Many self-help books offer up the question “What gets you up in the morning?” The answer to this question provides insight into what you love most about your life. Conversely, the question “What keeps you up at night?” attempts to pinpoint what bothers you most about your current life situation. Together, meaning and direction can be found by answering them.
To maximize the potential benefits of these questions, I suggest the following approach for each question.
- Find a quiet spot. Close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths.
Relax you body and release your tension with each deep breath.
Ask yourself the first question. “What gets me up in the morning?” Continue breathing.
- When it feels right, write your response for next fifteen minutes. Getting out our top of mind superficial responses happens in the first five minutes. The good juicy stuff comes after we clear the path for it.
- Summarize what you have written in three words. Read this post on why “three words .”
- Do these three words epitomize my current state of being? Are you happy with your answer? Does this answer give you meaning and direction?
- If yes, move on to the next question, “What keeps me up at night?”
- If not, repeat the process until you are satisfied with your answer.
- If you are still having trouble after two or three attempts, it begs the question, what are you going to do about it?
Create a visual reminder with your answers. Here are some ways to create a visual reminder.
- 3×5 index cards. Write each question and 3 word response on one side of the card
- Post-it notes.
- Calendar Task. Set a recurring reminder.
- Screen saver or wallpaper for your computer or phone
Use whatever method works best for you.
Re-visit your answers from time-to-time. Do they still resonate with you? Are they still supporting the meaning and direction you wish?
There are no perfect answers here. There is only a life-long journey of learning and discovery.
