Well, I thought this would be an interesting way to help get the year off right… or not. I came across a blog called Marc and Angel Hack Life, a married couple that talks about finding positive outlooks on life. In a post titled 50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind, which they actually wrote in July 2009, then offered the 50 questions below as a way to, well, free your mind of worry, stress, whatever.
The funny thing is that they must have gotten overwhelmed at a certain point with the comments, about 200 of them, because Marc only wrote one response, though he addressed maybe 10 people in that response. They actually have a pretty cool site, so if you check out this particular post, you should see the new stuff they have to offer.
Anyway, I decided that I would take up the challenge and respond to the questions in my own way, which will probably be a mix of silly, serious and thought provoking because that’s just how I am. On their site, many people answered the questions in their comments while some others answered the questions on their own blogs, like I’m doing, and linked back. For those of you who always ask “where do you come up with ideas for blog posts”, this is one of those ways. Okay, let’s get this party started.
- How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
- Which is worse, failing or never trying?
- If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?
- When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?
- What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?
- If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
- Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?
- If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?
- To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?
- Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
- You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful and unjustified. What do you do?
- If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?
- Would you break the law to save a loved one?
- Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?
- What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
- How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?
- What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back?
- Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?
- If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?
- Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?
- Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?
- Why are you, you?
- Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?
- Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?
- What are you most grateful for?
- Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?
- Is it possible to know the truth without challenging it first?
- Has your greatest fear ever come true?
- Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now?
- What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special?
- At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?
- If not now, then when?
- If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?
- Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?
- Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?
- Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?
- If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?
- Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?
- Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?
- When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?
- If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?
- Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?
- What is the difference between being alive and truly living?
- When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?
- If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?
- What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
- When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?
- What do you love? Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?
- In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday? What about the day before that? Or the day before that?
- Decisions are being made right now. The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?
I’d be as old as I was.
Never trying.
Because we’re not always in control of every aspect of our destiny.
Probably, with all the writing I do.
I wish we were all nicer and more cordial to each other.
Writing, although I might expand it to musical composition and lyric writing.
I’m pretty much doing what I believe in, though I wouldn’t be depressed if it paid better.
I wouldn’t be here so I guess I wouldn’t be living my life at all.
I became a sole entrepreneur 10 years ago so I’d have more control over my destiny.
Doing things right because doing the right thing seems to come naturally to me.
I speak up very quickly so they’ll stop embarrassing themselves and I don’t have to leave, though I might. Then again, people I admire would know better.
Live life the best you can.
In a heartbeat.
If seeing how an artist creates a painting, then yes.
Make sure the frosting on my cake is to the left before I start eating it.
Because we’re all individuals and dance to the beat of a different drum.
Sing the National Anthem at a baseball game. I stopped singing in 1999, so it’s an impractical wish now.
Probably, but I’m not always the “letting go” type.
I’m living exactly where I want to live. I’ll say New Mexico because I’ve never been there and hope they have a lake nearby.
No.
Worried genius; they eventually accomplish something.
Because I’m good at it.
Pretty close to it. I don’t talk to any of my friends as often as I probably should but I’m easy to reach.
Losing touch with a good friend near you because these days you can always keep in touch with good friends if they move away.
That chocolate is amazing.
Ah, the Alzheimer question; I’d rather never be able to make new ones I suppose.
Yes; I know no one comes back from dying, so I’d rather not try to prove it incorrect.
No; I hope I have 50+ more years before it even thinks about it.
Actually I do, and no, it doesn’t matter but I still can’t forget it.
The day my dad surprised us by coming back from Vietnam early, although he was in a half body cast. I think the answer to the first answers the second.
I don’t have any moments in my recent past; now that’s a shame.
Soon.
Nothing; still have to figure out how to achieve it.
No.
Because religions don’t support love; they support themselves.
Unfortunately no, because people grow up in different environments. Yes. More work I actually enjoy doing. Yes. Five years ago when I created a website that, to date, hasn’t really worked for me. No one; that would be too depressing to deal with. Not at this stage of my life. We’re all alive; truly living is when you’re enjoying it. When you’ve reached that point when you realize you’re ready to take your shot at it. Because it’s a misnomer that we all learn from our mistakes. We only learn from some of them; others are just nuisances that distract us. Nothing. Anything I did differently I’d deserve to be judged on. This morning as I was trying to sleep. Since the question is “what” rather than “who”, I’d have to say nothing, and thus no to the second question. Depends on what it is I did. I tend to remember dates of things that made enough of an impression for me to remember. Great final question. Being truthful, I’d have to say others are making the decisions for me instead of my being in control as much as I’d like to be. Such is the life of a consultant. 24 thoughts on “50 Questions To Free My Mind”Comments are closed. Blogging, Social Media, Writing, Motivation and General Stuff |
Hi Mitch and a Happy New Year to you and yours.
What a funny article! But before I come with my input, I must admit that I’ve spent more time on your “Comment Policy” and linked articles than on this one.
Excellent and thoughtful work, that I would have liked to comment, but you have closed for more comments.
I will instead make a contribution here, a mixture of own answers and questions for you; it’s up to you if you can find head and tail of it.
Let’s give it a try:
6. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
My answer: I will not try to tell, or you will most likely delete this comment right now 😀
12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?
My answer: Start running!
27. Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first?
Yes; I know no one comes back from dying, so I’d rather not try to prove it incorrect.
My answer: Absolutely hilarious answer! Thank you – I’ll save it, and hope I get the opportunity to use it some day!
40. When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?
Five years ago when I created a website that, to date, hasn’t really worked for me.
My answer: Would that be this one? It seems fine to me. Not getting enough readers? Or…?
4. When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?
Probably, with all the writing I do.
I’ve purposely saved number 4 till the end.
Your answer is excellent, and although the issue is about speaking, it reminded me of a somewhat similar short text, I found recently.
You maybe know it already; if not, I think you will like it.
Please allow me to link to it at my blog.
(http://www.buildinganonline.com/meeting-dream-2750/)
Regards,
Michael
Thanks Michael, and what a wonderful comment! Actually, I have a few websites, and one in particular, not this one, has never done what I had hoped. I had a great vision when I initially created it, but at this juncture it pretty much just sits there doing a lot of nothing, and I’m not even sure anymore what I want it to do for me; that’s a major shame.
I like your answer at #6; I thought about going that route. As for #12, well, I don’t want to scare the baby. 🙂
Mitch,
Delete this after reading!
Your upper left “Check This Out” button leads to an error!
Regards,
Michael
Man Michael, do you know how long I’ve had that sucker up there and you’re the first person to tell me that? Ugh! lol Thanks for the heads up!
Some are both visitors and commentators. Others are just commentators 😉 😀
M
Well Michael, I hope the bad code didn’t deter you from checking it out again. lol
I see you’ve sold the problem 😉 🙂
I’ll be back when I think I can contribute something meaningful.
🙂
M
http://images.psxextreme.com/wallpapers/ps3/terminator_2___ill_be_back_1245.jpg
What a great list of questions. Love your answers. Amen to number five! I don’t think we csn have too much niceness. I have to believe you walk away from answering those with a more purposeful view of life if if you were pretty much there already. FYI I nominated you for a Versatile Blogger Award cause I love all the topics you cover here. Always interesting. 🙂 Happy New Year!!
Thanks Melinda; I saw that, but I can’t think of 15 people so I’m going to pass on participation. Actually, I passed on it quite a few times last year; I’ll just say I love all of y’all! lol As for the questions I love stuff like that, but I’m someone who’s spent lots of time thinking about myself & my actions, which a lot of people are scared to do I believe, so for the most part I didn’t learn much new. But there were a couple of questions, like #19, which was hard to answer, and numbers 40, 48 & 50 that are still making me think more about what I’m doing these days, that were really intriguing.
And an interesting article again! Such a nice collection of questions. They really made me thinking, I just want to answer all of them. But not so quickly, I have to think about the answers. And I want my family to do it, too:)
Go for it Cindy; you might surprise yourself by some of your responses.
I’ve learned a lot more about you and your personality from this article, Mitch. I think the idea is really amazing.
You know, Mitch very often we refer to destiny, karma, good and bad. It sounds a bit crazy and honestly I am not sure why reading your article is leading to this, but major part of quantum physics theories, even Einstein relativity plus “String Theory” supports the idea, that almost everything is predetermined at the moment of “Big Bang”. However to be good or bad most likely depends on us.
Carl, I’m not sure string theory supports predetermination as much as the possibility that other dimensions will have someone like you that’s doing something else. I’d hate the idea that everything was already predetermined; can you imagine what life would be if we all knew what we were destined to be? Ugh; not me! lol I believe that there are sets of questions like these that can help people gain clarity and, if need be, help them change directions and improve their lives. It’s for that reason that I do these things here every once in awhile, and then point people to where they can get more.
To be honestly, I also don’t like the idea that things are predetermined, well this is just theoretical physics and I am sure that everybody appreciate your article. Honestly, your thoughts have be very useful for me since the time I’ve started reading your blog. Some random thought, I’ve also tried to answer questions for myself yesterday, but another thought came into my mind this morning, I think that, if I’ve been asked same questions probably 2 years ago, my answers would be very different and most questions.
Carl, I think that’s the point with questions like this. Unless every question asks something that has only one perfect answer, every time you look at them they probably will change in some way. Not all of them, but if there’s a question that supposedly could have a positive outcome that you did something to change, then that’s a good thing.
Thank you for sharing your Self with us. I’ll do a similar post on my blog.
I follow a number of commentluv blogs. I can tell that yours is one of the better quality blogs that I’ve found so far.
So… did these questions free your mind, Mitch? They’re great answers you’ve given and it’s good to see your answers. The only one I’ll answer right now (or ever, maybe, lol!) is #12 and it’d be “Drink the milk!”
Have a happy 2012 and may it bring all you want and need. 🙂
I love that answer Val, “drink the milk”. lol Then again, I’m thinking that’s one you wouldn’t have to tell babies. Actually I can’t say it freed my mind at all because it made me think instead. It also got me thinking just what kinds of questions could there be that really frees one’s mind. I don’t have an answer for that one I’m afraid.
I loved your answers. Some made me laugh out loud and others had me doing some deep thinking. I have been subscribed to this page (Marc and Angel’s) for about a year and I love it for the most part.
Thanks Allison. It looks like their site definitely would make you become quite introspective; not sure a lot of people could handle that on a consistent basis, though it looks pretty cool.
Excellent and thoughtful work
that is a great list of questions i’m gonna write them to me and answer too 🙂
Great list of question to examine ourselves..
excellent post!
Fifty very important questions to ask yourself if you want to know your life, I would certainly agree. Especially, of course, the fiftieth one. People should always try to be in control of their own lives, but it’s good that you can admit that at the moment the decisions aren’t yours rather than being fooled by some illusion of false control.
Good point on that last one, Jan. It is easy to be fooled into thinking you have more control than you do; it’s one I struggle with often enough, working on my own.