Asking Great Questions

Writing, for me, is a pathway. It helps me access my own inner wisdom when I need some advice. When I ask myself good questions, I get good results. So today I am advocating that we all become better at asking questions.

When you trust yourself, you ask questions that presuppose that you’ll receive good responses. Which is why one of my favorite questions is: how can I improve this?

This question, which speaks to my problem solving nature, is infinitely better than asking, what’s wrong here? That was a question I used to ask, on the regular, as to each situation I found myself. I prided myself on spotting what seemed off, and then fixing it.

Now that I am more aware of my thoughts, I choose better questions. I choose questions that presuppose that all is well. But that also say, it could get better.

Asking yourself, how could I improve this situation is a powerful way to re-see the present moment as good, or acceptable, but to prime the mind to expect it to get even better.

I have used this one question to help me find my next step on big projects. I have used this question to check in with myself before I launch an email, a newsletter, or a blog post. I pause and see where my eyes wander or if I notice anything particular. I see what improvements could be made there, and I make them.

This one question plays into my perfectionist tendencies, but in a positive way. It lets me improve my work product, but it also helps me to see that there are always improvements that could be made. I get to choose when my improving has become enough.

I trust my inner guidance on enoughness. When I feel a pull to improve something, I do that. And when I sense enoughness, I stop. It’s a balancing act I am learning that helps me hit publish, without overthinking,

I trust my inner guidance on enoughness.

I also love this question for difficult conversations, conflicts, and negative life events. Asking myself what I can do to improve a situation helps me move away from negativity, and into a more positive frame of mind. It helps me see solutions without having to turn my attention to problems.

If you want to incorporate this practice into your day, take any situation that’s bothering you and ask, how can I improve it? Let your mind wander a bit and then take out a piece of paper and begin to write. Empty yourself of every idea that comes to you. Then, pick one item from the list that holds the most promise and act on it.

Where can you begin to look for solutions? Where can you make one of your creations even better? Where can you ask a really good question and see really good results?