Our ability to ask questions is perhaps the central element that distinguishes human from animal cognitive abilities. Questions can be amazing, poetic learning tools. Deep inquiry and reflection can change not just the coordinates of the terrain we are traversing, it can also change the axis upon which the coordinates are laid.
Our questions have turned the world from flat to round, the moon from cheese to our next holiday destination, the dream of flight to soaring around the globe with air miles to spare. Our questions about space have only just begun. Closer to home, our questions about our bodies and minds have brought about better nutrition and understanding of the brain and mental health.
Philosophically, spiritually and creatively, questions allow us to unfold the new within the old, and find treasure in familiar places. Good questions astringe reality and make our lives crisper, clearer and nourish our individual and collective evolution
As children we pondered a gazillion questions a day, often times irritating or flummoxing our parents and teachers. I remember sometimes my questions would take the form of huge feelings that would arise while watching the billowing clouds roll by, or chewing on some sugar cane. If you were to have seen me in those moments, you would have thought that I was frozen in time.
My questions did not follow a linear, logical rhythm. Instead, they were borne of daydreams and life colliding into each other, spewing forth a myriad of possibilities. Questions and answers were not placed in a hierarchy where answers were the final destination. Answers were not better or more satisfying than questions. For me, questions opened doors to the world with a loving nudge.
I do not think I have ever run across a bad question. I may not have liked some questions (or the questioner), but the questions by themselves have always been neutral, like trusty road signs.
Here’s the thing: as we move through our daily lives could we be asking more questions? Better questions?
Do we dare ask the deep questions that change not only the map, but also the mapmaker? Are there questions that you want to ask your spouse, your child or your boss? Are there questions about your health, your desires or your soul that are waiting for your personal attention and contemplation?
If ever there was a good time for game changing questions, now is that time. It starts at ground zero, right here – with us. And that is a good thing.
What would you consider game changing questions?
Here are a few of mine:
1 Do you question your assumptions?
2 What would you love to do?
3 Could you love more, better, truer?
4 What would you transform for the better?
5 What would you do if you ruled the world?
6 Do you matter in the grand scheme of life? If so, why?
7 How would you rate your emotional, physical, mental or spiritual well being?
8 A life without fear… what would that be like?
9 What future do you belong to?
Our talent for inquiry knows no bounds. There is no reason to hold back on asking ourselves, others or the universe our most imaginative questions.
Have fun asking the great questions and the silly ones. And don’t forget — you can always send a few questions my way! We can work on puzzling them out together.