{"id":15137,"date":"2025-01-15T07:56:31","date_gmt":"2025-01-15T12:56:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=15137"},"modified":"2025-01-15T07:56:31","modified_gmt":"2025-01-15T12:56:31","slug":"changing-our-questions-for-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=15137","title":{"rendered":"changing our questions for 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cGreat results begin with great questions\u201d \u2014 Marilee Adams in Change Your Questions, Change Your Life<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve long referred to the American University adjunct professor\u2019s work as my favorite book. It probably, seemingly slightly influenced my perspective when a trusted friend gifted me a copy soon after it came out years ago, adding, \u201cThis is the way you think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adams advocates that any of us can change our lives simply by changing the questions we ask, especially those we ask of ourselves. A quick provided example… note how \u201casking \u2018what great things could happen today?\u2019 creates very different expectations, moods, and energy than asking \u2018what could go wrong today?\u2019\u201d Amen to that.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, from Adams:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. What do I want? <\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. What are my choices?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. What assumptions am I making?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. What am I responsible for?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. How else can I think about this?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. What is the other person thinking, feeling, and wanting?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. What am I missing or avoiding?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. What can I learn? \u2026 from this person or situation? \u2026 from this mistake or failure? \u2026 from this success?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. What action steps make the most sense?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. What questions should I ask (myself or others)?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  11. How can I turn this into a win-win?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  12. What\u2019s possible?<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    I find those to be excellent. I think often, in fact, of the tribal social media hang outs where someone will make a claim, another will respectfully ask question #5 \u2014 \u201chow else can we think about this?\u201d <\/em>\u2014 and another will immediately shout them down and attempt to drown them out. That\u2019s neither healthy nor mature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Adams encourages us in a wiser way, noting that questions invite conversation. As we like to say, the question mark is the only punctuation piece that invites a response (albeit the semi-colon has a bit of an argument here). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Such is why we often examine the questions that are being asked in current culture. Elsewhere\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Too many shout. (Really? Who wants to listen to that?)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Too many declare. (Yikes. Did they forget the value in humility?)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Too many blame. (Oh my. As Adams writes, \u201cBlame keeps us stuck in the past.\u201d)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So as we look to 2025, here are some questions we\u2019re asking \u2014 each sincere, though marked by diverse levels of seriousness:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. When will the fires end? And what will we do differently after they\u2019re done?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. How will the economy fare in 2025? What will happen with inflation and interest rates?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Will America\u2019s southern border become more secure, and will government find a way to work together, crafting a prudent, effective immigration approach?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. How will Pres. Trump surprise us? Now that there\u2019s nothing more to \u201cwin,\u201d will he execute his duties differently?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Can America\u2019s deficit spending issue be fixed as long both Social Security and Medicare are currently each forecasted to be insolvent in the next 12 years?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    6. Will peace pause the Ukraine\/Russia and Israel\/Hamas conflicts? Would a cease-fire solve the long-term conflicts, especially in Israel?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    7. Will a reasonable third party become more popular here?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    8. Will America\u2019s divisiveness decrease? A better question: what will it take?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    9. Will the Chiefs win the Super Bowl for a third time in a row?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    10. And if so, will Travis ask Taylor to marry him?<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Just asking questions, friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Of course, we have more. We\u2019ll get to those soon\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      \u201cGreat results begin with great questions\u201d \u2014 Marilee Adams in Change Your Questions, Change Your Life I\u2019ve long referred to the American University adjunct professor\u2019s work as my favorite book. It probably, seemingly slightly influenced my perspective when a trusted friend gifted me a copy soon after it came out years ago, adding, \u201cThis is … <\/p>\n

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