Self-Questioning for Life Balance and Perspective

Last Updated on October 26, 2024 by Avia

Self-questioning is a practice everybody should do regularly – especially if things are unsteady. I ask myself questions all the time. It helps me focus. Asking questions for life balance keeps me on track. Many times I even get answers from my guides or from my deeper wisdom.

Francis Bacon once said, “A prudent question is one-half of wisdom.” I think that’s really true. It implies that by asking, we are still seeking wisdom, knowledge, and clarity. It also implies that through asking, we are searching for the truth. Essentially, asking is 1/2 of gaining wisdom, the other 1/2 is what comes from the question.

“A prudent question is one-half of wisdom.”
Francis Bacon

Which is More Important? The Question or the Answer?

What if you don’t get any answers? More times than not, asking questions for life balance reveals answers. It’s the act of inquiring that prompts natural solutions.

Even if you don’t get any answers, the questions themselves noodle at the subconscious. Questions make our soul stir. They kick up a different way of looking or thinking about our life balance, problems and help shift our perspectives.

The Art of Asking Questions for Life Balance and Perspective

As you might have guessed, moping around asking questions like “Why me?” isn’t what I’m aiming at here. Questions like that are self-pitying. Alternatively, I’m talking about questions that are empowering.

I’m suggesting piercing self queries that prompt introspection and open up pathways in your mind. Inquiries that are honest and force us to take a hard look at our lives with a goal to spurt our fundamental growth. Here are a few thought-provoking questions for life balance and perspective to get you started.

1. How do I wake up in the morning?

For the sake of generalizing, you might say there are folks who bound out of bed ready to crush the day ahead. Then another approach to waking up is grumbling, “Ugh. Eww!” How do you greet the day in the mornings?

One indicator of your life balance can be found in the first thought you have when you open your eyes from slumber. If your first thought or reaction to awakening is negative or upsetting, ask yourself why. Cringing upon first facing the day is a sign to take a closer look at what dreads you hold in your heart. It’s time to understand why you don’t always want to get out of bed and why you might be begrudging what the day brings.

2. What do I think about before I sleep?

For some folks, bedtime can be harrowing. Sleep’s purpose is to heal the body, mind, and spirit during a period of quietude and stasis. Quieting the mind before sleep is easier said than done for some.

On the other hand, some bask in the euphoria of thinking of positive things just before drifting into dreamland. This is a beautiful way of ensuring good sleep and waking up in better spirits.

In truth, much about your life balance can be revealed in the final thoughts you have before falling asleep. This is because, by design, the pre-sleep phase is a time to settle thoughts, get clear, and get relaxed. It’s also a time that should allow you to unplug and release the frantic energy of the day.

If the thoughts you have before falling asleep are usually negative, question them. Better yet replace those thoughts with more constructive, healing thoughts. Start reforming negative thoughts at night by questioning why you’re having those thoughts. Start addressing the stressors or anything that may be causing them.

3. Am I using my time wisely?

Time is precious. Once it’s spent, you can never earn time back. No matter how rich or influential you are, you can never buy time. In your life journey, one question you should always ask yourself is whether you’re using your time wisely. It’s important to be honest about this because if you perpetually waste your time, you’re just wasting your life away.

That may sound harsh, but that’s what these questions about life balance are all about – getting real for perspective and self-growth. So, how do you spend your time? What do you do with your time?

In this modern-day, most of us tend to appear as “busy people.” While it’s true, life today demands all of us to do stuff so we can get by. But when you ask some so-called busy people, they might just stammer, or mutter something about work.

For some people, gossiping is what steals their time, and some will even dedicate a lot of hours to video gaming or cruising social media. All of these examples serve a point. How is this adding quality to the priceless gift of time?

Now, if you love video games and binge-watching TV – I’m not going to judge (trust me, I’ve been there, done that). However, is it contributing to your life? To the lives of others? Ask yourself if your time is well spent while you have time to even ask the question.

Yes, it’s a good thing to engage in relaxing, and rejuvenating activities. However, spending too much time on something that’s not productive or contributory isn’t always the healthiest thing for your mind, body, or spirit.

It’s also a substantial waste of time if you stay stuck in work that is soul-sucking. You might think you can’t make a career move, but in truth, the universe has a funky way of opening up pathways if you respect yourself enough to try different things that slake your soul.

Furthermore, if you’re not spending your time by showing your true value and making use of your skills – then that’s kind of a time suck. Dare to be challenged at work that doesn’t just keep you “busy” but keeps your whole entity fed.

Go boldly and explore different options that sing to your need for substance and fulfill your need to be your best. Ask yourself what you want to do with your time. Ask how you can avoid wasting it. Then imagine how you could make better use of your time.

4. Am I taking anything for granted?

This one question for life balance has saved my bacon on many occasions. Even in my most dour, crappiest moments, I ask myself “Well, Avia, what IS working? What IS wonderful in your life?” Almost instantly, I begin to feel more uplifted, hopeful and my mood shifts.

Most of us are guilty of taking a lot of things for granted unknowingly. Perhaps this is because things aren’t the way we want them to be. Or maybe we’re always craving more and more, or the biggest and the best. Whatever, the case, constant yearning for “What could be” can blind us from seeing the blessings already in our midst.

When you reflect on your past misfortunes and not on your present blessings, you’re likely not to see the good stuff you already have. The thing is, we all are often surrounded by numerous blessings we can savor and adore. From eating daily and having a roof over our head, there’s a ton to be grateful for. Having the support of family or friends when times seem bleak is also a blessing to value.

When present circumstances look grim, it might be tough to see the good stuff. But taking advantage of the wonderful things we DO have is a sure-fire way to condemn ourselves to worse situations. So, practice gratitude. Be grateful. Look at what you have around you before you go forward in disdain.

5. What perspective do I hold?

Your perspective, if you think about it, can make or break your life balance. It’s the underlying factor behind being successful, doing what’s right, or experiencing happiness. At its simplest, a positive outlook manifests into positive outcomes. Conversely, a negative, overly critical perspective can breed more of the same (negative) situations in life. If that sounds like the law of attraction, then you’re very astute in your assessment.

It’s true that like does attract like. Your attitude is a vibration. The universe, the energy around you, and the physical world resonates to the same vibration with which you resonate. So, if you’re always seeing the worst in things, chances are that’s not going to lead you down the path of riches, lollipops, and rainbows.

I know as well as anyone that it’s hard to keep an upbeat frame of mind when things are seriously crummy. However, you must brace yourself to see issues in a totally different light. Step back, take a breath and shift your perspective. It means favorable results and outcomes in your life and your life balance.

6. Am I taking care of myself physically?

In order to stay balanced, you’ve got to pay attention to your body. I know, this isn’t the most appealing task on “things to do” for everybody – but it’s vital. You can’t expect to live fully, happily, or have a life balance if your body is in neglect.

“To keep your mind strong and clear, you must find keep your body in good health.”
Buddha

As the Buddha once said, “To keep your mind strong and clear, you must find it dutiful to keep your body in good health.” This quote sums up the importance of keeping your body in good shape and taking care of your body.

As we get older, we’re often faced with lots of challenges and an array of responsibilities that often distract us from taking care of our physical health. However, we must commit to taking care of ourselves because without physical health, the trinity (as in the trinity of mind, body, spirit) becomes corrupted. After all, all the sides of that trinity must be stable in order to achieve any kind of life balance.

7. What efforts am I putting into my relationships?

It doesn’t matter how much of a hermit you might claim to be, no man (or woman) is an island. As humans, we are social beings. We need relationships and connections in order to fully enjoy this lovely life we have to live.

That said, many of us overlook our relationships. Or worse, we might hurt the ones we love the most because they are closest to us. As a result, relationships can suffer intense damage. Relationships demand constant nurturing and effort.

Think of relationships as a garden, and then ask yourself “Am I tending to this garden?” If the answer is “no” – it’s time to start pulling weeds of neglect and tending to the soil of partnerships. Appreciate the people in your life and try to stay connected with your family and loved ones, even if you’re separated from them.

8. Do I stress about matters beyond my control?

I confess this one is a biggie for me. I’ve gotten better, but I’m still a self-professed control freak. I used to obsess over all the “coulda, woulda, shoulda’s” when in fact, most of this fiddly stuff was out of my realm of control.

According to the behavioral scientist, Steve Maraboli, “Many people are often unhealthily attached to the things they cannot control and therefore they’re highly stressed, sick, and miserable.” When you consider how useless it is to worry over things beyond control – then realize it can really put the kibosh on your life balance – then maybe that can help you drop those bones you’re chewing on once and for all.

Remember my mention of how precious time is? Well, one of the biggest ways to waste time is by bothering with stuff you can’t control. Your mental health, spirituality, and life balance can be easily crushed if you perpetually let yourself become stressed by the things outside your ability to manage.

So, if you’re constantly obsessing and worrying over things that you can’t control, ask yourself “Why?” Then, ask yourself “How can I perceive this differently?”

9. Am I being true to myself?

To quote best-selling author, Anna Quindlen, “The thing that is really hard and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning to work on becoming yourself.” If you break her quote down, it’s an encouragement to give up on how others expect you to be. Be you. There is only one like you in this world. Yes, that sounds cliché, but it’s true. This world would pale in comparison were it not for your unique contribution to it.

“The thing that is really hard and really amazing is giving up on being perfect and beginning to work on becoming yourself.”
Anna Quindlen

When it comes to being true to yourself, and living the life you deserve, ponder these additional questions:

Are you living the life that you want to live? If not, why? Why not?
Do you think you’re deceiving yourself? If so, why?
Are you holding yourself back from your true greatness? Why is that?

Don’t let mediocrity be your normal. Rage against those who expect or command you to be a certain way. You be you, because that’s the only way this world can grow, and it’s the only way you can evolve.

The Last Word on Self-Questioning for Life Balance

Every now and again, our life balance, responses to it and circumstances must be consciously evaluated. Ask questions of yourself constantly. Not in a nagging way (that’s only going to harsh your mellow). But inquire within as to who you are, what you want, what direction you want your life to go in.

Ultimately, you are well served to ask questions of yourself and be vigilant about observing your response. I think (from experience) asking questions for life balance is hugely impactful. Creating an inner dialogue is akin to better understanding and ultimate self-growth.

Mighty brightly,