7 Profound Questions to Ask Yourself in Life ...

1. What do You Love to do?

It’s not fair of society to ask us what we want to do for the rest of our lives at a young age. More often than not, we’re driven by what our parents, professors and friends think, causing us to make a decision we ourselves might not fully support. Therefore, asking yourself what it is that you love to do is one of the most profound questions to ask yourself, and you can only ask this question after you’ve had a few years of experience in the workforce. Don’t be afraid to make a career switch or to drop a high-paying job for something that pays less, but will give you more fulfillment. Doing what you love is the most important thing in life.

2. What Are Your Values in Life?

It’s important to know what your values are in life, because this will allow you to build your life around it. When people don’t know their values, they tend to run around, chasing things that may not even be important to them. So write down what your values are. If family and friends are on the top of your list, then why aren’t you spending more time with them? If a career is on the top of your list, then ask yourself if you’re doing enough to make it happen. If love is the most important value, then be the best possible girlfriend or wife to your lover. Knowing your values can help you set priorities in life.

3. What do You Want in Your Life 5 Years from Now?

The answer to this question can’t be that you want to be the new CEO of the company you work for. What you could say, is that you want to be an expert in your field, which will likely result into a higher position. Write down a few things you see for yourself 5 years from now and start to work towards those goals. Make sure they are concrete and feasible; however, don’t be afraid to adjust your goals over time, if you feel the need to do so. If it helps, you can also write down mini-goals underneath your goals, allowing you to break down whatever it is that you have to do to accomplish it. Remember, goals don’t always have to involve your career. There is a plethora of other things in life, that are equally, if not more, important.

4. What Would You like to Change in This World?

“If you think you’re too small to make a change, try sleeping with a mosquito.” I love this one. But it’s a truth that we can all contribute to making changes in this world, no matter how small. What would you like to change in this world? Maybe it’s women’s rights, marriage equality or animal cruelty. You can contribute to making a change by donating, volunteering and even by sharing articles you find on the topic through Facebook or Twitter. When people think of changing the world, they tend to think of big things, but making a change can be done at any level, at any age and with any budget.

5. If You Were Dying Now, Would This Be a Problem?

As a perfectionist, I ask myself this question more than once a week. Most of us can’t help it. You get caught up in whatever it is that you’re doing and when something goes slightly wrong, we make a big problem out of it or we keep worrying about it for the rest of the day. But if you were dying right now, would it really be of high importance? Obviously, if you were dying right now, nothing would be important besides family and friends, but you get the idea. Life is really too short to worry. So, ask yourself if it’s really a problem that your date hasn’t texted you back within an hour, or even the fact that you made a mistake at work.

6. Is There a Balance between Should and Want?

There are certain things we should do in life, such as earning money, finishing that college degree and making sure you have a livable home. But I often notice that people have no balance in their shoulds and their wants, causing them stress. Sometimes, something that you want, can also turn into a should. For example, you want to build a career, but while you’re so caught up in doing what you do, it turns into something you should do rather than something you want to do. The same goes for exercising. You may want to work on your health, but by making exercise a to-do, you turn it into something you should do every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Not that much fun anymore... Cherish your wants and make sure you do what you want, just enough to keep a healthy balance in life.

7. What Are Your Biggest Fears?

Knowing your biggest fears is a quality in life, because it allows you to face those fears, accept them and do something about them. Society makes us believe that having certain fears in life is a sign of weakness, causing us to hide our fears and to pretend they don’t exist. But everyone has a fear of something and by accepting them, you will learn how to deal with them and you will grow. Knowing your biggest fears can also help you work around them and this can avoid that you end up in a situation you’re uncomfortable with.

I just love asking profound questions in life that make me think and reflect. And the best thing is that you don’t need anything besides your mind. So ask yourself these questions while you’re sipping a cup of tea at home or while commuting. Have you ever asked yourself a profound question? What was the question? And what have you learned from it?