Today I thought I would share this useful and simple approach to solving any problem or challenge that you might be going through.
It focusses on asking yourself 5 key questions. And the way these questions are phrased is quite important as it will set yourself up for the answer.
So here goes….
1) What is great about this?
This presupposes that there is something good about what you are experiencing. Let’s say that you have a problem that you’re always tired. Well, what’s great about it? Well, you’ve figured out that you need to do something about it. It might even be that you recognise that by being tired you’re taking too much on and it’s alerting you to something before it becomes a health issue? Or it might be that it’s highlighting that you are going to be too late – or you really need a bit more support from somewhere.
2) What’s not perfect about it yet?
Again, this presupposes that at some point in the future things will be better and they will be perfect. It also forces you to think about where you need to make improvements. For example, what’s not perfect yet when it comes to you feeling tired all the time? It might be that your bedtime ritual could do with improvement, or you should stop watching TV or the internet 2 hrs before bed. Whatever it is, you’ll start to look for the solution with this question by focussing on what needs to change.
3) What am I willing to change, to make it the way I want to?
Again, this sets our thinking off into a path that will lead to solutions. You are saying that you understand that you need to make changes and that you are willing to – to make things better. So, carrying on with our example, it might be that you are willing to change from drinking any caffeine after 12pm, to drinking only herbal teas after mid-day.
4) What am I no longer willing to do, to make it the way I want to?
This is essentially saying that you’ll stop doing something. You might stop watching TV all together, or you might stop eating all that junk food. It could be anything, but this question forces you to acknowledge that you may have to give up something.
5) How can I make the changes I need to, and enjoy the process?
By asking “how”, you’ll start to come up with ideas. Maybe you need to start exercising to increase your energy levels and so you ask “how” and it tells you that you need to start some classes, or power walking to work. The important bit though is “enjoy the process” – it’s no good joining the gym to get fit and be more energised if you then don’t enjoy that process, as you’ll just quit very soon, or go into it half-hearted.
OK, so that’s it. Simple right? Just ask yourself these 5 questions whenever you have a challenge and let you minds come up with the answers.
- What is great about this?
- What’s not perfect about it yet?
- What am I willing to change, to make it the way I want to?
- What am I no longer willing to do, to make it the way I want to?
- How can I make the changes I need to, and enjoy the process?
The quality of the responses and solutions you get are in direct correlation to the quality of the questions and that’s what these 5 questions will give you. That quality question asking.
