“Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers.” – Tony Robbins
Do you often ask yourself questions like, “Why does this always happen to me” and “Why am I always doing everything wrong?” or “Why did he do that to me?” Now, do you honestly expect to get an empowering answer from these types of questions?
Questions are very powerful and can have a tremendous impact on your life, but like most things of great power they can harm you just as much as they can help you. Only when used wisely can the right question at the right time have the power to totally shift your perspective and literally transform your life.
Let me share with you 12 powerful questions that will ensure that you are on the path to success in life. I recommend that you be totally honest with yourself when you answer these questions. Take your time, you won’t regret it!
Life purpose
If I had all the time and money in the world what would I do?
This is a great question to help you articulate what you really care about and discover what your true life purpose is. What job would you do if you had unlimited time and resources?
What do I love so much that I would pay hard-earned money to do it?
Often where you spend your time and money holds clues to help you discover your life purpose. Is there anything in your life right now that you enjoy doing so much that you are paying/would pay to do it, and that at the same time could be of value to others?
How can I get paid to do what I love to do?
You definitely want to sleep on this question, as Confucius reminds us “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Think hard and find a way to get paid to do what you are passionate about! It’s worth the effort.
Happiness
Am I really happy?
Deep down you always know whether you are happy or not. If you hesitate when answering this question, perhaps you are not as happy as you would like to be.
What is the #1 thing I can start now that would have the most impact on my happiness?
Identify one thing you could do to increase your happiness and do it now.
If I were to die today what regrets would I have?
We often lose track of what really matters in life until a tragic event brings us back to reality. You don’t need to – and please do not – wait for such an event to remind you of what’s most important in life. Take some time and visualize yourself lying on your deathbed or at your own funeral. Get emotional and visual this scene down to the finest detail! Envisioning yourself dying is the best way to ensure you enjoy the present and live a life without regret.
Success
What does success really mean to me? If I were to write down a single sentence to describe success what would I write?
It is easy to buy into your family, friends or the media’s definition of success. Do not do this. You are not here on earth – in this life – to live up to anyone else’s expectations. It is YOUR job to define what success really means to you!
For me success is…
Goals
What would I do if I were guaranteed to succeed no matter what? What actions would I take to achieve my dream?
This question is very empowering because it will help you go beyond your “reality” which currently dictates to you what is possible or not possible. Remember that your beliefs are nothing more than your subjective interpretation of reality – not reality itself. It’s time to shake loose of your limiting beliefs and create a more empowering reality!
If I keep doing what I’ve been doing today will I achieve my goals?
Any goal without exception and regardless of its size is nothing more than a succession of tiny steps taken every day. If you are not taking those steps today, always assume that you won’t take them tomorrow either. Ask yourself this question on a daily basis and you WILL reach your goals.
Is my goal improving my present reality?
Your goals should excite you right now and improve your present reality. Don’t expect to discover happiness when you ultimately achieve them. It won’t happen, that feeling of delight will pass far quicker than you imagine. So, are your current goals inspiring you to jump out of the bed every morning? If not, change them! If previously inspiring goals cease to inspire you, drop them too.
How could I achieve my current goal if I had only 6 months? 3 months? 1 month? 1 week?
It’s a question that I like to ask myself on a regular basis. It is a fantastic way to assess whether or not you are taking enough action to achieve your specific goal. Furthermore it will increase your efficiency. If you are not careful you will get lost in trivial b.s. – I mean minutiae – that isn’t getting you to your destination. This question will get you to take massive action and put you back on track.
Productivity
Each time you do something, ask yourself: Is this really what I should be doing right now or is there something else that I could be doing that would have more impact on my work?
It is very easy to waste time doing unnecessary things or to procrastinate by doing tasks that are not essential. Make sure that you check often to see if what you are doing now is really what you should be doing. When it comes to procrastination, be aware that your mind can be very creative.
Keep this list of questions on hand by your bedside table and look at it often. This way when time really does come to take your last breath, the tears that run down your face will be tears of fulfillment and gratification rather than regret.