind the question. It was a simple book on how asking the right questions can change how you look at situations and life. The main theme of the book is that people ask themselves the wrong questions and get the wrong answers. The mind is such a powerful tool that whatever questions you ask yourself your brain will go out and seek the answer.
Example in point: Have you ever heard a song and one of your friends asks who is the person who sings that song? You know that you know the answer but can’t recall it but you do later on. “Ohh that was by Frank Sinatra” What has been explained to me is that the question goes into your subconscious brain and starts scanning all the files that you have in your brain to find the correct answer.
When I heard this information I realized that I had been asking myself wrong questions and getting the wrong answers and leading to wrong actions that led to wrong results. An example of the wrong questions that leads to the wrong answers: “What’s wrong with me? “ The only plausible answers for this question are going to be self-defeating answers; “I don’t have the smarts”; “I am not as sharp”. I am not saying that there isn’t room for improvement in certain situations but more often than not people ask themselves self-defeating questions.
Types of Questions to ask yourself:
1. Direct the questions inward; because the main focus of these questions must be you.
2. Only ask What and How Questions directed inwards that can actually give you the answers you are looking for
a. E.g. don’t ask yourself questions : How come I suck at making money? ; the only answers you will get are limiting answers.
i. How to rephrase that question would be “How can I improve my ability to make money?” or “What can I learn that will help me make more money?”
These are just a couple of tips that should help you in your journey of asking yourself the right questions.
I have attached a great website from the author of Question behind the Question; John Miller. The book he has written helped me ask the right questions and it’s a fun read if you are interested in finding a good book on the subject.
http://www.qbq.com
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