75 questions to ask yourself
An old proverb says, “He that cannot ask cannot live”. If you want answers you have to ask questions. These are 75 questions you should ask yourself and try to answer. You can ask yourself these questions right now and over the course of your life.
1. Why not me?
2. Am I nice?
3. Am I doing what I really want to do?
4. What am I grateful for?
5. What’s missing in my life?
6. Am I honest?
7. Do I listen to others?
8. Do I work hard?
9. Do I help others?
10. What do I need to change about myself?
11. Have I hurt others?
12. Do I complain?
13. What’s next for me?
14. Do I have fun?
15. Have I seized opportunities?
16. Do I care about others?
17. Do I spend enough time with my family?
18. Am I open-minded?
19. Have I seen enough of the world?
20. Do I judge others?
21. Do I take risks?
22. What is my purpose?
23. What is my biggest fear?
24. How can I conquer that fear?
25. Do I thank people enough?
26. Am I successful?
27. What am I ashamed of?
28. Do I annoy others?
29. What are my dreams?
30. Am I positive?
31. Am I negative?
32. Is there an afterlife?
33. Does everything happen for a reason?
34. What can I do to change the world?
35. What is the most foolish thing I’ve ever done?
36. Am I cheap?
37. Am I greedy?
38. Who do I love?
39. Who do I want to meet?
40. Where do I want to go?
41. What am I most proud of?
42. Do I care what others think about me?
43. What are my talents?
44. Do I utilize those talents?
45. What makes me happy?
46. What makes me sad?
47. What makes me angry?
48. Am I satisfied with my appearance?
49. Am I healthy?
50. What was the toughest time in my life?
51. What was the easiest time in my life?
52. Am I selfish?
53. What was the craziest thing I did?
54. What is the craziest thing I want to do?
55. Do I procrastinate?
56. What is my greatest regret?
57. What has had the greatest impact on my life?
58. Who has had the greatest impact on my life?
59. Do I stand up for myself?
60. Have I settled for mediocrity?
61. Do I hold grudges?
62. Do I read enough?
63. Do I listen to my heart?
64. Do I donate enough to the less fortunate?
65. Do I pray only when I want something?
66. Do I constantly dwell on the past?
67. Do I let other people’s negativity affect me?
68. Do I forgive myself?
69. When I help someone do I think “What’s in it for me”?
70. Am I aware that someone always has it worse than me?
71. Do I smile more than I frown?
72. Do I surround myself with good people?
73. Do I take time out for myself?
74. Do I ask enough questions?
75. What other questions do I have?
If you would like to share some or all of your answers, please feel free to do so in the comment section below.
Photos by e-magic and -bast-
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89 Responses to “75 questions to ask yourself”
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Love this list. You’re right, I’m sure: asking ourselves questions is a great way to answer them. These questions are also excellent for journal prompts. Thanks!
Glad you love the list Suzann!
-Andrew
good stuff!
Do I have the strength to answer these questions as honestly as I can? Am I capable of facing the answers honestly and realize that I have changes to be made? Do I want to know the answers to these questions or continue in the darkness of what I don’t know can’t hurt me? Do I comprehend the work involved if I answer these questions and try to make the necessary changes?
Thanks Bugsy.
You have some good questions Casey.
-Andrew
This is a great list….not easy to honestly find answers for these…
Yeah, it’s pretty challenging.
-Andrew
Great list. I am not sure I want to know the anwer to most of those questions. I know that if I answered them honestly I would be dissappointed in the end.
Hey Angela,
Don’t say that Angela. Instead of being disappointed, become motivated and strive for change. It’s never too late or earlier.
-Andrew
It’s seems that iam a pretty well-balanced human being (or at least today
, since my answers didn’t give me any new revelation. But while reading the questions, i have one question for you (please don’t take that mean or something), are you hypomanic?
Hey Alien_77,
I’m definitely not hypomanic.
-Andrew
No, I’m not nice. I used to be nice, but found that I was spending too much time trying to make everyone like me. Now I’m polite, which is sufficient, unless I’m interacting with someone who I care about. And that makes me nice to myself.
And I do procrastinate, I’m doing it right now!
sure the unexamined life is not worth living, but part of me feels there is an important question that is missing in the list, which is ‘why am I answering these questions, or what is the point of doing so?’, I feel some of them are futile, as most dwelve into the past, yet as whole individuals we are always in the present and moving into the future. questions about what to do in the present or what might one do in the future, might be more useful.. just a thought.
Hey Lori and Leo,
Interesting points you bring up. Leo I like the questions you came up with. I also think it’s not good to dwell in the past but sometimes it’s great to reflect so that we learn from our past situations and events.
-Andrew
At first when I ask, some may not seem relevant. But, after answering these questions, we will become more aware of ourselves.
Normally, we confront these questions when someone asks us.
Very true ATOzTOA. We do usually wait till someone asks us these questions but why wait? If we ask ourselves be can be completely honest.
-Andrew
Wow, i really like this list. It made me think a lot about my current direction in life. Maybe I’ll be changing that direction soon thanks to you.
Thanks Reggie. Glad to hear that.
-Andrew
Hello:
Great list of questions.
What comes to mind is the ancient saying “Know thineself”. The list is a great way to review some of the darker ares of life and become the change we want to see.
Exactly James. Some people were complaining that this list would make people depressed. But I think it should make people strive for change not be upset about the past.
-Andrew
Hi Andrew, I love this list of questions. I do tend to reflect and analyse a lot (apparently a trait of my star sign!). This seems to be a perfectly organised way to identify areas for development. Angela
Thanks Angela. It’s great that you reflect on the past, it’ll help you change the future.
-Andrew
Already Bookmarked it !! I answered them allwhile reading … it gave me a reason to smile and yes, a motive (to improve myself)
from this point
Excellent! Glad you enjoyed it.
-Andrew
While reading these questions, I decided to propose to my girlfriend of over 5 years. You don’t need to post this, I just thought you should know. Thank you!
Hey a1pharm,
Congrats! Nice to hear that. Don’t worry, I won’t make any announcement post.
-Andrew
this list made me thinking and i’m still am
Excellent. Glad to hear that. Making people think was my main intention.
-Andrew
wow, i was already depressed, now i just want to kill myself…
Thanks for the sarcasm.
-Andrew
Excellent list- the answer to each is phenomenally important. Thank you!
You’re welcome Steve.
-Andrew
I didn’t enjoy this for all of the right reasons. It’s really hard to stop for a moment and really think about these kinds of things. Thanks for the opportunity to take a few minutes and think about the big stuff for once!
No problem.
-Andrew
wow!!! that was good one
have also added in my favorites…
Glad you enjoyed it.
-Andrew
Question 76: Why am I reading this list?
Thanks for your sarcasm “Johnny”.
-Andrew
I enjoyed you site. I noticed an iconsistency in your bio though:
In it you state”…I’m twenty years old…” Then in the next sentence, you said, “I’m nineteen years old.”
Oops. I just turned 20 last week and I didn’t change it correctly on my bio. Thanks for pointing it out and glad you enjoy the site.
-Andrew
[...] These are 75 questions you should ask yourself and try to answer. You can ask yourself these …http://www.lyved.com/life/75-questions-to-ask-yourself/Teaching for Understanding: Questions to Ask Yourself and Your StudentsTeaching for Understanding. [...]
Andrew,
That was a wonderful list, and it really made me think. Now I’m sure of the changes that I have to make. Thanks
How Long did the list take you?
Hey Lauren,
Glad you like it and I’m glad it made you think, that was my main goal. I think it took me about a week to create the list.
-Andrew
Wow, it would have taken me a lot longer. What was your inspiration?
Most of these questions I’ve asked myself over the years. I always like to stop and think, and these help me do so.
-Andrew
[...] 75 Questions At first, you kinda wonder what answering a list of questions could really do, and if you don’t take it seriously, nothing. But I challenge you to really think about the answers, and surprise yourself. [...]
WOW. I can’t believe you are 20! I am going to print list and my husband and I spend time on weekends just talking. I think we’ll read some questions and share our answers to each other.
Hey Peg,
Ah, age is just a number. Glad you like the list enough to print it out.
-Andrew
[...] 75 Questions to Ask Yourself @ Lyved [...]
I have always thought “I would like to change this about myself….” would be better served by inversion. “This is what I would like to keep the same” makes the positive more clear and negative is challenged. Which question gives you a greater understanding of where you think you are and where you are going? Who knows?
I needed to change my way of thinking “Nobody likes me for who I am”. These questions really helped me to sort myself out – they made me realise a lot of people like me for being me and they helped me to bring myself and a lad I’ve liked for years, together. I’m extremely grateful x
Glad these questions helped you out!
-Andrew
this only proves that questions are more important than answers. in order to be successful in life, you need to answer questions you ask to yourself not the questions others want you to answer.
I’m really posting this piece on my blog, don’t worry, I will put backlinks.
Very true!
-Andrew
A very useful list. I should reflect on these questions some time.
Thanks for posting this up.
1. Why not me? Because i am not worthy
2. Am I nice? Sometimes
3. Am I doing what I really want to do? Noi am not
4. What am I grateful for? My girlfriend .
5. What’s missing in my life? Faith , Confidence , Hope , Freedom ..
6. Am I honest? Yes i can be
7. Do I listen to others? Only to my girl
8. Do I work hard? I sure do
9. Do I help others? If thy need help i will be there to help and do whatever i can .
10. What do I need to change about myself? Everything ..
11. Have I hurt others? All the time
12. Do I complain? It happens
13. What’s next for me? Death
14. Do I have fun? Sometimes
15. Have I seized opportunities? I have
16. Do I care about others? Yes i do
17. Do I spend enough time with my family? Lately i haven’t
18. Am I open-minded? Sometimes
19. Have I seen enough of the world?
Nooh
20. Do I judge others? To soon ..
21. Do I take risks? I do take risks ..
22. What is my purpose? I have none
23. What is my biggest fear? To lose the one i love most .
24. How can I conquer that fear? I can’t
25. Do I thank people enough? Nooh ..
26. Am I successful? Yes
27. What am I ashamed of? Myself
28. Do I annoy others? Yes i can
29. What are my dreams? To live on with Maysaa happily and ever after
30. Am I positive? Not really
31. Am I negative? yes
32. Is there an afterlife? Yes there is
33. Does everything happen for a reason? Im afraid .. Yes
34. What can I do to change the world?
I don’t really know
35. What is the most foolish thing I’ve ever done?
What i am doing right now in life
36. Am I cheap?
Nooh
37. Am I greedy?
yes
38. Who do I love?
Maysaa
39. Who do I want to meet?
Axana
40. Where do I want to go?
Antwerpen , America , Londen ..;
41. What am I most proud of?
That i have found the love of mih life
42. Do I care what others think about me?
Oowh yes i do
43. What are my talents?
.. I can’t really tell
44. Do I utilize those talents?
No idea
45. What makes me happy?
Mih girl
46. What makes me sad?
Almost everything
47. What makes me angry?
Alot ..
48. Am I satisfied with my appearance?
NO !
49. Am I healthy?
Yeah
50. What was the toughest time in my life?
Now .
51. What was the easiest time in my life?
When i was a little child and didnt realize how my future was gonna be like
52. Am I selfish?
I can be from time to time
53. What was the craziest thing I did?
I don’t know
54. What is the craziest thing I want to do?
Euh ..
55. Do I procrastinate?
What does that mean ?
56. What is my greatest regret?
I can’t explain it
57. What has had the greatest impact on my life?
My girlfriend
58. Who has had the greatest impact on my life?
My girlfriend
59. Do I stand up for myself?
Yeah
60. Have I settled for mediocrity?
What ?
61. Do I hold grudges?
?
62. Do I read enough?
Its fine
63. Do I listen to my heart?
Not really
64. Do I donate enough to the less fortunate?
Nooh ..
65. Do I pray only when I want something?
Yeah .
66. Do I constantly dwell on the past?
Yes i do
67. Do I let other people’s negativity affect me?
Yes i do
68. Do I forgive myself?
Never ..
69. When I help someone do I think “What’s in it for me”?
Sometimes
70. Am I aware that someone always has it worse than me?
I am not aware of that .
71. Do I smile more than I frown?
It depends
72. Do I surround myself with good people?
Some of them yes some of them aren’t
73. Do I take time out for myself?
Nooh i do’nt
74. Do I ask enough questions?
Owh yes
75. What other questions do I have?
None ..
Esther ^^ !
Thanks for replying with your answers Esther!
I just wanted to make a note about you answer to number 10.
“10. What do I need to change about myself? Everything ..”
I don’t think you have to change EVERYTHING. We all have things that we need to work on but there’s other things about ourselves that must not be altered.
-Andrew
exactly! asking questions is the only way to find out answers, instead of just believing what we’ve all been taught-by rote-for generations. good list.
Thanks Francis! Glad you liked the list.
-Andrew
You left out the most important question of all, and it should have been the first question.
Are you happy with your life?
If not proceed to the next 75 to figure out why .
Hey Kiefer,
Great question! I left out some questions because I thought they’d be too obvious. I was trying to be different. But are you happy with you life is a very important question.
-Andrew
Great post! Wasn’t it Socrates that said, “the unexamined life is not worth living.”
Hey Scott,
Glad you liked the post! Yes Socrates did say that. It’s an excellent quote. Thanks for sharing.
-Andrew
[...] 75 Questions to Ask Yourself – Did I leave the iron on? might be at the top of your list, but for some more insightful self-queries, check out this list from Lyved. Your students might not consider themselves masters of their own egos yet, but some of the questions on this list might help them get some direction in getting there. Questions like What are my talents? might seem easy enough, but provide some inner understanding nonetheless. [...]
Everyone may have many different types of answers to your 75 questions. Do you think the answers could determine one’s characters and make life meaningful? I may have the positive answers but yet I’m not happy.
These questions are not going to make you happy or your life meaningful. YOU have to do that! It’s a choice YOU have to make.
-Andrew
[...] 75 Questions to Ask Yourself [...]
1. Why not me? I’ve been hurt
2. Am I nice? Yes
3. Am I doing what I really want to do? No
4. What am I grateful for? My writing abilities
5. What’s missing in my life? Trust
6. Am I honest? Not always
7. Do I listen to others? Not when i don’t want to hear it or i’m in moods like this.
8. Do I work hard? No
9. Do I help others? Yes
10. What do I need to change about myself? I let others hurt me
11. Have I hurt others? Yes
12. Do I complain? Yes
13. What’s next for me? Accepting facts
14. Do I have fun? Yes
15. Have I seized opportunities? Sometimes
16. Do I care about others? Yes
17. Do I spend enough time with my family? No
18. Am I open-minded? Usually
19. Have I seen enough of the world? No
20. Do I judge others? Yes
21. Do I take risks? Yes
22. What is my purpose? To help others who go through the same problems i face
23. What is my biggest fear? Not being loved
24. How can I conquer that fear? Love others
25. Do I thank people enough? No
26. Am I successful? Sometimes
27. What am I ashamed of? Giving into my pain
28. Do I annoy others? Yes
29. What are my dreams? Becoming strong enough to learn from my past and not let it control me
30. Am I positive? No
31. Am I negative? Yes
32. Is there an afterlife? Yes
33. Does everything happen for a reason? Yes
34. What can I do to change the world? Survive and love others
35. What is the most foolish thing I’ve ever done? Think I’m worthless
36. Am I cheap? Yes
37. Am I greedy? No
38. Who do I love? Amber and Ginny (very very close friends)
39. Who do I want to meet? Joseph Smith
40. Where do I want to go? Alaska
41. What am I most proud of? How well i can write
42. Do I care what others think about me? In some areas, yes
43. What are my talents? Writing, computers, running, arguments
44. Do I utilize those talents? Not as much as i should
45. What makes me happy? Being reminded people love and care about me
46. What makes me sad? Feeling abandoned
47. What makes me angry? How i mess everything up
48. Am I satisfied with my appearance? For the most part
49. Am I healthy? mostly
50. What was the toughest time in my life? When my ex-bf killed himself after abusing me
51. What was the easiest time in my life? When i lived in AF. Nothing wrong ever happened there.
52. Am I selfish? Not usually
53. What was the craziest thing I did? Tried to kill myself
54. What is the craziest thing I want to do? Skydiving and bungee jumping
55. Do I procrastinate? Yes
56. What is my greatest regret? Not just letting go of the pain
57. What has had the greatest impact on my life? Jake killing himself
58. Who has had the greatest impact on my life? Josh
59. Do I stand up for myself? Never at the right moments.
60. Have I settled for mediocrity? HECK no!
61. Do I hold grudges? They come and go. But I usually blame everything on myself
62. Do I read enough? Yes
63. Do I listen to my heart? Usually
64. Do I donate enough to the less fortunate? No
65. Do I pray only when I want something? No
66. Do I constantly dwell on the past? Yes
67. Do I let other people’s negativity affect me? Yes
68. Do I forgive myself? No
69. When I help someone do I think “What’s in it for me”? Usually not
70. Am I aware that someone always has it worse than me? Yes
71. Do I smile more than I frown? Not lately
72. Do I surround myself with good people? No
73. Do I take time out for myself? Not often. What if someone needs me?
74. Do I ask enough questions? Yes
75. What other questions do I have? What am i going to do to change some of these answers?
Hi Amaroq,
Thanks so much for sharing your answers! I felt like I really got to know you. You seem really strong.
-Andrew
aww thanks
I really liked these questions. They really opened my eyes. Good job!
Glad you liked them!
-Andrew
Do I nice? I like to think so. But I would also add another question,
How far can you see your life?
Your questions were very thought provoking. I stumblwd on your site because I am in the process of reflecting on my past. Trying to come to grips with the choices i made and admitting to myself that i could have done so much better.
Your questions helped some what but I am still searching for the questions to ask myself about why i did this or that.
What questions would you ask yourself if you were looking back on your life rather than look at the here and now?
Glad this post made you think kaye. A lot of these questions make you think about the past. Many are for the present, but if you want to ask questions about your past, the best bet is to come up with the questions yourself. You know your past the best out of anyone.
-Andrew
What you said is very true but I wasn’t looking for someone to think of questions for me. I was wondering what you or others might ask themselves. My reasons for doing this are to give my children and grandchildren an insight into my life and how it shaped the person I am today, to leave them with the lessons of life that I have learned. Things age has taught me. I don’t want to leave behind unanswered questions like my parents and grandparents did. It also is a way of accepting things I have done and admitting I could have done better had I had the tools in my youth.
The questions I have asked myself as I look back on my life are;
1. What one thing prompted my choice?
2. What questions could I have asked myself before making this choice?
3. What could I have done differently?
4. Did I choose wisely or was it an emotional response?
5. What was I feeling when I made this choice?
6. Why did I feel this way?
7. How did my choice alter my life?
8. What did I learn from it?
9. Have I used what I learned to better myself?
10. Looking back, what did I miss?
11. Did what I went through make me stronger?
12. How did this event shape my life?
13. Was there a point in which I could have changed the direction of this event?
14. Did I have second thoughts? If so, how did I handle them?
Anyway thanks for the response and for putting together a well-designed site.
kaye
Oh I understand now kaye!
I really like the questions you listed. They’re very specific and take a lot of thought.
Glad you like Lyved. I’ve been working hard on it
-Andrew
Your hard work shows. I am sure you have been told time and again that your drive and wisdom are not common in someone of your youth. If there are two lessons in life that i have learned they are the lessons I have passed to my own children (twice your age)
When you do “Your Very Best” you are doing every thing in your power and using every resource available to help you reach your goal. You are then taking the path less traveled and the one that will teach you the right lessons and skills that will help you reach that goal and reach your full potential. You are also learning that you can depend on yourself and learn the right way to live, true life skills are worked for and not given easily.
When you do “The best you can at the time” you are only doing what is needed and necessary at the time to get you through that moment or phase in your life. You are taking the road most traveled and seeking the shortest distance between two points. You are not learning lessons or skills that will allow you to reach your goal or your full potential. There are no real short cuts in life. Taking a short cut allows you to miss out on life lessons and skills. You end up having regrets and miss out on making some very beautiful memories along the way and most likely some very special people.
For one so young you are headed in a direction for success. Keep up the good work!
Thanks so much kaye!
It’s so true about taking the short cut. You miss out on so many lessons.
And I feel that the success you achieve from a short cut is also short-lived. To sustain success it takes years and years.
Sometimes the short cut actually turns out to be the long path because it takes you twice as long to learn the right lessons and skills.
Glad to have you around the site! Look forward to talking some more.
-Andrew
[...] here for my answers. Go here for the original survey. I doubt I’ll add anything else today, not even a journal entry. This [...]
Wow! Great list. These questions, as you said would probably be answered over time. Knowing the answers to these questions allow you to understand yourself and live consciously.
AJ Kumar
Glad you liked the list AJ! Yeah, you’re correct, these questions are meant to be ask over time and over and over again.
-Andrew
i’ve been reading this, but then I saw your age, and I have a few questions of my own.
Where do you get this?
Have you asked yourself some of these?
Really inane questions.
You find these 75 questions pointless shera?
“Where do you get this?
Have you asked yourself some of these?”
I got them from my head. I’ve asked myself almost all of these questions over the recent years of my life. It’s the experiences I’ve been through that have forced me to ask these questions, not my age.
-Andrew
[...] Para visualizar, clique aqui. Para visualizar a versão traduzida para o português, clique [...]
Thanks Andrew for the great questions. This is exactly what I was looking for. It seems like we are always asking questions of others but not of ourselves. I have decided to find a quiet place and answer the questions honestly. I will color code my answers: green – I am happy with my answer, red – I am unhappy and blue for the ones I may want to examine further.
I then will take all the red answers and come up with an action plan for self improvement.
Also, there was a comment in your post that I needed to hear, age is just a number. Just because I am over 40 doesn’t mean its over, I am still in the game.
Hey Jayne,
I absolutely love your plan!! This is what I was hoping people would do when reading this. Most just went through the list quickly, but without thought.
Age really is just a number. You might want to check out this new book by Olympian, Dara Torres: http://www.amazon.com/Age-Just-Number-Achieve-Dreams/dp/0767931904/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239558649&sr=1-1
Glad this questions are helping you!
-Andrew
Hi Andy,
Thanks for the book suggestion. After sitting down and answering the questions, I highlighted my strengths and then focused on the answers where I thought I could do better. By keeping my strengths as the top of the list I can see I am on my way and play on those strenghts when working on my to-do list.
No problem Jayne!
You have a great approach. It’s best to start with your strengths. It’ll give you a bit of motivation, it make tackling your weakness so much easier.
Best wishes and please keep in touch,
-Andrew
[...] http://www.lyved.com/life/75-questions-to-ask-yourself/ Tags: Change, Dreams, Family, Fear, Healthy, Help, Love, Regret, Self-Help & Improvement, Self-Help & Improvement, Shame, Success, Work [...]