I think of the mind as a big problem solving organ. Its main function is to answer questions throughout the day. In fact, it is asking questions all the time. Simple questions such as: What should I wear? What lane should I drive in? How fast should I go? Where should I park? What should I do? When is the appointment? As well, it is answering more challenging questions – often about relationships, career, major changes and opportunities, even the purpose or meaning of life.
The thing is that, we are asking and answering questions all the time and the quality of our lives are very much related to the quality of the questions we ask.
If I ask: What do I appreciate in my life? I immediately begin a process at both the conscious and unconscious level. I will search for an answer and if one is not available, I will invent an answer. Nevertheless, an answer that I created is identified and I relate to the answer because I created it. If the question is about a feeling, I will necessarily feel that emotion. “Answer: I appreciate my family, I appreciate my health, this country, my friends, my care etc” AND as I answer the question, I begin to feel appreciation.
In the above example, the things we appreciate are less important than the FEELING of appreciation.
So if I want to feel happy, joyous, excited, enthusiastic, courageous, strong, playful, confident or any other positive feeling, all I have to do is ask a question that will presuppose the desired answer.
Conversely, if I ask myself: Why do I suck at a task? I will answer this question too and in so doing, I will begin to support a belief that I suck. If I repeat this kind of NEGATIVE question over and over again, even unconsciously, I may begin to convince myself that I indeed suck.
“If you think you can – you can. If you think you cannot, you’re right” – Henry Ford
It seems that the mind does not filter the questions it will answer. It seems to answer ANYTHING I ask of it – positive or negative.
So the KEY is to prepare well-formed questions first. Then repeat asking only the desired questions.
“What is the question that I can ask which by the very nature of the presuppositions in the question itself will cause me to make the greatest amount of change by having to accept the presuppositions inherent in the questions?” – Tad James
So what else can I learn? that’s a good question.