Boost Your Bottom Line by Asking Powerful Questions

Copyright ? 2005 Kathy Paauw

"He who asks questions cannot avoid the answers."
-African Proverb

Powerful questions yield powerful answers. Here's an example...

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My beloved grandson, the battle inside every person is between two wolves. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, false pride, and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?" The old Cherokee gently grasped the boy's shoulder and replied, "The one you feed."

Are you getting the results you want in your life? Do the questions you ask get to the bottom line?

Last December I wrote an article called The Power of Personal Accountability. In the article, I mentioned that asking the right questions can help us find the right answers. After publishing this article, one of my subscribers -- Lee Wise -- sent me a list of powerful inquiries he wrote. Lee has graciously given me permission to share them with you.

There is great power in asking a good question, especially when asked in the form of an inquiry. (An inquiry is a question you ask over and over, that does not necessarily have one "right" answer.) The potential for meaningful change may lie before you in the form of your own seriously considered answer to a selected question. Any one response to any of these questions can have a powerful impact on your life.

Here are Lee's questions...

19 GOOD QUESTIONS FOR LIVING THE GOOD LIFE
(Asking Just The Right Question To Get Just What You Desire)
? Lee Wise All rights reserved.
http://abeautifulmomentintime.blogspot.com

What one small thing is holding me back from doing my best today?

What one small thing is hindering me from becoming the person I be could be today in one area of my life?

What action could I take today to brighten someone's world? (Key: make it simple, doable, and even fun!)

How can I double my value as a ___________ this year? *As a... husband, father, employee, friend, etc. Suggestion: ask this question many, many times.

Where should I influence my world in a positive way?

Are negative thinking patterns eating away my potential in any area of my life -- no matter how small?

Am I saying "I can't" when I should be saying "I can" or "I must!" anywhere in my life?

My greatest area of tension at work or home right now is ____. How could I improve just 10% in this area?

What positive discipline have I let slip lately? What price am I paying for this slip?

Where can I, or should I, make a positive difference?

If I took a thirty second "happy memory break" right now, what would I remember?

How can I schedule a small break in my life -- just enough to be refreshed and recharged a bit?

What untapped potential could I bring to my world?

Am I learning what I need to learn?

Are my associations making me or breaking me?

Who is challenging me or inspiring me right now? Who could?

Should I procrastinate on anything, or set aside anything, that is not important for what is most important?

Is there anything I should stop doing?

Am I out of balance anywhere in terms of striving to perform? Am I seeking a standard of excellence in the right way, for the right reasons?

Use these strategies to get the best results...

Pay attention to your initial feelings about an inquiry you read.

Should you notice a "first impression answer" that ushers in a sense of excitement, challenge -- or a deep sense of "I should do this" -- be sure to slow down your internal speed of life and park there a moment or two.

Repeating a question over and over sets in motion an on-going search to discover just the right answer for you.

Consider recording your thoughts in a journal.

Enjoy the process!

For additional reading about the power of asking the right questions, visit our article The Power of Personal Accountability at the link below.
http://www.orgcoach.net/newsletter/dec2004.html

About the Author:
Wouldn?t you love to stumble upon a secret library of ideas to help you de-clutter your life so you can focus on what?s most important? Kathy Paauw offers simple, yet powerful ideas, on how to manage your time, space, and thoughts for a more productive and fulfilling life. Visit http://www.orgcoach.net.
Kathy Paauw helps busy executives professionals and entrepreneurs de-clutter their schedules spaces and minds so they can focus on whats most important. She is an organizing productivity consultant certified professional personal coach and speaker. Contact her or visit her website at http:www.orgcoach.net or contact her at kathy@orgcoach.net and learn how you can find anything you file or store in 5 secondsguaranteed! 

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Just Words - Part 4 - Words Are Powerful!

Words are made of choice. They can inspire or they can discourage. Words can build you up or they can tear you down. They can induce faith & they can indulge fantasy. The words you choose to think, speak, and hear - along with the perceptions or feelings you associate with those words - are completely up to you. Your choice.
Words are powerful stuff. Not only due to the definitions that support the words we choose to use, but more so the way we choose to perceive the impact words have on us. When we read or hear "it's going to rain today
", each of us in our own minds have a constant, almost subconscious (but not quite), "self talk" regarding what those words mean. We know what rain is and when it's going to happen, but we also consider the way those words in that order make us feel. We consider and perceive raining as either a good or bad thing. Some of us consider rain the exact way when it's mentioned: either we love it, hate it, or just don't care. Some of us alter the perception each time - and base it on how we are feeling the moment we are considering it: "It's going to rain today... " What does that mean to me? How does that make me feel?
"When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail."
This is one of my favorite Chinese proverbs. I believe it to mean: if you feel bad, you will take it out on everything around you - wanting to hit everything with your hammer. All you have is a hammer. Hammers hit nails. The harder you hit the nail with your hammer the more productive you are in driving the nail. Driving the nail feels good, bringing a sense of accomplishment... and all you have is a hammer!
A hammer is certain in my mind. By definition I know what a hammer is. I can see it in my mind when I hear the word. I understand it's purpose as a tool. But consider not knowing what a hammer was. Or not ever been shown a nail. If in your mind you defined a hammer as being - I mean really thought a hammer was - soft, warm, fuzzy and squishy for example, and a nail was like candy, the words "when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail" would have a completely different meaning to you. Obviously. As it would raise a different feeling.
The point I am trying to convey is you can choose YOUR hammer. It doesn't have to be ALL you have! Everything is not a nail, even if that's all you can see. You dictate the tools you use in your life, your perceptions, and whatever you have - be it positive, negative, or null - you will still have "nails" to hit. =)
Your experience is your choice. Simple.

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Just Words - Part 2/3 - Human Consciousness Is Powerful Stuff!

The most brilliant part of life is that I am most happy when you are here with me. Not necessarily physically standing in my presence, but more so in a mental state of happiness and peace: being kind, giving, and appreciative in and for your life.

I hate stopping off at the carry-out late at night and having to be in the presence of that woman who is miserable and dramatizing about other people she has dealt with. Hopeless and hating the world... "blah".

I love it when you are happy and loving your life!

Sometimes, however, I have a hard time in dealing with living in a world where "blah" seems to be the convenient life style those loved ones I choose to be around tend to accept. I pray that you consider what's so wrong with the smell of roses that drives you to get caught up with soccer practice, grocery shopping, deadlines, and mortgage payments to a level that makes you passive about the roses? THIS paradigm is the one I wish... pray that you find a way to change.

I challenge you to find a balance and love what you do! Whatever you are choosing to do... LOVE IT!

... and remember to notice the roses.

Human consciousness may very well be the most powerful force in the universe. The energy that is put out of you is truly awesome. Through your perceptions and actions you successfully manifest your situations every moment of every day. Good, bad, or indifferent your experience is yours... mine is mine.

Some people are lost in their lives. At least in the way they perceive their lives. It's kinda sad...

Years ago I was driving down Reynolds Rd. in Toledo, Oh. when I noticed a groundhog (apparently lost) under the U.S. 80/90 viaduct, crossing my lane. I stopped. Stan (by which I have come to call the groundhog) made eye contact with me then walked in front of my car. As he reached the end of my lane he looked to his left, his right, and left again - as if he were checking for traffic. A car drove past and Stan watched the car drive by, made eye contact with me again, and proceeded to cross the median successfully. True story.

Stan is a groundhog. I don't believe he is aware of the world as I am. I don't think he and I had a secret conversation beyond my ability to realize. He probably didn't comprehend that eye contact was even established. Or remember it. However I do believe his energy was drawn to me. Eye contact was undoubtedly established. Twice.

Now consider this:

I could have not been in tune at that moment, hit Stan with my car, and the rest of the day (along with the memory) would have been a bad experience. Most likely while driving the remainder of my travels that summer day I would have been uncomfortable. Disgusted even. I would have had to clean my car, and maybe even pay for some repairs. But I noticed Stan, didn't hit him with my car, and the experience has stayed with me as a pleasant memory. In fact this experience has helped me understand my perception of life. I believe each of us has the powerful ability to shape our experiences, and we all can process every situation in our minds to our liking; good, bad, or indifferent.

The trick is to constantly dictate in our minds our perceptions as being positive.

Easier said than done, I know.

Your life. Your perception. Make the most of it!

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