In a speech he gave at a Stanford University Graduation Ceremony, Steve Jobs told the graduating class that every day he looks into the mirror and ask himself a question.
And here is the question he asks;
“If today were the last day of your life, would you want to be doing what you’re doing?”
Steve Jobs isn’t the only successful person who has done this, many others have asked themselves questions.
I know you may say; but people ask themselves questions every day.
You are right about because this is not something reserved just for the successful ones.
Everyone asks themselves questions, even the not so successful individuals.
But what sets them apart?
What set them apart is the way they do the asking.
There is something the way successful people ask themselves questions.
They ask intentional questions every other day.
They have become more aware of the questions their souls need to find answers for.
Here is the thing
How you ask yourself questions can give you power or can take away your power?
Questions you ask yourself at the cross roads somewhat determines how you will proceed from there.
You have heard people who are onto something being interviewed, normally they would say things like,
“Beyond this, I asked myself is there more to life?”
Think of recovering addicts or people who have slipped into temptations that cost them a great deal, normally they had to stop at their tracks and ask themselves
“is this how I want to live my life?”
People who have changed their jobs and started a business often say,
“….and I asked myself does this job fit my purpose?”.
And these are what I call power questions.
The real reason for asking ourselves questions should NOT be to diminish yourself, nor to condemn yourself.
There is enough negativity around the world, don’t add onto that population of diminishers, do not ask questions that fuel self-doubt.
Run away from questions that will only live you feeling empty,
Questions like why me?
Why I am I such a failure? (normally asked with a tone of attitude towards yourself)
What do this types of question do to you?
- These questions make you blame yourself.
- They will make you feel less deserving and breed fear. When you are fearful you stop trying.
- They will rain down your parade down
- These questions are traumatic soul vampires, they will suck energy out of you until your soul is anemic.
It is easy to fall into the trap of the questions; the ones that validate negative thoughts.
But the truth is, if we are to do something that counts we have to nip such questions in the bud and learn to ask ourselves the right questions, the ones that are empowering.
We have to learn to ask questions without having attack ourselves.
And these questions make all the difference.
You cannot afford to go through life without asking intentional questions, without taking stock of yourself.
I think of the following as power questions
- What am I here for?
- What are the things I can do better in my life?
- What decisions must I make and which one must I stop making?
- What is the most important single thing I can do today?
- What is the best way to spend my resources today?
- What are am I passionate about?
Katrina Mayer said it right, “often the best gift you can give to yourself is time alone, some time to ask yourselves questions and listen quietly for answers.”
If you were to sit silently somewhere in the corner, or better still in the bush, what questions would you ask yourself? Share with us at in the comments section.