365 New Beginnings
December 30, 2011 10:37 PM Subscribe
What questions can I ask myself every day as part of a year-long self-study that will (hopefully) chronicle my personal and professional growth?
The new year is going to be a big year for me. I finish and graduate from medical school, will likely move to a brand new city where I don't have much of a social network, and start my intern year. I'm planning on starting a new writing project in which I ask myself a set of questions at the end of each day. I intend to keep a private copy of all of my answers, but would like to publish some of them on a Posterous site each day. What are some questions that I can ask every day that, in one year, I'll be able to look at my answers and see how my life has changed? Any suggestions from other people who have taken on this kind of project?
The new year is going to be a big year for me. I finish and graduate from medical school, will likely move to a brand new city where I don't have much of a social network, and start my intern year. I'm planning on starting a new writing project in which I ask myself a set of questions at the end of each day. I intend to keep a private copy of all of my answers, but would like to publish some of them on a Posterous site each day. What are some questions that I can ask every day that, in one year, I'll be able to look at my answers and see how my life has changed? Any suggestions from other people who have taken on this kind of project?
who's the most interesting person i spoke to or met today?
what did i learn today?
what were my strongest feelings today, and what were they about?
what was the strongest desire i felt today? what did i want, and what did i dream about?
posted by facetious at 11:06 PM on December 30, 2011 [2 favorites]
what did i learn today?
what were my strongest feelings today, and what were they about?
what was the strongest desire i felt today? what did i want, and what did i dream about?
posted by facetious at 11:06 PM on December 30, 2011 [2 favorites]
Good luck and congrats on your self-exploration :) Here are the things I would ask myself daily:
How do I define 'success'?
What do I want from life?
What was my main preoccupation today?
If I could go back in time and tell my past self something, when/what would that be?
Where is my ideal place to live?
Who should I trust?
Who do I love?
If I were to die tomorrow, what would I regret doing/wish I had done?
Am I happy with who I am?
What do I want to work on changing in the future?
posted by carielewyn at 11:45 PM on December 30, 2011 [3 favorites]
How do I define 'success'?
What do I want from life?
What was my main preoccupation today?
If I could go back in time and tell my past self something, when/what would that be?
Where is my ideal place to live?
Who should I trust?
Who do I love?
If I were to die tomorrow, what would I regret doing/wish I had done?
Am I happy with who I am?
What do I want to work on changing in the future?
posted by carielewyn at 11:45 PM on December 30, 2011 [3 favorites]
If you set up specific goals for yourself, you can ask about your progress on them.
posted by bardophile at 12:09 AM on December 31, 2011
posted by bardophile at 12:09 AM on December 31, 2011
I always try to imagine what "future self" would tell "past self" about present day issues!
I also spend a little time regularly forgiving "younger me" for doing dumb things "now me" would never ever do. I try to appreciate what I've learned since.
Not exactly questions, but good meditations, which I think might benefit!
posted by jbenben at 1:10 AM on December 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
I also spend a little time regularly forgiving "younger me" for doing dumb things "now me" would never ever do. I try to appreciate what I've learned since.
Not exactly questions, but good meditations, which I think might benefit!
posted by jbenben at 1:10 AM on December 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
What / who challenged me today? How did I feel / deal with it?
Who / what was I kind to today? Why?
When did I feel uncomfortable today? Why?
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 2:47 AM on December 31, 2011 [2 favorites]
Who / what was I kind to today? Why?
When did I feel uncomfortable today? Why?
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 2:47 AM on December 31, 2011 [2 favorites]
A lot of great questions have been posted so far. I think you might also be interested in 50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind.
Also, check out Thought Questions, so far there are 670 questions posted on this page. You can also read answers that other people have posted.
Some sample questions include:
-How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
-Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
-If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?
-What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back?
posted by sincerely-s at 4:19 AM on December 31, 2011 [5 favorites]
Also, check out Thought Questions, so far there are 670 questions posted on this page. You can also read answers that other people have posted.
Some sample questions include:
-How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
-Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
-If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?
-What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back?
posted by sincerely-s at 4:19 AM on December 31, 2011 [5 favorites]
You might like this five-year journal I saw at Barnes & Noble. It asks a question each day and you cycle through them each year. Some are simple like what you are eating or what movie you liked lately, but others are about hopes and goals and people you admire.
posted by Flannery Culp at 7:52 AM on December 31, 2011
posted by Flannery Culp at 7:52 AM on December 31, 2011
I don't really journal (which is what I think of when i think of reflective questions and writing) because I've found that I can get "stuck" in what I've written the day before... BUT I always have written lists. So if I were embarking on your project I would make a list a day, of the things i want to do, the things I should do, the things I'd like to do this week, the things I'd like to do this year, places I'd go if I could leave tomorrow, books I'd like to read, names I like, lists of my closest friends, meals I want to learn how to cook... My lists would probably reflect a lot of changes in myself over time, quicker than stand alone questions where the answer might not change a lot in a week or a month.
posted by misspony at 7:56 AM on December 31, 2011
posted by misspony at 7:56 AM on December 31, 2011
What did I do today that benefited someone other than myself?
Did I make someone smile today?
posted by myselfasme at 8:55 AM on December 31, 2011
Did I make someone smile today?
posted by myselfasme at 8:55 AM on December 31, 2011
The following originates from a friend, who was instructed by the Jesuit priests at her high school that she should ask herself the following questions every day:
1) Who am I?
2) Who do I want to become?
3) What am I doing today to become that person?
posted by noonday at 9:37 AM on December 31, 2011 [4 favorites]
1) Who am I?
2) Who do I want to become?
3) What am I doing today to become that person?
posted by noonday at 9:37 AM on December 31, 2011 [4 favorites]
Just ask yourself "Why?"
posted by allfortheBoss at 8:36 PM on December 31, 2011
posted by allfortheBoss at 8:36 PM on December 31, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
Am I moving closer to becoming the person I want to be?
How would I describe who I am in fifty words or less? (This question would work better every two weeks or every month)
posted by Phire at 11:03 PM on December 30, 2011