Questioning, Thinking and Questioning Some More
Today, I'm taking action on an idea that caught my imagination. I was listening to a discussion on a podcast where the host posed a challenge. I must add that the host did not pose the challenge to anyone listening, but I thought I would take it on all the same.
“the seemingly never-ending string of "Why?" questions”
I am fascinated by how our minds and bodies work and the interconnectedness of the two. We can bring about feelings of joy and delight, or annoyance and anger with a simple thought.
Our thinking can spur us into action or cause us to procrastinate, or even freeze in terror (some might even say that this is a form of action). I am curious about the benefits or harms of sustained thoughts of any kind. What is the impact on our minds, our bodies, those around us? Most importantly, how does our thinking affect our view of the world and determine what we do.
Children are so inquisitive. If you've spent time speaking with a young child, you'll notice how curious they are - the seemingly never-ending string of "Why?" questions. It's through their questions that they come to understand themselves and the world. Their questions can be quite simple but can baffle the unprepared recipient.
I love simple ideas, but I also have a particular affinity for the complicated. I do my utmost to visualise the subject at hand. I'll often state that if someone can present the matter in pictorial form, I'll understand it.
“we are beings with similar needs, wants, thoughts, feelings, motivations, and desires.”
I find it amazing how a complicated problem can be solved through creative thinking and questioning. Take, for instance, reusable rockets , GPS, lasers, or even serpentine walls. None of these or any other advancements would have been possible without creative thinking and questioning what is possible.
At times, I find myself looking at an everyday object and thinking about the process that brought the item to fruition. The thoughts, questions, discussions, the people involved with the project. When I look from a personal perspective, I recognise that we are beings with similar needs, wants, thoughts, feelings, motivations, and desires.
Questions help us grow and hopefully better understand and make sense of ourselves, others, and the world. Why do we do what we do? For what benefit? How do we decide what we should say or do? How do we best handle unexpected outcomes? How do we best plan for the unexpected when we do not know what is to be unpredictable in the first place?
You've probably heard it many times already - we're living in a period of immense uncertainty and upheaval. Some of us will see this time through the prism of fear and anxiety, while others will see opportunity - especially for learning, growth, and renewal. There are times when I feel a little uneasy about what will happen, but it's not often or for long. That said, I'm doing what I can to learn and grow.
What this means for me is that I question - my thinking, ideas, and views. I want to share them with you. Each day I'll post a question, a thought, or idea - no explanation, no preamble. Make of it what you will. I'm not necessarily looking for answers to the questions or the thoughts posed. That's not the point of this exercise.
In the first instance, the objective is to be as open as possible. I'll be sharing my thoughts - mundane, challenging, innocuous, mischievous - whatever comes up for me. I want to think that some of the questions resonate with you somehow.
If they do, then explore them more deeply for yourself. I encourage you to question your beliefs about you and your perspective of yourself, others, and the world around you.
So let’s begin; here’s the first question:
What thought or action, that if I changed it, would most positively impact me?
