Many times people talk about how bad it is not to have the option to choose. The lack of freedom we feel in some situations, such as when we lack the resources to live independently, can be suffocating. But it is no less true that, in those moments when we feel that we are free to decide what to do with our lives, doubts can paralyse us .

That is why it is sometimes very useful to ask yourself a series of questions about life and what you expect from it . Questions about your identity, about the way you order your priorities and about why you relate to your environment and to others the way you do.

Questions about life to know you deeply

Obviously, it is practically impossible to know everything about ourselves, about our present and future desires and about how we might evolve in the future. However, the simple fact of reviewing from time to time our expectations and beliefs about what it means for us to live , is already a way to get out of indecision and get a little closer to wisdom.

In the following, we will look at several questions about life that serve to reflect on how we base our personal philosophy.

1. Do I relate to the people I want to spend my time with?

There are several areas of life that lead us to deal with people who, without necessarily disliking us, contribute very little in global terms. For example, hanging out with classmates, with people who tend to hang out in the same places as us or with some colleagues at work can become a normal dynamic, even though it doesn’t really fill us up .

Fortunately, today it is easier than ever to meet new people: we have the Internet and the possibility of moving around in different places at a relatively low price. Looking for new friendships and meaningful relationships is key to feeling good.

2. What are my references?

Having true idols is not very advisable, but seeing our aspirations reflected in another person is to some extent normal. However, one of the questions about life that help us know where we are and where we want to go should be dedicated to those people who tell us what we would want for ourselves, and why.

Taking into account what we value about those people we admire can help us better understand our lives: it is not so important to ask about what, but rather to focus on why.

3. What is maturity for me?

The concept of being a mature person” is extremely broad and there are different interpretations of what it means to grow emotionally and psychologically . For example, for some people growing up is desirable, while for others it would mean embracing conformity and monotony.

So it is worth considering what our definition of this is, and seeing if we fit that description or even if we are interested in fitting it.

4. Am I sacrificing too much for my working life?

The world is becoming more and more competitive, to the point where the separation between personal and professional life is blurring , less and less present. It is now normal to take work home, do tasks from the laptop, make late-night phone calls…

On the other hand, as the competition puts pressure on us, we have to try to work hard, and the fact that business is going well does not always lead us to relax, as instability and the possibility of a big company harming us lead us to be on our guard.

Wouldn’t it be better to stop sacrificing so much for work? Are we in a situation where it is reasonable to take a break? These are questions that should help us orient our lives on a regular basis.

5. What defines me?

Whenever we think about other people, we do so based on a series of beliefs about their characteristics, their personality, their motivations, etc. These assessments do not take place in a vacuum, but are made by comparing that person with others.

What would happen if we did that with ourselves? When thinking about a characteristic that distinguishes us from the majority , what is the first thing that comes to mind?

6. What would I like to have said about me at my funeral?

Imagining this situation is a way of looking for characteristics about ourselves that we like, but also a simple way of taking into account what are those characteristics we aspire to and that for some reason we think we haven’t managed to have yet.

7. If you had to give one piece of advice to someone younger, what would it be?

Living consists in learning, and therefore experience makes us wiser . That is why anyone, whatever their circumstances, has the ability to give even one piece of advice to someone significantly younger. What would you give?

Do I want to change, or do I want the world to change?

Both options are highly desirable to most people, but a number of priorities can always be set. If you perceive that the world is deeply unjust and must change a lot, doing this will take time and energy to change you, and vice versa.

9. Do I tend to obsess about problems that don’t exist?

When it comes to planning for the future, the fear of situations that might occur can leave us in a state of stagnation and lack of personal evolution . Do you have a tendency to fall into this type of mental trap?

10. Am I interested in doing new things, or perfecting what I already do?

There are those who suffer monotony as a lesser evil that allows them not to move from their comfort zone, and there are those who use novel experiences as a way to escape from their worries constantly. Both tendencies are harmful, and that is why it is worthwhile that one of our questions about life has to do with the way in which we relate to the new, what breaks with the everyday.