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50 Deep Questions To Ask Yourself
by MindJournal - 6 min read
How well do you know yourself? Like, really know yourself.
Sure, you can probably name your favourite show, the foods you hate, even your dream job. But these barely scratch the surface of who you are as a person.
True self-reflection is nothing short of a superpower. It can help you clarify your values, focus your mind and give you the tools to grow and develop.
Research has even shown that spending just 15 minutes a day reflecting can improve your overall performance by 23%.
With that in mind, here are a handful of questions to ask yourself. You may want to answer them in your head, think out loud or use your journal to record your answers, so you can refer to them down the line and see how far you’ve come.
Questions To Ask Yourself About Life
Without getting bogged down in science, the Law of Cause and Effect states that if you put out good thoughts, and follow them up with good actions, you will receive good things. Sounds simple enough, but it can be hard to know where to start. That’s where these questions about life come in.
- What would I do with my life if there were no limits?
- Am I taking anything for granted?
- What matters most to me in my life?
- The words I’d like to live by are…
- What lesson did I learn the hard way?
Questions To Ask Yourself About Happiness
We’re going to let you in on a secret. Often it’s not the answer to the question that matters most. What matters is the process of understanding who you are as a person and what you want. That’s why now is a good time not to judge yourself for whatever you write.
- How important is my own happiness?
- What’s one everyday thing that makes me smile?
- I feel my best when I am…
- What’s standing in the way of me and happiness?
- What are the main components of a happy life?
Questions To Ask Yourself About Personal Growth
Some say life is a marathon, not a sprint. In reality, it’s more like the 400m hurdles. Sporting analogies aside, remember that no one is born knowing how to overcome the obstacles in front of them. You have to learn. Focusing on personal growth is how you do it.
- Have I found my life’s purpose yet?
- The one thing I’d like to learn more about is…
- What is my greatest challenge?
- What ways can I better my life in the next month?
- What’s the next big step I need to take?
Questions To Ask Yourself About Relationships
Self-awareness isn’t only about how you see yourself. Our values, behaviours, aspirations and feelings also have an effect on how others view us. Analysing your relationships is a great way to ensure you’re the best you that you can be for those around you.
- Am I putting enough effort into my relationships?
- Who has had the greatest impact on my life?
- What type of friend do I want to be?
- The nicest thing someone has said to me is…
- Am I a good example for those around me?
Questions To Ask Yourself About Emotions
There’s no set path to take when it comes to self-improvement. Nor standardised steps to nail it first time. That said, if it makes you feel just the slightest bit awkward (in a good way, like these emotional awareness questions will), chances are you’re doing something right.
- What relaxes me when I’m feeling stressed?
- Is crying a sign of weakness or strength?
- How comfortable am I with saying “no” to things?
- Do I embrace or avoid how I’m feeling?
- An emotion I would like more control of is…
Questions To Ask Yourself About Work
Many people spend a large portion of their day at work. That’s why it’s important not to see the 9-5 as a negative aspect of life and the rest as a positive one. These questions will help you change your perspective.
- What type of employee am I?
- Do I make the most of my time at work?
- What motivates you every day?
- How do I define success?
- What makes me proud of my work?
Questions To Ask Yourself About Self Love
There’s one person you spend more time with than anyone else: yourself. Therefore it makes sense that you have a good relationship with, well, you. We’re not saying you shouldn’t hype up your friends, but don’t forget to give yourself a high five every now and then.
- What’s the best part of being me?
- What’s one thing I can do to take care of myself?
- I enjoy my own company because…
- What are my top five personal values?
- Do I give myself the best start to each day?
Questions To Ask Yourself To Dig Deep
You may be the one asking the questions, but you’re also the one with the answers. All you have to do is take your time and dig deep. Save these questions for when you’re ready to do the work of getting to know yourself better.
- What gets me excited about life?
- What’s the difference between settling and accepting?
- Is there such a thing as perfect?
- The three questions I wish I knew the answer to are…
- Which is worse: failing or never trying?
Questions To Ask Yourself About The Past
If you want to be the best version of yourself in the present, you need to think about your past. How have you become the you today? Have you fulfilled the dreams you had? What have you learnt that you can take forward into the future? Take a moment of your time and think things through.
- How could you look at something you regret differently?
- If I could talk to my younger self, I would say…
- When did I last step out of my comfort zone?
- Am I a better person today than I was a year ago?
- If I could re-live one day, I would pick…
Questions To Ask Yourself About The Future
Once you ask yourself the right questions, you’ll get the answers to take you from where you are now to where you want to be. There’s no such thing as a crystal ball, but deciding what you want the future to look like is a good way to make it happen.
- What’s one thing I want to make happen in the next year?
- What would my ideal day look like in five years?
- What worries me most about the future?
- What habits do I want future me to have?
- What small thing can I start today that will benefit me later?
Keep In Mind
It’s easy to zip-wire through life without ever stopping to pay attention to our thoughts and feelings or how our habits and values impact our day-to-day. Now is a great time to pick a handful of these questions to ask yourself over the coming weeks.
