questions to ask yourself for critical thinking

85 Critical Thinking Questions to Carefully Examine Any Information

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The ability to think critically will often determine your success in life.

Let’s face it. Every day, we are bombarded by news, social media updates, and an avalanche of information. If you take all of this at face value, it’s easy to be deceived, misled or ripped off.

That’s why it’s important to develop a mindset that focuses on critical thinking . This is a skill that needs to be developed in the classroom. But it’s also a valuable life skill.

With that in mind, the following post will share 85 critical thinking questions you can use to increase your awareness about different problems by carefully examining available information.

Let’s get started…

Table of Contents

What Are Critical Thinking Questions?

Critical thinking questions are inquiries that help you think rationally and clearly by understanding the link between different facts or ideas. These questions create a seemingly endless learning process that lets you critique, evaluate, and develop a depth of knowledge about a given subject. Moreover, you get to reinforce your viewpoints or see things in a new way.

We make decisions every day, whether at work or home. Adopting logical, rational, and practical approaches in addressing various issues requiring critical thinking is essential in decision-making. Therefore, before arriving at a decision, always ask yourself relevant questions and carefully analyze the matter’s pros and cons.

Critical Thinking Questions When in an Argument

When you make an argument using a critical thinking approach, you focus on justified claims that are valid and based on evidence. It helps one establish a strong argument.

Do I disagree with the other person? Might the person I'm arguing with be misinformed on what they are saying?
Would I be comfortable saying what I am telling him/her if I was in front of a group of people?
What would happen if I lose this argument? Is engaging in this argument worth my time and energy? How will I feel if I lose?
Is there room for ambiguity or misinterpretation? Are we arguing because I didn't make my point explicit? Should I take my time to understand his school of thought?
Do I need some rest before saying something? Am I arguing because of other reasons other than the issues at hand? Do I need to take some time and cool down?

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Is it more important that I’m right? Am I trying to ask to prove an unnecessary point?
Is this argument inductive, deductive, or abductive? Is it a weak or strong argument that I need to engage in? Is it compelling or sound?
Is my opponent sincere? Given that they are wrong, are they willing to admit that they are wrong? Can they depend on available evidence, wherever it leads?
Are my opponents only trying to shift their burden to me? What is the best way to prove them wrong without making them feel bad?
Are the people I'm arguing with only interested in winning, or are they trying to pass some information across and help me discover the truth?

Critical Thinking Questions When Reading a Book

When you read a book, you probably ask yourself many “why” questions. Why is this a problem? Why did the character say that? Why is this important? The most challenging part of reading a book is assessing the information you are reading. These questions can help.

If I learn only two things from this book, what will they be? How will they help me? How will I apply them in my daily life?
What message are the authors trying to pass across? Are they making suggestions or providing evidence for their arguments?
Given that almost every book is about solving problems, what is the most prevalent issue that the author is trying to solve?
What is the author’s writing style? What strategy or master plan does the author employ to convey his/her main ideas throughout the book?
Do I have background information about the book’s topic? If so, how is what the author is saying different from what I already know?
What didn’t I understand from the book? Should I re-read the book to understand everything the writer is trying to convey?
Which sections of the book do I love the most, and why? Generally, do I like this book? Should I look for more books that are written by the same author?
If I had a chance to meet this book’s author, what questions would I ask him/her? What would I tell the writer about the book? Is it a great book worth recommending to your friends and family members?
Who are the main characters of the book? If there is only one main character, what overarching goal does the character accomplish?
In what ways did the protagonist change from the start of the book to the end? What caused the changes? Was the protagonist reckless in some ways? Which ways?

Critical Thinking Questions to Spot a Scam

Asking questions when you feel that a fraud or a scam is being presented to you is a good way to stretch your critical thinking muscles. Are you being emailed or messaged by a stranger? Or maybe there are other red flags you are unsure about. If so, ask these questions.

Does it seem to be too good to be true? Is this stranger pushy or trying to lure me into making a poor decision?
When trying out online dating: Is my new “friend” professing strong feelings towards me although we’ve only interacted for a few hours?
Why is a stranger calling me to ask about my Social Security Number (SSN), personal contact information, or bank details while claiming they are from the bank or a phone company?
When buying products online, why does the seller ask me to pay for goods using an insecure payment option like Bitcoin or money order?
Does the email I have received have any spelling or grammatical errors? Is the language used overly formal or informal?
If I do a quick search about the exact words of the email I received, does Google indicate it's a fraud or scam?
Why should a stranger manipulate me using obvious questions like “Would you want to be rich or poor?” While they already know the answer?
Is the email asking me to download an attachment? Or click a link to some insecure website?
Is the person trying to make me feel selfish or guilty for not sending them money, whether for a donation or buying a product?
Is the stranger portraying a sense of urgency and using pressure tactics? Are they telling me that their family member needs urgent medical attention?

Critical Thinking Questions About Your Life

It can also help to ask yourself a few critical thinking questions about your life. This way, you can gather basic information and uncover solutions to problems you might not have otherwise thought of.

Where do I wish to be in a few years, probably two, three, or five years? What short-term and long-term goals should I set?
What have I achieved so far from the time I set my previous goals? What should I be grateful for?
Do I have any values that guide me in life? If so, what are these values? Am I always true to these values?
Am I always worried about what people around me think? Can I act independently without the need to meet social expectations?
What should people say about me at my funeral? Would they talk about how good I made them feel or how rich and flashy I was?
If I wasn't afraid of anyone or anything, what would I have done? What if I didn't have any fear in me?
If today was my last day, what extraordinary thing would I do? Can I do it right now?
What should I do with the things that matter the most to me?
What things will make the greatest difference in my future life if I take action now?
How should I react when I feel unwanted by the people I love the most? Should I tell them?

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Critical Thinking Questions for a Debate or Discussion

When you are in the middle of a debate or discussion, you need to know that what you are saying is fact, have evidence to support your claim, and position yourself as an expert in what you are saying. Here are some critical thinking questions to ask when you are in a debate or discussion.

Is there fairness in this discussion? Is the moderator supporting one side? Do they want to make one side look stupid or wrong?
What is the aim of this discussion? Is there a major problem that needs to be solved? If so, how can I help solve it?
Who are the people affected by this discussion? If they were here, what would they say?
Do my views on this discussion matter? If I raise my point, will I be redundant?
What am I supposed to learn from this debate, and how can I use what I have learned in my daily life?
Does the audience seem to be biased towards one side? Are they booing one side? What can I do even if it's our opponents being booed?
Who are the discussion panel members? What views have they held about this kind of discussion or any other related discussions in the past?
How can I make my point without being ambiguous? Before I speak, should I take down some notes to avoid any confusion during my speech?
Am I ready to apologize if I make a mistake during the discussion? If so, what are the limits?
What information does my team, or I need before this discussion?

Critical Thinking Questions About Lying

Admitting when you are wrong, choosing not to cheat, and sharing constructive feedback are all ways to show your honesty. Here are some critical thinking skills to ask regarding lying.

Will the lie hurt those I am telling, or will it help them? What if being honest might cause my friend unnecessary pain?
Should I be the one telling this person a lie, or I let someone else do it?
Will I be the one hurt if I tell this lie? Will my friend feel I am a betrayer? Will it affect our friendship?
Do they answer my questions in detail, or are they always trying to ignore and dodge the main problem?
What if I ask these people the same question using different terms and wording? Will they give me the same response?
Did the tone of my friend suddenly change after I asked him/her this question? Do they sound louder, faster, or slower compared to how they usually speak?
Does this person have something to gain by lying to me? What is their motive?
Does this person take a sudden pause or hesitate more than usual when responding to my question?
When I look at these people's faces, do their facial expressions match what they say?
Should I believe this person or not? What are my intuitions? Does it look like they are telling the truth?
Do they blink like other days when I ask them questions? Are they always trying to avoid direct eye contact?
Why do they seem uncomfortable when it’s just a normal conversation?

Critical Thinking Questions When Presented With a Claim

Critical thinking is much more than just evaluating whether a claim is true or not. It also means a critical thinker reflects on what follows from true claims.

What does this claim mean, and what are its implications? What if it's a false claim?
Which of my morals, values, or beliefs do I have to give up to accept this claim?
Do professionals in this field agree or disagree with the claim that has been made?
Do they have evidence to back their claim? Which is the most robust evidence to support the claim?
What argument can I come up with to refute this claim? Or what is the best view that can support this claim?
Who is the primary source of the claim being made? Is the basis of the claim reliable?
Is it a claim, or it's just an opinion?
Is the claim likely to be 100% false, true, or partially true?
Am I allowed to refute the claim and table my evidence, or is it one-sided?

Critical Thinking Interview Questions

Critical thinking skills are valuable in any industry or field and for almost all roles. During a job interview, you will be asked questions so the potential employer can assess your skills and see how you use logic. Your critical thinking ability is just one vital part that can play into your professional development.

Is there a time you had to convince someone to use an alternate approach to solve a problem?
Have you ever had to make a difficult decision quickly?
How would you handle a situation where your supervisor handled something wrong or made a mistake?
What is one of the most difficult decisions you have ever had to make at work?
How would you solve a disagreement between coworkers when approaching a project?
Can you describe a time when you anticipated a problem ahead of time and took the appropriate steps to stop the problem from becoming an issue?
If you discover a cheaper way to do something or a better solution to a problem and try to explain it to your supervisor, but they don’t understand, what do you do?

Critical Thinking Questions for Kids

We can’t leave the kids out either. Critical thinking questions for kids get them thinking and talking. It also allows a parent to get to know their child better.

How many grains of sand do you think are on the beach?
What would happen if it stopped raining?
Do you think there is life on other planets?
Should children be able to set their own bedtimes?
How would you describe what a tree looks like without saying green or leaves?
Can you name five different emotions?
Can you talk for five minutes without uttering “um?”

What Are the Basic Principles of Critical Thinking?

Your critical thinking skills involve gathering complete information, understanding and defining terms, questioning the methods by which we get facts, questioning the conclusions, and looking for hidden assumptions and biases.

Additionally, we can’t expect to find all of the answers, and we need to take the time to examine the big picture of it all.

Here are the basic principles:

Disposition: Someone with critical thinking skills is often skeptical, open-minded, and practices fair-mindedness. They can look at different viewpoints and change positions if the evidence and reason lead them to do so.
Criteria: In order to think critically, one must also apply criteria. Certain conditions must be met before someone believes in something. The information needs to be from credible sources.
Argument: An argument is simply a statement or proposition that is shown with supporting evidence. When you use your critical thinking skills, you identify, evaluate, and construct your argument.
Reasoning: With critical thinking comes reasoning. You must examine logical relationships among the statements being made.
Point of View: Critical thinkers can see things from different perspectives and different points of view.

What Are Good Analysis Questions?

Analysis is a part of critical thinking that allows you to examine something carefully. Someone with analytical skills can examine the information presented, understand what that information means, and then properly explain that information to others. Analysis in critical thinking provides more clarity on the information you process.

When analyzing, you may ask yourself, “how do I know this,” how would I solve this problem,” and “why does it matter?”

Why Is Critical Thinking an Important Skill?

Critical thinking skills allow you to express thoughts, ideas, and beliefs in a better way. It also leads to improved communication while allowing others to understand you better. Critical thinking fosters creativity and encourages out-of-the-box thinking. This is a skill that can be applied to many different areas of your life.

For example, knowing the answers to critical thinking questions for a job interview will better prepare you for the interview. Many employers, during questioning, are likely to ask you critical thinking questions to assess if you have the ability to evaluate information effectively so you can make more informed decisions.

Final Thoughts on Critical Thinking Questions

Although it's common to get torn between making two or more choices, nobody wants to make the wrong decision. The only thing you can do to avoid this is use critical thinking questions to examine your situation. The answers to these questions will help you make informed decisions and help you comprehend crucial matters in your life.

Want to learn more about critical thinking and decision-making using a real-life example? Here is how Jeff Bezos uses critical thinking to make some of the most challenging life decisions.

Finally, if you want to ask better questions, then watch this short, 20-minute course to learn how to have a great conversation with virtually anyone .

Critical thinking

200+ critical thinking questions.

“Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.” – Voltaire As critical thinkers, it’s our job to question everything, instead of just blindly believing what we’re told, but what kinds of questions should we be asking though? What are the “right” questions to ask? In this article I’ve compiled a list of 200+ […]

“Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.” – Voltaire

As critical thinkers, it’s our job to question everything, instead of just blindly believing what we’re told, but what kinds of questions should we be asking though?

What are the “right” questions to ask?

In this article I’ve compiled a list of 200+ of the very best critical thinking questions for almost any situation.

Critical thinking questions:

If you’re presented with a claim

If you’re reading a book, listening to a podcast, watching TV or YouTube

If you’re watching an interview.

In a group or panel discussion
In an argument or debate

If you’re watching the news

If you want to spot a lie

If you want to spot a scam

If you’re presented with statistics
Critical thinking about your life

Let’s begin:

Is this an argument, a claim, a belief, an opinion, or a fact?

When you’re presented with information, whether it’s something you’re reading, watching or listening to, ask yourself:

How do you know it’s a fact?
What evidence exists to support this “fact”?
Has this “fact” been proven?
Do the majority of experts on the subject agree that this is a fact? Is there an expert consensus on this fact? If not, why not?
Is this an ordinary or extraordinary claim?
Do the majority of experts agree with this claim? Or is it contentious?
What is the source of this claim?
Who is making this claim?
Is this person an authority or expert?
How reliable is this source?
What are the best arguments in support of this claim?
What do the harshest critics against this position say?
What arguments do skeptics of this position give?
Has this claim already been debunked?
Is this evidence good enough to accept the arguers assertions?
Would this evidence stand up in court?
Or is the arguer/author/speaker making assertions without evidence?
What is the strongest evidence against this claim?
Is there more confirming or disconfirming evidence?
Is the expert consensus (if there is one) for or against this claim? Why?
Do the majority of experts agree or disagree with this claim? Why?
How can we verify or falsify this claim?
A statement may be true, but is it relevant? Why?
To what degree? To what extent?
Under what conditions?
In what context or circumstances?
This claim is 100% true
This claim is 100% false
This claim is mostly true, partly false
This claim is mostly false, partly true
This claim is half true, half false
Remember: There are degrees of “rightness” and “wrongness”. Statements are rarely 100% true or 100% false
What further claims does this claim logically entail?
Which of my beliefs would I have to change if I were to accept this claim?
If this is an argument, is it deductive or inductive?
If an argument is deductive, is it sound, valid, invalid, or unsound?
If an argument is inductive, is it cogent, strong, weak, or unsound?
How do you know this?
How did you determine this?
What evidence or proof do you have for this claim?
What is their background?
What makes them qualified to speak on this subject?
Are they an expert in the field?
On what basis is the author or speaker an authority or expert on the subject, or at least credible?
Are they conservative or liberal?
Atheist or religious?
Feminist or MGTOW?
(No author/speaker is completely neutral, unbiased and objective)
When was the article, book, podcast, video etc., written or recorded? Is it possibly outdated? Is there a more recent up-to-date version available?
Why did the author write this article/book?
Why is the speaker giving this talk? What is their motivation?
What is the purpose of this information? Why was it created?
Why did I choose to read/watch/listen to it?
Who benefits from this information? Why? How?
Is this information relevant to you? If so, how? Why do you need to know this? How does it affect you personally?
What are the authors/speakers main arguments and assertions? What is their philosophy? What are their main points?
Is the author/speaker arguing for anything controversial? If so, there are likely to be good counterarguments on the other side
Anonymous authorities aka “weasel words” e.g. “experts say…” “scientists say…” “studies show…”
Deductive or inductive reasoning
Expert opinion
Expert consensus
Randomized controlled trials
Scientific studies
Scientific consensus
Or are they making assertions without evidence?
What is the strongest evidence in support of these assertions? Is this evidence good enough to accept the authors/speakers conclusions? Would it stand up in court?
What is the strongest evidence against these assertions?
What might be another equally valid interpretation of the evidence or study results?
What conclusions does the author/speaker want you to draw? What do they want you to think/believe/understand/do?
Is the author/speaker/news station trying to push a narrative? e.g. “Diversity”, “Gender pay gap”, “Immigration”?
Do you agree with the authors/speakers assertions? Why/why not? Anything you disagree with?
Do you agree with the authors/speakers philosophy? Why/why not? Anything you disagree with?
Do you agree with the authors/speakers “facts” and description of “reality”? Why/why not? Anything you disagree with?
Do you agree with the authors/speakers arguments and rationale? Why/why not? Anything you disagree with?
Are there any fallacies in the authors/speakers argument or rationale? If so, what?
Does the author/speaker address counterarguments, disconfirming evidence, objections etc.? If so, how effectively do they rebut these points?
If the author/speaker provides a “rule”, are there any exceptions to the rule that are not explained or accounted for?
Do you agree with the authors/speakers conclusions? Why/why not? (You might agree with their arguments and rationale but not with their conclusions) Are they backed up by sufficient evidence? Or is the author/speaker jumping to conclusions too quickly from insufficient evidence?
Are there any other equally valid conclusions or interpretations that could have been drawn from the evidence, or any other competing theories with better explanations for the evidence? If so, what?
What is the perspective of the author/speaker? Do they seem like an insider or outsider? Why?
Whose perspective is this information presented from? America’s or someone else’s? Conservative or liberal? Men or Women? Gen X, Y or Z?
What perspectives/viewpoints are not represented here? What other perspectives might be equally valid, or worth looking into?
What would (person) say about it?
What would (group) say about it?
Is there better evidence for one perspective/viewpoint than another?
Is the author/speaker presenting you with both sides of the story – or only one?
How has the author/speaker framed the information or story?
Is the author/speaker embellishing or sensationalizing the story for dramatic effect? Do you think the story really took place the way the author/speaker tells it?
What assumptions is the author/speaker making? What does the author/speaker have to believe is true before the rest of their argument makes sense?
What are the implications of the authors/speakers argument? If this is true, what else must be true?
What are the main problems the author/speaker is trying to solve? What solutions do they propose?
Do you agree with the authors/speakers proposed solutions? Can you think of even better solutions to these problems?
Has the author/speaker identified the real problem/s, or only a symptom of the problem?
Is the author/speakers analysis or solution to the problem or situation oversimplified or incomplete? What needs to be unpacked or expanded upon?
Is the author/speaker engaged in oversimplified black and white thinking as if something “always” or “never” happens, or as if “everyone” or “no one” should think/believe/do something, or as if something was right/wrong, true/false, correct/incorrect, without any grey areas in between?
Are you engaged in black and white thinking, as if “everything” or “nothing” the author/speaker says is true? Or are you judging the validity of the information line by line, sentence by sentence, claim by claim, realizing that some parts could be true, and other parts false?
Is the author/speaker emotional reasoning? Is it facts over feelings, or feels over reals?
How would you describe the author/speakers tone? Dogmatic? Overconfident? Emotive? Pay attention not only to what is said, but how it’s said. How does the tone affect your response to the speech/text?
Is the author/speaker using emotive language/tonality, and/or dramatic images or video, in an attempt to alarm, scare or outrage you?
Is the author/speaker guilty of magical or superstitious thinking? Is there a lot of talk of “the law of attraction”, “miracles”, “soul mates” etc.?
Does the author/speaker treat their opponents charitably and fairly? Do they treat the other side as intelligent people with a difference of opinion/perspective? Or do they demonize them as “crazy”, “dangerous”, “evil”, “dumb”, “stupid”, “racist”, “sexist”, “homophobic”, “transphobic” etc.?
Does the author/speaker seem intellectually honest? Trustworthy? Why/why not?
Is the author/speaker trying to be objective in their analysis and critique? Perfect objectivity isn’t possible, but are they even trying to be impartial, unbiased and objective?
Yes: Be careful you’re not automatically believing everything they have to say without evidence, and letting them do your thinking for you
No: Be careful you’re not automatically dismissing everything they have to say because you don’t like them (Remember: Examine the statement – not the speaker)
Yes: Beware because you’re more likely to believe it whether it’s true or not
No: Beware because you’re more likely to dismiss it whether it’s true or not
The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth
Half-truths and holding something back
Straight up lying
Is the author/speaker misquoting people, or taking quotes out of context?
Did the person really say …? Is this a real quote/tweet? Or has the person been misquoted or quoted out of context? Is this a fake tweet?
How are you going to use this information? What are you going to do with it? How are you going to put it into practice? How will it make a difference to your life?
What is the purpose of this interview? Is it to educate or entertain the audience? Is it to promote a product or service?
Who is the interviewee? Why is this person being interviewed?
When did this interview take place? Is this information possibly outdated and no longer relevant?
Is the interviewer asking the interviewee mostly softball or hardball questions?
Is the interviewer asking the interviewee a lot of leading, loaded or gotcha questions? Do they seem to be trying to lead or trap the interviewee? e.g. “Yeah, but isn’t it true that…”, “Yeah, but don’t you think…”, “Yeah, but what about…”
Is the interviewer really listening to the interviewee? Are they making a real effort to try to understand the interviewee and their position, or are they simply trying to promote or condemn it?
Is the interviewer deliberately trying to make the interviewee look bad? e.g. Are they being overly disagreeable or standoffish? Do they only ask hardball or gotcha questions and then interrupt the interviewee mid-sentence with another difficult question every time the interviewee starts to give a good answer?
Does the interviewer interrupt or cut off the interviewee if they start talking about anything controversial, or if they start talking about anything that doesn’t align with the narrative of the network e.g. anti-abortion, pro-gun or pro-Trump comments?
Has the interview been edited to make the interviewee look bad, to paint them in a negative light?
What additional questions would you ask the interviewee that the interviewer didn’t ask?

If you’re watching a group or panel discussion

If you’re watching a group discussion or debate, especially on a contentious topic e.g. abortion or gun control:

Who are the panel members? What makes these people authorities or experts on the subject?
Are both sides of the debate equally represented with intelligent people? Or is one side represented by heavyweights and the other side lightweights?
Is there an equal distribution of liberal and conservative pundits? Or is it a majority liberal panel with a token conservative? (or vice versa)
Does the host seem biased towards one side over the other? Is the host picking sides and showing their approval/disapproval of one side?
Is the audience showing an obvious bias to one side of the debate? Are they only applauding/booing one side of the debate?
Is the host giving more airtime, credibility and/or respect to one side?
Is the host trying to make one side look bad, ignorant or stupid?

In an argument or a debate

If you’re in an argument or a debate, or watching one:

Is this an argument or an assertion? If it’s an argument, is it deductive, inductive or abductive? Is it sound or cogent? Valid or invalid? Strong or weak?
Are all of the premises true and correct? Do all of the premises necessarily lead to the conclusion? Are there any unjustified leaps of logic?
Am I clear on how each word is being defined in the argument?
Is someone attempting to redefine words e.g. “rational”, “reasonable”, “racist” etc., to support their preferred conclusion?
Is someone trying to shift the burden of proof? Note: The burden of proof is the obligation to provide evidence to support one’s assertion e.g. “You are guilty” and it is always on the one making the claim – not the other way around
Has this argument already been debunked?
Is someone making a PRATT? (Point refuted a thousand times)
Is this a strawman or steelman argument?
Is this the best argument in support of …?
What are the best arguments in support of …?
What are the best arguments against …?
What is the strongest evidence in support of …?
What is the strongest evidence against …?
Is the preponderance of evidence for or against …? Is there more confirming or disconfirming evidence?
Is the expert consensus (if there is one) for or against …? Why?
Do the majority of experts agree or disagree with …? Why?
Are there any fallacies in this argument or rationale? If so, what? (Fallacies don’t necessarily make an argument invalid but it’s still good to be aware of them)
Am I 100% certain I understand my opponent’s position? Am I sure? Could I argue my opponent’s position convincingly? Could I steelman it? Could I pass the Ideological Turing Test? If not, you don’t understand it. Don’t argue for or against a position until you fully understand it
What are the strongest points of my opponent’s argument?
What are the weakest points of my opponent’s argument?
What are the weakest points of my argument?
What is the strongest evidence against my position?
What are the best arguments against my position?
How would I attack my argument if I had to?
What do I like about my opponent’s position, and what do I dislike about mine?
What aspects of my argument are likely to be unconvincing to those that don’t already agree with me?
Does my opponent seem intellectually honest? Are they arguing in good faith? Are they willing to follow the evidence where it leads? Are they willing to admit when they’re mistaken or wrong? Am I?
Does my opponent seem more interested in “winning” the argument or discovering the truth?

Ask the other person:

How did you determine that?
How did you come to that conclusion?
What do you know that I don’t?
Where am I wrong in my argument or rationale?
What evidence would it take to change your mind, to convince you otherwise?
Are these your real reasons for believing X? If all of these reasons were proven wrong, would you still continue to believe X? If yes, let’s not even worry about these reasons because they’re not the real reasons you believe X. What are the real reasons you believe X?
Why do you think other smart people aren’t convinced by the same arguments and evidence that you are?
Associated Press News
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism
The Economist
Pro Publica
What is the bias of this news station? Are they liberal or conservative? You can check the bias of a particular news station here: Media Bias Fact Check
Fear mongering
Gossip/rumors
Hatchet jobs
Outrage porn
Puff pieces
Is this really the most important “news” of the day? Why is this story being prioritized over everything else that happened today?
Why do I need to know this? How does it affect me?
What is the purpose of this news story? Why was it created? What does the news station want you to think/believe/do?
When was this news story published? Is this information current, or is it outdated and/or no longer relevant?
Has this story already been debunked?
Truth or Fiction
The Washington Post Fact Checker
Hoax Slayer

Check these websites to see if a claim or story has already been debunked, but don’t rely on any of these websites to do your thinking for you, because they may mislead you with their own political biases

Has this story or headline been written to educate, entertain or infuriate you?
Is the headline an accurate summary of the information – or is it just clickbait?
Do the photos fit the story?
Has an unflattering photo been deliberately chosen to paint the subject e.g. Trump in a bad light?
Is it likely that this story has been embellished or sensationalized?
How has this information been framed or spun?
Are you being presented with both sides of the story – or only one?
Whose perspective is this presented from? Conservative or liberal? America’s or someone else’s? Men or Women? What other perspectives might be equally valid, or worth looking into?
What do the other news stations say? e.g. if you watch CNN or MSNBC, what does CBS or FOX say? (and vice versa)
Are you being presented with facts or opinions? If “facts”, on what basis are they “facts”? What evidence exists to support these “facts”?
Do the media’s “facts” and description of “reality” seem accurate? Why/why not? Anything you disagree with?
Did someone really say that? Or have they been misquoted or quoted out of context?
Does the domain look credible?
Is this satire?

How to spot a liar

Does it seem like this person is lying or telling the truth? Why? Are they a known liar?
Is this person motivated to deceive me? Do they stand to gain something by lying to me? What might this person gain by lying to me?
Dodge the question
Ignore the question
Attack you for asking the question, “How could you ask me a question like that!”
Refuse to answer the question
Answer a different question
Turn the question back on you, “I could ask you the same thing!”
Give short one word answers
Give vague or ambiguous answers
Talk around in circles without answering the question
If you ask the person the same question multiple times using different words, do they give different answers and contradict themselves? Do the details in their story keep changing?
Uncomfortable
Does the person speak slower or faster or louder than normal when answering your questions?
Does the person hesitate, take long pauses, or talk slower than normal when answering your questions? (maybe in an attempt to think on the spot and buy time?)
Do they avoid eye contact and/or cover their mouth when answering questions?
Do they start sentences and not finish them, or change topics and start talking about something else mid-sentence?
Does the tone or volume of their voice change? Does their voice crack and/or go higher than normal? Do they cough repetitively and clear their throat, or stammer or stutter?
Do they blink rapidly, or not at all, or have a fake or nervous smile?
Do they roll their lips back or purse them?
Does their body language seem uncomfortable?
Do their emotions and facial expressions match their words? When they say they’re “good” or “okay”, do they seem good or okay?
Does it seem like they’re in a hurry to change the subject?
This person is telling “The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth”
This person is telling half-truths and holding something back
This person is playing dumb and pretending to know less than they do
This person is straight up lying
What does your gut/intuition say? Does it seem like they’re lying or telling you the truth? (or both)
Is a stranger emailing, texting or calling you out of the blue claiming something too good to be true? e.g. you’ve entitled to a large inheritance – and all you need to do is provide bank details, or pay taxes or transfer costs? Or that you’ve won a prize in a competition or lottery you’ve never entered?
Is someone calling you claiming to be from your bank, gas/electricity provider, phone company etc. and asking you to verify your personal contact details, password, bank details, credit card number etc.? maybe due to “unauthorized” or “suspicious activity” on your account?
Does a google search on the exact wording of the email, text or ad reveal a scam?
Does the email contain any grammatical or spelling errors, or overly formal language?
Does the email ask you to click a link or open an attachment?
If you’re buying something online is the seller asking you to make payment with an insecure payment option? e.g. direct bank transfer, money order, or a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin?
In an online dating scenario, is someone professing strong feelings for you after only a few encounters?
Does the person have a sense of urgency? Are they claiming to need money urgently for a personal or family emergency, medical attention, or to come see you?
Is someone using pressure tactics, and trying to make you feel guilty or selfish for not buying their product or service, or donating to a charity?
Is someone trying to manipulate you with sleazy sales/self-help seminar type questions e.g. “Do you want to be rich or poor?” “A winner or a loser?” “A success or a failure?”
Does it seem too good to be true? Does it seem like a scam? If so, it probably is
What does your gut/intuition say?

Statistics questions

“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” – Benjamin Disraeli

Ask yourself the following questions whenever you’re presented with any statistic:

Who paid for the study or survey?
Who conducted the study or survey? Does it come from a credible source?
Why was the study or survey done? What is the likely agenda?
When was the study done? Is the information outdated? Is it still relevant? Times change. Public opinion changes
Who was polled? Conservatives or liberals? Men or women? Asians, Blacks, Hispanics or Whites? What age group? Gen X, Y or Z? How diverse was the group?
How large was the sample size? How many people were surveyed? Is the sample size large enough? Is it qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods? Was the sample size sufficient? Was it representative enough of the wider population? Did the participants come from different cultural and social backgrounds? How generalizable are the findings?
What are the statistics measuring?
How long did the information take to gather? Was it a 2 week survey? A 6 month study? A 10 year study?
What questions were asked?
How was each question asked? Were the questions leading or loaded or worded in such a way as to encourage a certain answer?
What is the context of the survey?
How was the research done? Phone, email, social media, face to face?
What is the number as a percentage? e.g. 55, 000 Americans is 0.0167% of the population
Is the percentage statistically insignificant? e.g. 500, 000 Americans might be addicted to Heroin, but as a percentage that’s ‘only’ (any number above one is obviously too high) 0.153% of Americans
Do the author’s conclusions and the headline logically follow from the data? Or are they reading too much into the data? Find the raw data if you can. Don’t just accept and believe headlines for statistics. Make sure it says what the headline says it says. Statistical headlines are often used to suggest things the data doesn’t actually say
Is the research confusing causation and correlation? Check out: spurious correlations for a perfect visual example of why correlation does not equal causation
Has this study been peer reviewed by experts?
Beware of unsourced statistics

“I can prove anything by statistics except the truth.” – George Canning

Critical thinking about your life questions

“The unexamined life is not worth living” – Socrates

You can apply critical thinking to the books you read, the podcasts you listen to, the information and “news” presented to you, but ultimately, what better place to apply critical thinking skills than to your own life?

Which biases and fallacies are you most guilty of?
Where/when do you most often fail to practice critical thinking?
What are your sacred cows? What shouldn’t be questioned? What is off limits? God? Jesus? Buddha? Krishna? Muhammad? The Bible? The Bhagavad Gita? The Quran? Your Guru?
What do you need to start/stop doing?
What do you need to do more/less of?
What are your best/worst habits?
Where do you waste the most time?
Who/what should you cut out of your life?
What one thing, if you were to take action on it, would produce the greatest difference in your life?
A year from now, what will you wish you had started today?

87 Self-Reflection Questions for Introspection [+Exercises]

Introspection in Psychology: 87 Self-Reflection Questions, Exercises & Worksheets

Do you sometimes take time to clarify your values in a moment of doubt or uncertainty?

If you answered “yes,” you are no stranger to self-reflection and introspection (terms that will be used more or less interchangeably in this article), an important psychological exercise that can help you grow, develop your mind, and extract value from your mistakes.

Read on if you’d like to learn the meaning of self-reflection and introspection, reasons why it’s important, and tools and techniques for practicing it yourself.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Self-Compassion Exercises for free . These detailed, science-based exercises will not only help you increase the compassion and kindness you show yourself but will also give you the tools to help your clients, students, or employees show more compassion to themselves.

This Article Contains:

What is introspection a definition, what is the importance of introspection, 70 self-reflective questions to ask yourself, 10 self-reflection exercises, activities, and techniques for adults and students, 4 self-reflection worksheets and tools, the 3 best books on self-reflection and introspection, a take-home message.

Introspection can be practiced both as an informal reflection process and a formal experimental approach, and the two have different definitions. Still, both processes can be undertaken by anyone with curiosity and determination (Cherry, 2016).

The informal reflection process can be defined as examining one’s own internal thoughts and feelings and reflecting on what they mean. The process can be focused on either one’s current mental experience or mental experiences from the very recent past.

The formal experimental technique is a more objective and standardized version of this, in which people train themselves to carefully analyze the contents of their own thoughts in a way that’s as unbiased as possible.

The original idea of introspection was developed by Wilhelm Wundt in the late 1800s (McLeod, 2008). Wundt focused on three areas of mental functioning: thoughts, images, and feelings. Wundt’s work eventually led to the current work on perceptual processes and the establishment of the field of cognitive psychology .

introspection self-reflection worksheets and tools

Researchers have shown that we think more than 50,000 thoughts per day, of which more than half are negative and more than 90% are just repeats from the day before (Wood, 2013).

If you don’t make the time and effort to refocus your mind on the positive through introspection, you won’t give yourself the opportunity to grow and develop.

Enhancing our ability to understand ourselves and our motivations and to learn more about our own values helps us take the power away from the distractions of our modern, fast-paced lives and instead refocus on fulfillment (Wood, 2013).

The importance of doing it right

Reflecting on ourselves and our environments is a healthy and adaptive practice, but it should be undertaken with some care—there is, in fact, a wrong way to do it.

When your focus on introspection has morphed from a dedication to an obsession, you have taken it too far. In fact, those who take self-reflection too far can end up feeling more stressed, depressed, and anxious than ever (Eurich, 2017).

In addition, it is all too easy for us to fool ourselves into thinking we have found some deep insight that may or may not be accurate. We are surprisingly good at coming up with rational explanations for the irrational behaviors we engage in (Dahl, 2017).

To help stay on the right path with your self-reflection, consider asking more “what” questions than “why” questions. “Why” questions can highlight our limitations and stir up negative emotions, while “what” questions help keep us curious and positive about the future (Eurich, 2017).

With this important point in mind, let’s move on to the questions, exercises, and worksheets that you can use to work on your own self-reflection.

What is the Importance of Introspection? self-reflection

Read through the following three lists to get some ideas for introspective questions. Answering them can take you from feeling like you don’t understand yourself to knowing yourself like the back of your hand.

These 10 questions are great ways to jumpstart self-reflection (Woronko, n.d.):

Am I using my time wisely?
Am I taking anything for granted?
Am I employing a healthy perspective?
Am I living true to myself?
Am I waking up in the morning ready to take on the day?
Am I thinking negative thoughts before I fall asleep?
Am I putting enough effort into my relationships?
Am I taking care of myself physically?
Am I letting matters that are out of my control stress me out?
Am I achieving the goals that I’ve set for myself?

The following 30 questions are questions you can ask yourself every day to get to know yourself better (William, n.d.):

Who am I, really?
What worries me most about the future?
If this were the last day of my life, would I have the same plans for today?
What am I really scared of?
Am I holding on to something I need to let go of?
If not now, then when?
What matters most in my life?
What am I doing about the things that matter most in my life?
Why do I matter?
Have I done anything lately that’s worth remembering?
Have I made someone smile today?
What have I given up on?
When did I last push the boundaries of my comfort zone?
If I had to instill one piece of advice in a newborn baby, what advice would I give?
What small act of kindness was I once shown that I will never forget?
How will I live, knowing I will die?
What do I need to change about myself?
Is it more important to love or be loved?
How many of my friends would I trust with my life?
Who has had the greatest impact on my life?
Would I break the law to save a loved one?
Would I steal to feed a starving child?
What do I want most in life?
What is life asking of me?
Which is worse: failing or never trying?
If I try to fail and succeed, what have I done?
What’s the one thing I’d like others to remember about me at the end of my life?
Does it really matter what others think about me?
To what degree have I actually controlled the course of my life?
When all is said and done, what will I have said more than I’ve done?

Finally, the following 30 prompts and questions are great ways to put your journal to use (Tartakovsky, 2014):

My favorite way to spend the day is . . .
If I could talk to my teenage self, the one thing I would say is . . .
The two moments I’ll never forget in my life are . . . (Describe them in great detail, and what makes them so unforgettable.)
Make a list of 30 things that make you smile.
“Write about a moment experienced through your body. Making love, making breakfast, going to a party, having a fight, an experience you’ve had or you imagine for your character. Leave out thought and emotion, and let all information be conveyed through the body and senses.”
The words I’d like to live by are . . .
I couldn’t imagine living without . . .
When I’m in pain—physical or emotional—the kindest thing I can do for myself is . . .
Make a list of the people in your life who genuinely support you, and whom you can genuinely trust. Then, make time to hang out with them.
What does unconditional love look like for you?
What things would you do if you loved yourself unconditionally? How can you act on these things, even if you’re not yet able to love yourself unconditionally?
I really wish others knew this about me . . .
Name what is enough for you.
If my body could talk, it would say . . .
Name a compassionate way you’ve supported a friend recently. Then, write down how you can do the same for yourself.
What do you love about life?
What always brings tears to your eyes? (As Paulo Coelho has said, “Tears are words that need to be written.”)
Write about a time when your work felt real, necessary and satisfying to you, whether the work was paid or unpaid, professional or domestic, physical or mental.
Write about your first love—whether it’s a person, place or thing.
Using 10 words, describe yourself.
What’s surprised you the most about your life or life in general?
What can you learn from your biggest mistakes?
I feel most energized when . . .
“Write a list of questions to which you urgently need answers.”
Make a list of everything that inspires you—whether books, websites, quotes, people, paintings, stores, or stars in the sky.
What’s one topic you need to learn more about to help you live a more fulfilling life? (Then, follow through and learn more about that topic.)
I feel happiest in my skin when . . .
Make a list of everything you’d like to say no to.
Make a list of everything you’d like to say yes to.
Write the words you need to hear.

Self-Reflective Questions introspection psychology

For example, the five self-examination exercises listed below (Bates, 2012) are a good way to get started with self-reflection. They’re simple and easy to do, but they can familiarize you with the process for more in-depth reflection in the future.

Self-Examination Exercise 1

Consider whether or not you tend to analyze people or diagnose their problems for them without their encouragement or request.

Often when we hold information that has helped us to make sense of the world, we want to share it. This information, when unprompted and delivered to another person, sometimes doesn’t feel so good. They may feel like you are telling them that something about them is wrong, something that they might not necessarily agree with.

Remind yourself that this information needs to be asked for and not prescribed by you, no matter how valid it feels to pass it on (Bates, 2012).

Self-Examination Exercise 2

This is a good exercise if you tend to expend a lot of energy trying to understand what upsets you about another person’s actions. You may also spend a lot of energy thinking of ways to address that person about what upsets you.

Not only does this burn a lot of your energy, but it also can have an unintended effect on the person who has upset you. When you place a clear emphasis or focus on what is wrong when speaking with someone, it implies that you are dissatisfied and unhappy.

Usually, the issue you have is not something that is making you terribly unhappy, just an annoyance or irritation, so this doom and gloom is not the message you want to deliver. It’s just a single issue that needs attention, but it can seem much bigger and more pervasive to the person you are planning to discuss it with.

Try to remind yourself that this problem, no matter how valid an issue it is or how important it is to you, is not the whole of your feelings. When you deliver this information, remember that a person who loves you does not want to be the cause of your unhappiness—do not make them feel an unnecessary amount of pain as a result of the unhappiness they’ve caused you.

questions to ask yourself for critical thinking

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Self-Examination Exercise 3

Do you frequently interrupt people or constantly think of your own stories to share while they are talking? If you’re like a lot of social people, the answer is probably yes.

In order to relate to others, we have to share a little bit of ourselves with them—your stories can help you establish common ground with others or make you closer with them. However, if you’re only focused on sharing your stories, it can distract you from the greater purpose of a conversation.

In our eagerness to relate, please, entertain, and share, we often remove ourselves from the present, reducing our ability to be sensitive and engaged listeners. Even if we spend our whole lives trying to be good listeners , sometimes we slip out of practice in empathizing or identifying with the person we’re talking to, or we lose an opportunity to comfort or entertain the other person.

Next time you have a conversation with a loved one and you find yourself thinking ahead of them, take a moment to pause and truly listen. Don’t think about how you can personally identify with what they are talking about, and don’t search your memory bank for a relevant story of your own—just listen.

It’s a rewarding experience to truly soak in what another person is saying, both for you and the other person (Bates, 2012).

Self-Examination Exercise 4

Sometimes when we work very hard to do good things, we get to a level of comfort with that fact, and we begin to talk about it to others. That can be a great thing in that it allows us to own our efforts and our actions and, with that, acknowledge our goodness to ourselves.

But for this exercise, consider how you might feel if you were to do things that are good, but only for your own knowledge. The next time you do something really wonderful, try keeping that wonderful thing to yourself and not sharing it with anyone.

Often when a person is good and loving, they don’t have to tell anyone; it’s a truth that shines from every angle of their person. As an experiment, keep some knowledge to yourself, as a gift to you (Bates, 2012).

Self-Examination Exercise 5

For this exercise, you need only to do one thing: Consider what you don’t know.

When we get to a place of comfort in our skin and in the world, we tend to lose the ability to see things from a different perspective. Things make sense to us in our own point of view, so what’s left to know?

Everything, it turns out.

By this, we mean to try and remind yourself of these facts: You cannot know or understand everything, and you are not the judge of what is right for another person.

You can neither read minds nor know what the future holds. You can only exist in one moment at a time, and you are changing every day.

Trust that sometimes others know themselves and their lives better than you ever could. Listen with the awareness that you might learn something new.

Be open to the fact that you might one day feel totally different about something that you believe to be fixed—and that includes your sticking points, the “unchangeables” you thought were forever set in stone. Let what you don’t know and can’t know be a comfort rather than something to fear, because it means that anything is possible (Bates, 2012).

Once you have found your footing with these self-examination exercises, the following introspective exercises are a great next step.

4 Self-reflection technique – OER Africa

Affirmations

Creating affirmations is a helpful way to clear your mind and put things in perspective. Affirmations can be defined as positive phrases or statements used to challenge negative or unhelpful thoughts .

For this exercise, write a list of at least 50 affirmations. They should address what you want to embrace, improve, and achieve in your life.

Follow these instructions when composing and practicing your affirmations:

Write the affirmations in the present tense and be sure to use the word “I” throughout the affirmations;
Focus on the things that are occurring now that will lead to your future success. You may have negative thoughts pop up, but do your best to let go of the negative thoughts and replace them with positive thinking;
Repeat your affirmations aloud to help reprogram your mind with more positive thoughts.

Following these steps can help you open yourself up to the positive in your life and take steps that will lead you to the future you want (Holothink, n.d.).

Subconscious Mind Exercise

In this exercise, you will dive into your subconscious. Don’t worry, it’s not as painful or scary as it sounds!

Your subconscious mind is where your self-image is stored. All of your attitudes, experiences, beliefs, and values are stored deep in your subconscious, driving your behavior and forming the core of who you are.

We don’t often take time to think about ourselves on this level. So in this exercise, take some time and put a concerted effort into thinking about your attitudes, experiences, beliefs, and values. It may take a few sessions of self-reflection to really uncover your core beliefs, but it’s worth the effort it takes to learn about yourself.

Reflecting on this core component of yourself will help you gain greater self-awareness . Much like meditation, it will help you achieve a new, higher level of consciousness, and it may just help you find valuable information and answers about yourself and your beliefs (Holothink, n.d.).

Visualization Exercise

This exercise offers you an opportunity to put your creativity to use.

Create a box, a vision board, or some other medium to store and display who you are and what your hopes and dreams are for the future. You can create or decorate your box or board however you’d like. Use whatever you feel represents yourself and what’s important to you.

Place pictures, words, drawings, poems, or small items of personal significance on your board or in your box. The more details you include, the better.

The end result is a visual representation of yourself and what you love. Come back to the box or board when you’re having a dilemma or trying to figure out the best course of action, and draw from this visual representation of yourself to help you make decisions (Holothink, n.d.).

For this exercise, feel free to put your imagination to good use—the sky’s the limit when it comes to visualization.

Questions About Yourself

This exercise is simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. All you need to do is ask yourself some questions.

Ask yourself questions about yourself. Write down the questions, then write down your answers to the questions. Ask yourself about your past, present, and future, and compose answers to the questions that are positive, insightful, and motivating to you.

Don’t worry about coming up with the “right” answers—there aren’t any right answers, and your answers will likely change over time. And be as creative as you’d like with the questions and answers since no one else needs to answer or read them but you.

Be sure to structure your questions to include details about your hopes and dreams. The more detailed your questions and answers, the more opportunity you have to dig into some valuable self-reflection (Holothink, n.d.).

Write and Reflect

Journaling is great for many reasons, and it can be used in several applications for introspection.

For this exercise, get a journal , diary, or notebook with plenty of pages to write in.

Every day, write down three things in your journal:

At least one positive thing that happened to or around you today;
A question for yourself (you can use one of the questions from the previous exercise, a question from the lists we covered earlier, or something entirely new), but don’t answer it yet;
A reflection on the question you wrote the previous day for yourself and an answer to it.

Following these steps, you will write only the first two components on the first day but will write three components every day thereafter (Holothink, n.d.).

Self-Awareness Worksheet

This worksheet is a treasure trove of exercises and ideas to help you think about yourself, including your talents, qualities, values, and perceptions.

The point of this worksheet is to help you know and understand:

Your beliefs and principles;
What you value and what is important to you;
What motivates you;
Your own emotions ;
Your thinking patterns;
Your tendencies to react to certain situations;
What you want out of life.

There are several sections to this worksheet, each of which has its own set of questions and prompts:

– Talents

What are your greatest talents or skills?
Which of your talents or skills gives you the greatest sense of pride or satisfaction?

– Traits/Qualities

What are your five greatest strengths?
What do you feel are your two biggest weaknesses?
What qualities or traits do you most admire in others?

– Values

What are ten things that are really important to you?
What are the three most important things to you?
What are the values that you hold nearest to your heart?

– Perception

How is the “public you” different from the “private you”?
What do you want people to think and say about you?
Is it more important to be liked by others or to be yourself? Why?

– Accomplishments

What three things are you most proud of in your life to date?
What do you hope to achieve in life?
If you could accomplish only one thing before you died, what would it be?

– Reflection

What is something that represents you (e.g., song, animal, flower, poem, symbol, jewelry, etc.)? Why?
What three things would you like to change most about yourself?
List three things that you are.

– Finish the Sentence

In the final section, you will be shown several prompts to complete:

I do my best when . . .
I struggle when . . .
I am comfortable when . . .
I feel stress when . . .
I am courageous when . . .
One of the most important things I learned was . . .
I missed a great opportunity when . . .
One of my favorite memories is . . .
My toughest decisions involve . . .
Being myself is hard because . . .
I can be myself when . . .
I wish I were more . . .
I wish I could . . .
I wish I would regularly . . .
I wish I had . . .
I wish I knew . . .
I wish I felt . . .
I wish I saw . . .
I wish I thought . . .
Life should be about . . .
I am going to make my life about . . .

Once you finish this worksheet, you should have plenty of insight into who you really are and what is most important to you. Use your answers to inform your decisions about what goals you choose to strive toward, what you would like to do in the future, and what moves to make next.

You can view, download, or print this worksheet for yourself.

The average human has more than 50,000 thoughts per day; more than half of them are negative, and more than 90% are just a repetition from the day before (Wood, 2013).

This means refocusing your mind on positive thoughts through introspection is essential for personal ascendance and growth. Most people take the end of the year as an opportunity to reflect on the past and set goals for the following year. However, reflections and introspection are critical at any point in time and enable your clients to grow.

Wilhelm Wundt developed the concept of introspection in the late 1800s (McLeod, 2008). According to him, introspection is focused on thoughts, images, and feelings. Introspective questions are often used in the field of cognitive psychology.

Understanding your clients allows you to learn more about their values, internal thoughts, and feelings. Furthermore, it takes the focus away from fast-paced lives and allows your client to be in the present moment and refocus on fulfillment (Wood, 2013).

Besides asking your client reflective questions, another tip is to practice active listening. Being able to stay entirely in the present moment without interruption or projecting your own story onto someone is key to helping your clients flourish. When the urge to share your story arises, pause and take the time to listen.

Tool 1: Persona

Before moving on to the empathy map below, first create a “persona,” or a clear character representation of your actual self, your ideal self, and your “ought” self (Kos, n.d.).

In order to create this persona, you will need to thoroughly analyze who you are, who you want to become, and what the social expectations connected to your feelings and behaviors are like in different situations.

Answering questions like the following can help you define these three important selves:

Why do I want to become [enter a characteristic important to you] ? Who in my life was or is like that?
Who would I be proud if I were [enter a characteristic important to you] ? Why?
How are my feelings in certain situations connected with my actual, ideal, and ought self?
Am I pushing myself to be something I’m actually not?
Am I being something I’m not just because others expect it of me?

Use your answers to these questions to help you get an idea of who you are, who you want to be, and who you feel you ought to be. Once this preparation has been completed, move on to creating an empathy map.

Tool 2: Empathy Map

An empathy map can help you engage in a valuable and informative process of self-reflection, using all of your senses to help you identify your needs and the disconnections between what you say and what you do (Kos, n.d.). Don’t worry—we all have a disconnect between what we say and what we do.

This exercise can help you figure out where you have these disconnects and how you can best address them to become the person you want to be.

To create your empathy map, simply draw four quadrants on a piece of paper. Each quadrant represents a different aspect of yourself:

Next, consider a situation that evokes a specific strong emotion in you, like having a fight with your spouse or significant other. In each quadrant, write down the relevant aspects of each perspective.

For example, for the fight scenario, you could write down something like the following:

Seeing: What are some of the things you saw during the situation?
Doing: What actions did you do and which behaviors did you notice in yourself? What is the behavioral pattern you can identify?
Thinking: What were you thinking in that situation? What does this tell you about your beliefs?
Feeling: What emotions were you feeling? Why? Which past situation do they most remind you of?

On the backside of your piece of paper, on another piece of paper, or next to your four quadrants, create a fifth section. Here, you will write down your insights and ideas based on your empathy map.

The following questions can help you with the self-reflection process while you’re working on your map:

How is the situation connected to your fears and hopes? What are your fears? What are your hopes? Which of your needs are met or not met in that situation?
What was the environment in which you encountered the situation? What do you remember from the environment? How did you find yourself in that environment and why? What was your sight focused on?
What hurts you most in the situation or makes you feel good about the situation?
What was the feedback you gathered from your environment or other people?
What are all the positives about the situation? What can you learn about yourself, others, and the world by experiencing that kind of a situation?

Do your best to avoid falling prey to cognitive distortions or reinforcing negative feelings while answering these questions. Go deep, and identify why you feel like you do. Observe, but don’t judge (Kos, n.d.).

Tool 3: Life Satisfaction Chart

A life satisfaction chart is a great way to assess how well you are meeting your goals and furthering your hopes for the future. You can complete this chart periodically to track your progress toward your goals and see what needs to be revised, improved, reduced, or eliminated to help you strive toward them.

Draw a scale from 1 (not at all satisfied) to 10 (extremely satisfied) horizontally, and list the following ten areas of life vertically:

Relationships;
Competencies;
Spirituality ;
Technology.

Assess your satisfaction in each of the 10 areas using the scale you created.

Next, take a second look at all the areas where you are only somewhat satisfied (where you used a rating between 4 and 7). It can be hard to effectively reflect when you don’t have a clear idea of whether you are satisfied with a specific area or not.

Go back through these “somewhat satisfied” areas and rate your satisfaction again, but use only ratings between 1 and 3 or 8 and 10. Limiting your options to either “very satisfied” or “not very satisfied” will help you to make a more decisive judgment about your satisfaction in each area.

Highlight every section rated with a 1, 2, or 3 with red, and highlight every section rated with an 8, 9, or 10 with green. Finally, for all ten areas of life, ask yourself, Why did you rate each area how you did? What would make you change your rating?

Repeat this exercise as often as you’d like to help you keep track of your satisfaction with the way your life is going (Kos, n.d.).

17 Exercises To Foster Self-Acceptance and Compassion

Help your clients develop a kinder, more accepting relationship with themselves using these 17 Self-Compassion Exercises [PDF] that promote self-care and self-compassion.

Created by Experts. 100% Science-based.

There are many books out there on self-reflection, self-awareness , and introspection, but we recommend the books below as resources to help you start your journey.

1. Question Your Life: Naikan Self-Reflection and the Transformation of Our Stories – Gregg Krech

Question Your Life: Naikan Self-Reflection and the Transformation of Our Stories by Gregg Krech

Like the physical bags we carry when we go on a journey, our hearts and our minds only have so much room—but instead of carrying luggage, they carry stories. Some stories inform our lives and help us understand ourselves, while others don’t serve a purpose and can weigh us down.

In this book, Krech will guide the reader through several powerful examples of people who had an important change of heart or mind as a result of quiet self-reflection, including a woman who hated her mother, a man estranged from his father, a pregnant woman hit by a train, a couple who was struggling with their marriage, and a rabbi who neglected his shoes.

Read this book to open yourself up to seeing the world differently, and finding a better path forward.

You can find it on Amazon .

2. Being Present: A Book of Daily Reflections – David Kundtz

Being Present: A Book of Daily Reflections by David Kundtz

Being present can be defined as:

Paying full attention to what is going on right now;
Staying in the moment;
Observing what is, without criticism or judgment;
Having a balanced concern for things exactly as they are;
Accepting whatever experience one is having;
Having an awake participation in ongoing life.

You can use this book as a reminder to be more present through every season of the year and every season of life. The book draws inspiration from poets, scientists, spiritual teachers, children, butterflies, and big cities, and teaches you to accept each day as one full of possibilities and potential surprises.

3. 52 Weeks of Self Reflection – Erika R. Dawkins

You can use this book to guide you through self-reflection. No matter your goal, this guidebook will help you clear your head, see the world from a new perspective, and build a greater understanding of yourself.

In this piece, we defined introspection, described the importance of self-reflection (especially healthy self-reflection), and provided many example exercises, activities, and worksheets for you to enhance your understanding of yourself.

Keep in mind that self-reflection is an intensely personal process. If you find other activities that work better for you, feel free to focus on those—but we’d love for you to come back here and share with us what works.

Do you have any other techniques for self-reflection that you like to use? How important do you think introspection is for the average person, or for yourself? Let us know in the comments.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Self Compassion Exercises for free .

Bates, S. M. (2012, November 11). Check yo’ self: An exercise in self-reflection. Hello Giggles. Retrieved from https://hellogiggles.com/fashion/check-yo-self-an-exercise-in-self-reflection/
Cherry, K. (2016, June 14). What is introspection? Wundt’s experimental technique. Very Well. Retrieved from https://www.verywell.com/what-is-introspection-2795252
Dahl, M. (2017). Sometimes ‘introspection’ is you just making stuff up. Science of Us. Retrieved from http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2017/03/sometimes-introspection-is-you-just-making-stuff-up.html
Eurich, T. (2017). The right way to be introspective (yes, there’s a wrong way). TED. Retrieved from https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/
Holothink. (n.d.). The art of self-reflection – 5 exercises to find peace in your life. Holothink.org. Retrieved from https://holothink.org/the-art-of-self-reflection-%E2%80%93-5-exercises-to-find-peace-in-your-life/
Kos, B. (n.d.). Tools to help you with self-reflection. Agile Lean Life. Retrieved from https://agileleanlife.com/tools-to-help-you-with-self-reflection/
McLeod, S. (2008). Wilhelm Wundt. Simply Psychology. Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/wundt.html
Tartakovsky, M. (2014). 30 journaling prompts for self-reflection and self-discovery. Psych Central. Retrieved from https://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2014/09/27/30-journaling-prompts-for-self-reflection-and-self-discovery/
William, D. K. (n.d.). 30 thought-provoking questions you should ask yourself every day. Lifehack. Retrieved from http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/30-thought-provoking-questions-you-should-ask-yourself-every-day.html
Wood, K. (2013). The lost art of introspection: Why you must master yourself. Expert Enough. Retrieved from http://expertenough.com/2990/the-lost-art-of-introspection-why-you-must-master-yourself
Woronko, M. (n.d.). The power of self-reflection: Ten questions you should ask yourself. Lifehack. Retrieved from http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/the-power-self-reflection-ten-questions-you-should-ask-yourself.html

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Fantastic article and each of the Reflective Question is like a light house taking us deep inside of our life experiences. Thank You with deep appreciation in preparing this.

Great article! Self-reflection is necessary for improvement!

A very informative article. I learned alot.

I would say ”Best” information I’ve ever read about Self-reflection

I am really impressed with your writing style. Keep it up. The way you explain a complex topic in an easy to understand way is really impressive. Thanks for your inspiring thoughts which guided me well during my journey and gave me the hope I was looking for in personal and professional life. Hats off for this content…

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283 Philosophical Questions to Spark Deep Critical Thinking

Philosophy has implications for daily life. Pick a handful of these 255 questions as a starting point for thinking critically.

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It can be easy to get so caught up in daily life that we forget to stop and think about our world. Thinking about philosophical questions can help you think critically.

Building a practice of thinking critically of the world will empower you to make decisions that you feel confident in—whether it’s how you vote, spend your time, or use your resources.

If you’re looking for where to start, check out this list of philosophical questions!

What is a Philosophical Question?

A philosophical question often doesn’t have a clear, straightforward answer. They are questions that usually require deep thought and sometimes don’t have answers.

Philosophical questions typically involve human nature, the origins of the universe, morality, ethics, and the afterlife.

Philosophical Questions About Behavior

Humans are complex beings, and our world is also complicated. This can make it hard to parse the good from the bad and right from wrong. Take a moment to consider some of these philosophical questions about behavior and human nature.

What is the difference between good and bad people?
Is it essential to be a “good person”?
What makes people feel more attached to some people than others?
Is tribalism, or looking out for others like you, innately good, bad, or neutral?
If one existed apart from other humans, would they still value goodness?
Are there moral commonalities amongst diverse people groups and cultures?
Are individuals important, and if so, in what ways?
Are humans more important than other animals? Why or why not?
Are some people more important than others?
Is the death penalty right or wrong?
What should be the repercussions for wronging someone else?
What is wisdom?
Is wisdom a helpful tool?
Why is wisdom often associated with age?
If a person has an accident and is no longer able to contribute to society, has their value as a person decreased, increased, or stayed the same?
Can people change?
How does one become a “good person”?
If someone’s personality changes, does that mean they have also changed?
Can you ever honestly know another person?
If someone’s intentions were good but the outcome of an action is terrible, at that moment, is the person good or bad?
If someone does a kind deed but has a selfish motive, does that impact the goodness of the deed?
When babies are born, are they good?
If identical twins grew up never knowing each other, how similar and different would they be?
Is there ever a justifiable reason to kill someone?
Are people born with a specific personality, or is the character the result of their circumstances?
Is lying ever a good thing?
If you steal money but use it to save someone’s life, does that justify the theft?
Should someone being ignorant be a valid excuse for their rudeness?
Can we choose our emotions, or do they happen to us?

Watch our video below to learn how to start a conversation with anyone using these killer conversation starters:

Philosophy Questions About Love

“Love is a biological necessity. We cannot live without it” —Stephanie Cacioppo, neuroscientist specializing in love and loneliness

As people, we need to love and be loved. You can express love in many different ways. Use these questions to spark some critical thought on the topic of love, or check out these truth or dare questions while you’re at it.

What is love?
How do you know you are loved?
How do you know that you love someone?
Is the desire to be loved an innate human desire?
Why do people desire love?
Does love necessitate action, or can it exist simply as a feeling?
In what ways are love, lust, and sexual desire different from one another?
Is an understanding of pain necessary to appreciate love?
Does the loss of love change one’s outlook on life?
Can one show love without first being loved? Is love an intrinsic aspect of human nature or a reciprocated act?
Are there different forms of love such as parental, friendship, or romantic? Or are they all diverse expressions of the same substance?
Can romantic love for one person last forever?
Can love ever be a bad thing?
How does unreciprocated love affect people?
What does falling in love mean?
What causes someone to fall in love?
Does love feel different to different people?
Is love, health, or money more important?
Can you choose to feel love for someone?
Does being loved by more people correlate to a person’s value?
Is there a difference in depth of love versus quantity of love?
To love someone well, do you need to show their love how they want to be loved, or can you love them the way you naturally show love?

Pro Tip: If you’re interested in learning more about different ways to show love, read up on the five love languages .

Is there “The one?”
What does it mean to love yourself?
Do you need to love yourself before you can love others?
Is loving yourself selfish?
Is it essential to have a friendship with your partner?
If your partner grew up in an abusive household, are you more understanding of unhealthy behavior?
Would you rather be respected or loved?

Fun Philosophical Questions

Philosophy can be fun! If you think philosophy is all heavily intellectual, overwhelming, abstract, or existential-crisis-inducing, take a moment to ponder if a hot dog is a taco.

Are you currently dreaming, and how do you know?
Do memories exist even if you forget them?
Does grass feel pain when you step on it?
Can trees feel pain?
Does 1+1 always equal 2?
Would it be ethical, unethical, or neutral if time travel were possible?
If time travel were possible, would it be wrong to change history?
What is the purpose of humor?
Why are jokes funny?
If one person doesn’t find a joke funny, does it mean they have a lousy sense of humor, or is the joke flawed?
Are humans responsible in any way for caring for wild animals?
Can inanimate objects be either bad or good?
Does morality bind animals?
Is water wet?
Are hot dogs tacos?
Is it wrong to visit a zoo, thereby financially supporting an establishment that isn’t ideal for the animals?
Is it wrong to purchase fast fashion , rapidly produced clothing that uses manufacturing methods that negatively impact the environment and exploit workers?
In a fictional world, could you have a five-sided square?
How do we know what words mean?
Why do some people feel scared while watching a horror movie even though they know it is not real?
What would you say if you had five minutes to defend the human race in front of a group of aliens who were going to obliterate humanity?
Are there any physiological changes you would make humans make us a better species?
Should the legal age for alcohol consumption be different than it is?
If your life expectancy suddenly increased to 500 years, would you live differently than you currently are? What about if your life expectancy decreased and you only had five more years to live?
If immortality were possible, would you want to be immortal?

Questions from Philosophy About Human Rights

What are human rights? Whose job is it to ensure that all humans have rights? These types of questions can be multifaceted and hard. It can be easy to avoid them or think they’re someone else’s job.

However, your daily choices can have a ripple effect on other people’s lives. Whether with who you vote for or how you spend your money, how you live impacts others.

Take some time to consider what you believe human rights are if everyone is entitled to them, and whose job it is to ensure everyone has rights.

What are human rights?
Is autonomy a human right?
Is liberty a human right?
Is free speech a human right?
What is the difference between a human right and a privilege?
Is it the responsibility of privileged individuals or the government to bridge gaps between privileged and disadvantaged people?
If people are spreading misinformation, should they still be allowed to continue?
Should abortion be legal?
At what point in human development, from a fetus to a baby, does one become a person and gain rights?
Is war ever necessary or even reasonable?
How can societies work to dismantle systemic racism, ableism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination?
If two people’s opinions differ, how should they resolve their differences?
Has technology made it easier or harder to advance human rights?
Is it the responsibility of wealthy countries to support impoverished countries?
Should women’s rights be a priority to men? Why or why not?
What makes a person a person?
If a person has lost consciousness and doctors know they will not regain it, but their organs are still functioning, are they still a person?
Is the internet good, bad, or neutral?
Is being able to financially support a family a human right, or is having a large family a privilege?
Do more humans have fundamental rights in the modern world, or have we lost human rights as time has progressed?
If you could ensure every person on the planet would have access to a single human right, which one would you choose? Would there be any repercussions?
What rights should prisoners of war have?
Do you think those serial killers have an equal value to other people, or do their actions impact their value?
Is privacy a human right?
Is technological advancement minimizing our privacy?

Philosophical Questions About Society and Government

When we look at the societies we live in, they often have good and bad elements. These questions can help you think critically about the structures in place in your country.

Are there any innately evil governmental structures?
What would a perfect society look like?
How involved should governments be in caring for the individuals in their country?
If you could create your society, what would look different from the one where you live now?
What role should the government have in the lives of individuals?
What makes a good leader?
Can someone do a bad thing and still be a good person?
Is prison the best way to protect society and correct individuals?
Does the legal system function fairly?
Is technology good?
Can technology advance society in a way that is beneficial?
Are taxes morally right?
Should it be lawful for citizens to hold protests? What if a handful of the protestors make it violent?
What makes people work together despite differences?
Does societal advancement only happen with collaboration?
In what ways can disagreements advance society?
What makes a crime a crime?
How should citizens who believe the laws in their country be unjust behave? Is it okay for them to ignore those laws and are still bound to do what the law asks of them?
Is it morally wrong to abstain from voting?
Is it wrong for governments not to have healthcare available to all citizens?
Should things that are bad for people be banned by the government, or is it the individual’s responsibility to avoid harmful substances?
Is there an age at which people should be answerable for their actions?
Is it discriminatory not to allow certain people to run for government office?
Is it okay to limit immigration if a country is worried it will lose its culture?
Should the government regulate what food manufacturers can and can’t put in their food?
Is the government responsible for ensuring people receive a livable wage?
Should those who live an unhealthy lifestyle have decreased access to healthcare?
What would the ideal government look like?

Philosophical Questions Related to Culture

Culture can be a complicated issue to wrap your head around. When you travel or talk to someone from a different background, you may immediately notice surface-layer cultural differences such as what food people eat and what type of clothing they wear.

However, as you get to know a culture better, you may realize there are deep-seated differences, perspectives, and traditions.

These questions will help you think about the differences between cultures and if there are any aspects of culture that are innately good or bad.

What is culture?
How does culture form?
Is it important to be mindful of other cultures, and if so, why?
Are some cultures better than others?
Is morality developed within a culture, or is it intrinsic?
Is there a wrong way to discipline children?
In what way is a family-oriented culture better or worse than an individualistic culture?
Are individualistic cultures intrinsically selfish?
What is success?
Does income play a part in how you define success?
Does the culture you were raised in impact your outlook on life?
If someone has recently relocated to a new country, should there be leniency for breaking minor laws they did not know about, or should they be prosecuted the same as their counterpart raised in that culture?
If a group practices human sacrifice as part of their culture, does that make it okay? Would you be wrong to try to save the person they would sacrifice?
Is attractiveness a cultural construct?

Philosophical Questions About Space and the Universe

Humans have long been in awe of space. Our recorded fascination with space reaches back to ancient philosophers.

“Astronomy compels the soul to look upward and leads us from this world to another.” —Plato

However, it has only been in the past 75 years that humanity has started studying space up-close—and there’s still so much we don’t know about the universe we live in. These questions can help you find new ways to think about the world around you and how that informs your day-to-day life.

Where does the Earth come from?
Did a deity or event start the universe?
Does the universe’s origin affect how one lives, and if so, how?
Does the vastness of space impact the way you perceive yourself?
Do things about the universe imply it exists due to chance or design?
Is it the duty of those currently alive to be ecologically responsible?
Is the Earth the only planet inhabited by living beings?
Is anything in the world eternal?
Is time eternal?
Did time, as we now perceive it starts at a specific moment?
Will time continue to run after the human species no longer exists?
If we find another inhabitable planet, would there be any moral implications if humans left the earth and moved there?
Should space travel be accessible to all people?
Is it good, bad, or neutral that humans have invested so many resources into space exploration?
Is there a difference between faith and superstition?
If a deity exists, would it exist within our understanding of morality?

Philosophical Questions to Ask Kids

Philosophical questions can be challenging for children. Philosophy is often large and abstract. Because they’ve been alive for less time, children typically have fewer life experiences than adults to draw on when answering philosophical questions.

However, some of these questions are ones that small children are already wondering about. You may have heard them ask what happened to their goldfish after it died or struggle with differentiating emotions like happiness and sadness.

Introducing a few of these conversations may help the children in your life realize these are conversations you are ready and willing to have any time they have questions.

What does it mean to feel happy?
Why are some things right and some things wrong?
Is it necessary to be nice to people, and why?
What is kindness?
Is being kind and being nice the same thing?
What is the difference between good and evil?
What happens to pets when they die?
What are things that you know to be certain?
What is something that you believe and why?
If superheroes were real, would they be more responsible for protecting people than you are or equally accountable?
Does helping people make you feel good? Why or why not?
What is the difference between adults and children?
What, if anything, makes a person different from an animal?
Is social media good, bad, or neutral?
How do you know that you belong?

Challenging Ethical Questions to Consider

The philosophical subtopic of ethics involves weighing between challenging scenarios and deciding which option is morally right. The challenges raised within ethics can often be incredibly challenging to sort out, and they are ones you may run into in life.

Remember, even if someone sees a topic differently than you do, it’s essential to be respectful and have conversations without getting vertigo from the “dizzying heights of your moral ground.”

Is it wrong to kill one person if it might save the lives of hundreds of others?
Is using euthanasia to intentionally end a life to prevent further pain and suffering immoral?
Should people be allowed to commit medically induced suicide?
Was former President Harry Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bombs unethical? Some argue that it saved many lives by ending the war quicker. Does that change the ethics of killing civilians during a time of war?
Is bribery ever acceptable or ethical?
If your friend’s significant other drinks too much alcohol and flirts with you, should you tell your friend about it and probably hurt them with the knowledge, or wait and see if it was a one-time thing that won’t ever happen again?
Is eating animals unethical or not?
Is it ethical to test products on animals?
If someone passed away in a car accident and their lungs could save someone’s life who would otherwise die before another donor became available, would it be wrong to use the lungs as a transplant if the person who passed was not a registered organ donor?
Is it okay to harm one person if it means protecting others?
Is being a billionaire in a world where people are starving unethical or do you feel that it is alright if they worked hard and earned their wealth?
Is war ever ethical?

Questions About Religion and Morality

These are profound questions that have to do with one’s worldview. Many of these topics, such as life after death, cannot know with certainty, but they are worth thinking about anyway.

Is it possible to not believe anything, or does everyone have beliefs?
What happens after death?
Is there a god?
Is there an afterlife?
Do people have free will?
Is your soul reborn after you die?
Does your worldview impact the way you make day-to-day decisions?
Where do people come from?
Is there an age at which people are morally responsible for their decisions?
Is there such a thing as fate?
Is luck a real thing?
Does chance exist?
Does life have meaning? If so, what is the meaning of life?
Does having a religious experience prove the existence of a god?
Is there absolute truth?
Who determines right from wrong?
Is the world progressively becoming worse?
Why does evil exist?

Abstract Philosophical Questions

Topics like pain, suffering, beauty, and joy are a part of daily life, but how often do you stop to think about them?

Use these questions to help you do just that!

What is beauty?
Are pain and beauty interconnected?
Is it a shared element between a beautiful person, experience, or memory?
Why do people value happiness, beauty, or joy?
If your life were to end tomorrow, would you be happy with how you had spent your time?
What would you want it to say if someone were to write a book about you?
What gives your life meaning and purpose?
Can pain be a good thing?
Does learning a valuable lesson through suffering make it worth it?
Is it essential to care for yourself, or is it more important to care for others?
What is “failure?”
Does failing at something mean you’re bad at it?
Would getting rid of negative traits like aggression in all humans have any negative consequences?
Would removing loss, sorrow, and pain impact one’s ability to enjoy life and love?
What is the difference between happiness and joy?
What makes you happy?
Can you choose to feel joy?
What is friendship?
Why do friendships sometimes end?

Philosophical Questions About Art, Music, and Literature

Art, music, and literature are essential ways that people express themselves and preserve culture.

“Art is the window to man’s soul. Without it, he would never be able to see beyond his immediate world; nor could the world see the man within.” —Lady Bird Johnson

Here are some questions to help you think critically about what art is and how it impacts you.

What makes something “art?”
Is some art better than other art?
Does art need to make a statement or have a deeper meaning?
Is music art?
Should artists be held responsible for the message of their art?
Are artists morally obligated to give trigger warnings if their art could mentally or physically negatively impact someone?
Should there be age restrictions on specific pieces of art?
Should public nudity be acceptable when being presented as performance art?
Should everyone be able to interpret a piece of art as they see it, or is there a “correct” interpretation of an art piece?
Is it morally wrong for museums to display art that depicts slavery? Why or why not?
Should art taken as spoils of war be returned to the country it originated in?
Is it wrong for educators to assign reading that demonstrates racism?
Is it necessary to preserve history?
Is it morally acceptable to enjoy art made by someone who did horrible things?
Why do people enjoy looking at art?
Why does music connect people?
Should music be beautiful?
Is it essential for art to “make a statement?”
Would it be music if you and your friends were to hit pots and pans randomly?
If it comes together when you’re hitting pots and pans and sounds nice, would it be music?
If there is a room full of people talking, could that be categorized as music?
What is the difference between “good” taste in art or music and “bad” taste?
Can cooking be a form of art?
What is the critical difference between a functional and artistically designed room?
Is it possible that what one person sees as “yellow” is what someone else sees as “green,” but they’ve both learned to call it “yellow,” so they will never know?

Society, Government, and Philosophical Dilemmas

Are there any innately evil governmental structures?
What would a perfect society look like?
How involved should governments be in caring for the individuals in their country?
If you could create your society, what would look different from the one where you live now?
What role should the government have in the lives of individuals?
What makes a good leader?
Can someone do a bad thing and still be a good person?
Is prison the best way to protect society and correct individuals?
Does the legal system function fairly?
Is technology good?
Can technology advance society in a way that is beneficial?
Are taxes morally right?
Should it be lawful for citizens to hold protests? What if a handful of the protestors make it violent?
What makes people work together despite differences?
Does societal advancement only happen with collaboration?
In what ways can disagreements advance society?
What makes a crime a crime?
How should citizens who believe the laws in their country be unjust behave? Is it okay for them to ignore those laws and are still bound to do what the law asks of them?
Is it morally wrong to abstain from voting?
Is it wrong for governments not to have healthcare available to all citizens?
Should things that are bad for people be banned by the government, or is it the individual’s responsibility to avoid harmful substances?
Is there an age at which people should be answerable for their actions?
Is it okay to limit immigration if a country is worried it will lose its culture?
Should the government regulate what food manufacturers can and can’t put in their food?
Is the government responsible for ensuring people receive a livable wage?
Should those who live an unhealthy lifestyle have decreased access to healthcare?
What would the ideal government look like?

Final Thoughts: Talk Philosophy with Other People

When it comes to challenging topics like those raised by philosophy, it can be helpful to talk through them with others. Others can help raise perspectives that you may not have considered yourself.

Philosophical questions can also make for interesting conversations with people you already know relatively well. Just remember to be respectful of people who have different viewpoints!

Here are some ways you can use these questions:

Over dinner with a few friends . How would your friends react if you asked about beauty’s nature or the purpose of life? It might be unexpected, but give it a try the next time you see them! Philosophy might not be the best topic if you’re with a big crowd of friends, but it can make for an exciting conversation with a group of four or five.
With your significant other . How you perceive the world informs how you spend your money, what you believe about raising a family, and how you use your free time. It can be stressful, but deal-breaker conversations are essential if you want a relationship to become serious.
With a son, daughter, niece, nephew, or another child in your life . Children have big questions about the world but may not know how to find the words for those questions. Try asking the children in your life an occasional philosophical question to help them begin to strengthen their critical thinking muscles.

If you’re hosting a dinner party and want to talk about something a little less serious, consider using one of these 257 questions .

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A Crash Course in Critical Thinking

What you need to know—and read—about one of the essential skills needed today..

Posted April 8, 2024 | Reviewed by Michelle Quirk

In research for "A More Beautiful Question," I did a deep dive into the current crisis in critical thinking.
Many people may think of themselves as critical thinkers, but they actually are not.
Here is a series of questions you can ask yourself to try to ensure that you are thinking critically.

Conspiracy theories. Inability to distinguish facts from falsehoods. Widespread confusion about who and what to believe.

These are some of the hallmarks of the current crisis in critical thinking—which just might be the issue of our times. Because if people aren’t willing or able to think critically as they choose potential leaders, they’re apt to choose bad ones. And if they can’t judge whether the information they’re receiving is sound, they may follow faulty advice while ignoring recommendations that are science-based and solid (and perhaps life-saving).

Moreover, as a society, if we can’t think critically about the many serious challenges we face, it becomes more difficult to agree on what those challenges are—much less solve them.

On a personal level, critical thinking can enable you to make better everyday decisions. It can help you make sense of an increasingly complex and confusing world.

In the new expanded edition of my book A More Beautiful Question ( AMBQ ), I took a deep dive into critical thinking. Here are a few key things I learned.

First off, before you can get better at critical thinking, you should understand what it is. It’s not just about being a skeptic. When thinking critically, we are thoughtfully reasoning, evaluating, and making decisions based on evidence and logic. And—perhaps most important—while doing this, a critical thinker always strives to be open-minded and fair-minded . That’s not easy: It demands that you constantly question your assumptions and biases and that you always remain open to considering opposing views.

In today’s polarized environment, many people think of themselves as critical thinkers simply because they ask skeptical questions—often directed at, say, certain government policies or ideas espoused by those on the “other side” of the political divide. The problem is, they may not be asking these questions with an open mind or a willingness to fairly consider opposing views.

When people do this, they’re engaging in “weak-sense critical thinking”—a term popularized by the late Richard Paul, a co-founder of The Foundation for Critical Thinking . “Weak-sense critical thinking” means applying the tools and practices of critical thinking—questioning, investigating, evaluating—but with the sole purpose of confirming one’s own bias or serving an agenda.

In AMBQ , I lay out a series of questions you can ask yourself to try to ensure that you’re thinking critically. Here are some of the questions to consider:

Why do I believe what I believe?
Are my views based on evidence?
Have I fairly and thoughtfully considered differing viewpoints?
Am I truly open to changing my mind?

Of course, becoming a better critical thinker is not as simple as just asking yourself a few questions. Critical thinking is a habit of mind that must be developed and strengthened over time. In effect, you must train yourself to think in a manner that is more effortful, aware, grounded, and balanced.

For those interested in giving themselves a crash course in critical thinking—something I did myself, as I was working on my book—I thought it might be helpful to share a list of some of the books that have shaped my own thinking on this subject. As a self-interested author, I naturally would suggest that you start with the new 10th-anniversary edition of A More Beautiful Question , but beyond that, here are the top eight critical-thinking books I’d recommend.

The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark , by Carl Sagan

This book simply must top the list, because the late scientist and author Carl Sagan continues to be such a bright shining light in the critical thinking universe. Chapter 12 includes the details on Sagan’s famous “baloney detection kit,” a collection of lessons and tips on how to deal with bogus arguments and logical fallacies.

Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments Into Extraordinary Results , by Shane Parrish

The creator of the Farnham Street website and host of the “Knowledge Project” podcast explains how to contend with biases and unconscious reactions so you can make better everyday decisions. It contains insights from many of the brilliant thinkers Shane has studied.

Good Thinking: Why Flawed Logic Puts Us All at Risk and How Critical Thinking Can Save the World , by David Robert Grimes

A brilliant, comprehensive 2021 book on critical thinking that, to my mind, hasn’t received nearly enough attention . The scientist Grimes dissects bad thinking, shows why it persists, and offers the tools to defeat it.

Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know , by Adam Grant

Intellectual humility—being willing to admit that you might be wrong—is what this book is primarily about. But Adam, the renowned Wharton psychology professor and bestselling author, takes the reader on a mind-opening journey with colorful stories and characters.

Think Like a Detective: A Kid's Guide to Critical Thinking , by David Pakman

The popular YouTuber and podcast host Pakman—normally known for talking politics —has written a terrific primer on critical thinking for children. The illustrated book presents critical thinking as a “superpower” that enables kids to unlock mysteries and dig for truth. (I also recommend Pakman’s second kids’ book called Think Like a Scientist .)

Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters , by Steven Pinker

The Harvard psychology professor Pinker tackles conspiracy theories head-on but also explores concepts involving risk/reward, probability and randomness, and correlation/causation. And if that strikes you as daunting, be assured that Pinker makes it lively and accessible.

How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion and Persuasion , by David McRaney

David is a science writer who hosts the popular podcast “You Are Not So Smart” (and his ideas are featured in A More Beautiful Question ). His well-written book looks at ways you can actually get through to people who see the world very differently than you (hint: bludgeoning them with facts definitely won’t work).

A Healthy Democracy's Best Hope: Building the Critical Thinking Habit , by M Neil Browne and Chelsea Kulhanek

Neil Browne, author of the seminal Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking, has been a pioneer in presenting critical thinking as a question-based approach to making sense of the world around us. His newest book, co-authored with Chelsea Kulhanek, breaks down critical thinking into “11 explosive questions”—including the “priors question” (which challenges us to question assumptions), the “evidence question” (focusing on how to evaluate and weigh evidence), and the “humility question” (which reminds us that a critical thinker must be humble enough to consider the possibility of being wrong).

Warren Berger is a longtime journalist and author of A More Beautiful Question .

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Critical Thinking Is About Asking Better Questions

John Coleman

Six practices to sharpen your inquiry.

Critical thinking is the ability to analyze and effectively break down an issue in order to make a decision or find a solution. At the heart of critical thinking is the ability to formulate deep, different, and effective questions. For effective questioning, start by holding your hypotheses loosely. Be willing to fundamentally reconsider your initial conclusions — and do so without defensiveness. Second, listen more than you talk through active listening. Third, leave your queries open-ended, and avoid yes-or-no questions. Fourth, consider the counterintuitive to avoid falling into groupthink. Fifth, take the time to stew in a problem, rather than making decisions unnecessarily quickly. Last, ask thoughtful, even difficult, follow-ups.

Are you tackling a new and difficult problem at work? Recently promoted and trying to both understand your new role and bring a fresh perspective? Or are you new to the workforce and seeking ways to meaningfully contribute alongside your more experienced colleagues? If so, critical thinking — the ability to analyze and effectively break down an issue in order to make a decision or find a solution — will be core to your success. And at the heart of critical thinking is the ability to formulate deep, different, and effective questions.

JC John Coleman is the author of the HBR Guide to Crafting Your Purpose . Subscribe to his free newsletter, On Purpose , follow him on Twitter @johnwcoleman, or contact him at johnwilliamcoleman.com.

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Published on February 10, 2018
February 10, 2018

Critical Thinking Questions That Will Blow Your Mind

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What would it be like if every decision you made didn’t involve your personal feelings or over-emotional reactions? What if your perspective was always balanced and decisions completely informed? Is it not time that you used critical thinking questions to become the more levelheaded, cool, and calm person you want to be?

Being a critical thinker enables you to take a neutral perspective on an idea or scenario and gives you the power of true choice. Being free from manipulation or emotional ties to your decision will allow you to make the most beneficial choice in any circumstance.

In critical thinking, we are taught to question everything. However, the question behind the question is; what questions should you be asking? Before we go into the critical matter of the exact questions, we should first look at the manner in which these critical thinking questions should be asked. After this article, you will be a wizard at asking critical thinking questions.

The Standard of Questions You Should Ask

Although the actual questions will be very important to critical thinking, the emphasis and purpose of these questions will determine how effective the questions will be. You must first know how to question before you know what and which critical thinking questions to ask.

1. Open-ended questioning

As a critical thinker, you cannot allow whomever or whatever you are questioning to give you the smallest amount of information for your questions. Yes or No answers can really drag out the process of getting the answers and information that you want.

Asking questions that will not only give you the answers you are looking for but also open up a heap more information than you were searching for. Ask open-ended questions such as the following:

“What is the purpose of this scenario?” Instead of: “Is this the purpose of this scenario?”
“What is your favorite thing about this scenario?” Instead of: “Is this your favorite thing about this scenario?”

2. Avoid leading questions

Being a critical thinker is about escaping your bias and seeing things outside of your personal perspective . It is thus very important to avoid leading the question, in an area you want it to go.

Keep your questions as neutral as possible and don’t allow any definitive language to creep into the question. Such as using the following:

“What is your take on the healthiest diet there is?” Instead of: “Don’t you think the vegan diet is the healthiest diet?”
“What is the condition of the country at the moment?” Instead of: “How bad is the condition of the country at the moment?”

3. Specify the boundaries of your questions

As much as leading a question can be a hindrance to what you want, so can leaving the question too open, and invite unnecessary information to be given. Critical thinking is about being objective, but it still needs a direction and focus in which you apply your critical thinking.

Make sure that you set up an accurate framework in which your questions can be answered. Being too broad makes the process of getting answers inefficient and drawn out. Try asking questions like:

“Who is your favorite male tennis player in the United States?” Instead of: “Who is your favorite tennis player?”
“If you could live anywhere in South East Asia, where would that be?” Instead of: “If you could live anywhere, where would that be?”

4. Funnel the questions until you get the answer you were looking for

When questions remain shallow, it is easy for the sources of information you are questioning to mislead and avoid giving you the information that you want.

Do not set up the path of questions beforehand, but rather make sure that you dig deeper after each question in the direction of information that you really want. Once you have your answer, then move back to broader questioning in order to get a better picture of the whole once again.

5. All the answers to your question must be based on facts and well supported from many different sources

Make sure that you don’t give into hearsay. Find the studies, the science, and ample testimonials before you accept the information that you have been given.

Look into many different and unrelated sources to see if the information matches up. Look at the other side of the argument and validate their claims.

Methods of Critical Thinking Questions

1. the 5 w’s and the h.

These are the absolute basics of critical thinking. The Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How are foundational questions that are taught over and over in journalism, investigation, and research.

They are the base from which every critical analysis should be created. You would apply these questions as follows:

…would benefit?
…would this harm?
…is responsible?
…has researched this before?
…is the other perspective?
…would be the challenges?
…are the strengths?
…is the key subject?
…would this problem reside?
…are there similar situations?
…can more information be found?
…can this be improved on?
…is this acceptable and unacceptable?
…could this be implemented?
…would we be able to measure the results?
…is it time to stop this action?
…is this a problem?
…is this relevant?
…should this be known about?
…is there a need for this?
…is this different from anything else similar to it?
…it functions?
… is this the truth about it?
…could it harm anyone?

2. Agenda and method questioning

These two areas of questioning may have already been covered through the 5 W’s and the H. However, it is beneficial to emphasize the angle from which this questioning comes.

The first one is questioning the agenda. This is aimed at figuring out how people could benefit from a situation or idea. This agenda can place all the information received in context.

For instance, if a company was contributing to a charity and their agenda was to improve their image against the damage done by that company, then the contributions would be much less charitable and much more about publicity.

Questions that would help clarify the agenda would be:

What is the person or organization involved trying to accomplish?
What issues or problems are raised by the person or organization involved?
What data, what experiences, what evidence is given?
Is the person or organization involved thinking about the environment?
Is the person’s or organization’s thinking justified as far as we can see from our perspective?
And how do they justify it from their perspective?
How can we enter their perspective to appreciate what they have to say?

The second aspect of this is questioning the method. As a critical thinker, this makes the outcomes of every situation and idea questionable, which is exactly the point of critical thinking.

Too many times the outcome of a specific method is the focus of debate, without clarifying if that outcome has validity.

Questions that would help clarify the Method would be:

I s the person or organization involved willing to fundamentally rethink their methods of creating a certain outcome?
Has the person or organization involved thought about how the method will work going into the future?
To what extent has the method been tested?
Is there any other method that could be used to produce this outcome and what would be the implications of this method?
Is the person or organization involved willing to allow this method to be tested?
In what other situation has this method been used and how effective was it?

3. Inquiry process

The inquiry process is exactly that; a process. It does entail certain questions but the power of this process resides in the way the process is conducted.

This process is the standard of research and creates an order in which you can follow, uncovering the information that you seek. Although the terminology may change for each step of the process, the essence of what needs to be done remains the same.

The process is divided as follows:

Ask (Pose Question)
Investigate (Find Resources)
Create (interpret/ Synthesise)
Discuss (Report findings)
Reflect (follow the process backward)

4. Bloom’s taxonomy

Bloom’s taxonomy was created by Dr. Benjamin Bloom , a psychologist in the 1950’s. Bloom’s work was to create a better form of learning through more focus on analysis and evaluation.

Bloom’s taxonomy is very much Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to critical thinking. The original Bloom’s taxonomy encompasses:

What is the subject?
When did it happen?

Comprehension:

How would you compare the subject?
Explain the subject in your own words?

Application

What examples can you find of the subject?
What approach would you use to solve the problem?
What inference can you make from the information?
How would you classify or categorize the subject?
How would you compare the information?
What was the value or importance of the information?

Creation or Synthesis

Can you propose an alternative interpretation of the information?
What might happen if you…?

remembering, understanding, applying, analysing, evaluatating, creating

Bloom’s Taxonomy has since been revised. In 2001 a group of cognitive psychologists, curriculum theorists and instructional researchers, and testing and assessment specialists change the titles of each level to make a more dynamic approach to the system.

The titles were revised to:

Recognizing
Recalling
Interpreting
Exemplifying
Classifying
Summarizing
Inferring
Comparing
Explaining
Executing
Implementing
Differentiating
Organizing
Attributing
Checking
Critiquing
Generating
Planning
Producing

In the process of the revision, the authors broke the knowledge area into its own taxonomy:

Factual Knowledge

Knowledge of terminology
Knowledge of specific details and elements

Conceptual Knowledge

Knowledge of classifications and categories
Knowledge of principles and generalizations
Knowledge of theories, models, and structures

Procedural Knowledge

Knowledge of subject-specific skills and algorithms
Knowledge of subject-specific techniques and methods
Knowledge of criteria for determining when to use appropriate procedures

Metacognitive Knowledge

Strategic Knowledge
Knowledge about cognitive tasks, including appropriate contextual and conditional knowledge
Self-knowledge

If you want to know more about the reasoning behind the revision click here .

5. Integral questioning

Integral theory was created by Ken Wilber (author of A Brief History of Everything ) and has become one of the most useful structures of evaluation in this era. The integral model is a reference structure in which you can objectively see all areas of a specific subject.

This method goes hand in glove with the practice of critical thinking. Applying the method into question form will bring out the following analysis:

Quadrants: this is the evaluation of each viewpoint of a certain subject.

What does a specific person involved think or feel about the subject?
What studies and tests have been done on the subject?
What do the people as a whole feel or think about the subject?
What does the industry of the subject say on the subject?

Lines: These are the areas of understanding of factors involved in the matter.

What are the different areas of life expressed in this subject?
What factors are involved in the situation or subject?
To what area of understanding does is the subject appeal to?

Levels: This deals with a hierarchical standard of a certain area of the subject.

To what level of understanding does is a subject appeal?
How complex or advanced is this subject?
What standard of knowledge needs to be obtained to understand this subject?

State: This refers to a fleeting state of being in which the subject can be seen in.

In what state of mind was the person involved in when reviewing the subject?
In what state of mind was the person involved in when the situation occurred?
Is the information given contextual to a certain situation?

Types: This is a division of experiences based on traits that could affect perspective.

How would someone who is completely different from the person involved perceive the situation?
What different types of people were involved in the situation?
How could this subject be received differently by a different cultural reference?

Question Everything

You now possess all that you need to start becoming a critical thinker and asking critical thinking questions. The only way to engrain the above processes and questions to become a critical thinker is to practice. You might need to refer to this article consistently at first, but after time you will become a natural and healthy critical thinker.

This video may help to ignite your passion for questioning everything:

Read more on critical thinking by checking out these related articles and resources:

How to Solve the Biggest Problems With Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking Examples That Wil Influence the World Around You

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240 Philosophical Questions for Deep Critical Thinking & Debate

statue of ancient philosopher thinking about philosophical questions

Philosophical questions are an effective tool to stimulate and develop critical thought. They examine profound matters like free will and human nature; the source and value of happiness; morality and ethics; love, logic, and knowledge; religion, death, and the meaning of life.

Although such questions can open a “rabbit hole” that leads to endless and seemingly unanswerable questions, a list of philosophical questions to ask about life—like the ones provided below—can be used as a springboard for critical thinking.

Such questions help us evaluate arguments, explore foreign ideas, identify potential biases, and think critically about our own beliefs and presuppositions.

We are preparing our our children to enter a society full of questions … and questionable ideas.

Consequently, it is our responsibility to train them to think critically and, above all, seek truth when asking the deep questions that arise in their own hearts.

First, let’s take a closer look at what a philosophy question is. Then I’ll provide some examples to help encourage deep thinking.

What is a Philosophical Question OR TOPIC?

A philosophical question is open-ended. Since philosophy itself means “love of wisdom,” it logically follows that a philosophical question is one that pursues a deep understanding of the subject examined.

The answer to this type of question isn’t necessarily an easy one—nor is it always black or white. It requires thoughtful reflection.

The deeper the reasoning behind the answer the better.

Bear in mind there’s no such thing as a dumb philosophical question . However, don’t be surprised if the way questions are answered borders on the brink of absurdity at times.

But the goal is to inspire thought .

So … even if your students gives nonsensical responses, if they’re willing to explain how they came to their answer, count it as a win.

(Even giving an incomplete answer is better than not pondering the question at all.)

A good example of a philosophical question is one of the three overarching “pillars” of philosophy.

The 3 Basic But Big Questions of Philosophy Deal with Existence

The fundamental questions of philosophy deal with existence and fall into three main categories::

Where did we come from?
Why are we here and how should we live?
Is there hope for our future and life after death?

How we answer those questions determines what we will value and how we will behave.

With that in mind, it’s clear just how important it is to train our children to ask meaningful questions and seek truthful answers.

The study of philosophy can help us do that.

PDF Download of 240 Philosophical Questions

240 Philosophical Questions for Deep Critical Thinking

GET ALL 240 QUESTIONS IN AN INSTANT-DOWNLOAD EBOOK!

Includes strategies for using philosophical questions as debate topics.

It is natural to be inquisitive. Let’s steward our students’ curious natures well!

I’ve gathered 240 philosophy questions to help you (and your students) think through tough philosophical topics together.

It’s tempting to look at these questions as a mere academic exercise.

But philosophical ideas have shaped human history from ancient times until today — for better or for worse .

Look at them, instead, as a means of preparing your students to face (and combat) the deceptive ideas they will soon encounter.

Questions of Free Will and Human Nature

It's human nature to live according to the clock. We only have so much time on Earth.

Are we really free?

The question of free will versus determinism has been debated by great thinkers for centuries.

Some contend that we have complete freedom of choice.

Others believe that humans have no free will and cannot be held morally responsible for their actions (determinism).They argue that the choices we make stem exclusively from the nature we are born with and all the influences that surround us.

The Bible teaches that we have free will, and we’re responsible for our actions. As Deuteronomy 30:19 explains:

“… I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live …”

Here are some questions about will and humanity:

Are humans innately good or evil?
Can humans change their behavior if given enough time?
Do humans need God to exist?
What happens when we die?
Does consciousness continue after physical death?
Why does suffering happen?
Should we try to prevent bad events from happening? If so, then how would we go about doing that?
What makes human life so valuable?
What makes us human?
Why does it matter if we’re alive?
Is there anything wrong with being selfish?
Do humans need other people in order to live?
Can animals feel pain? If so, why don’t they try to avoid hurting each other?
Are children born good or evil?
Is it okay to lie to protect yourself?
What is beauty?
Do all people deserve respect?
Did you exist before you were born?
Where do emotions come from?
Can we choose our emotions or do they just happen?
At what age are children held accountable for their actions? How do you determine that?
Where does self-worth come from?
How do you determine one’s self-worth?
Is one human life worth more than another?
Is ignorance really bliss?
What is the goal of humanity?
Can predestination and free will coexist?

Philosophical Questions About Happiness

The philosopher Aristotle held the view that, “Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.”

Yet the very definition of happiness is as diverse as the people who seek it. Some seek it in relationships, others in work, hobbies, or pleasure.

One school of thought says finding happiness requires a life in which every aspect contributes toward personal fulfillment.

Another believes that happiness is “happenstance”—an emotion based on positive circumstances.

What do you think?

Here are some questions to ponder about happiness:

How much should we care about making ourselves happy?

What does it mean to be happy?
Can I be happy when faced with suffering?
Is happiness universal or a matter of perspective?
How much should we care about making ourselves happy?
Is it possible to feel happy and sad at the same time?
Is it really necessary to pursue happiness?
Are we happier now as a society than in times past? Why or why not?
Does anyone else’s happiness affect my own?
If someone has less material wealth than me, does this automatically make him unhappy?
What brings true happiness?
Can happiness be measured or quantified, like money and power?
Are certain types of experiences inherently “happier” than others?
Is it always best to seek out pleasure over avoiding pain?
Is happiness just the product of chemical reactions in the brain?

Questions Regarding Morals and Ethics

Questions of morals and ethics are important to examine.

Questions of morals and ethics are important to explore if you wish to develop critical thinking skills.

Morality and ethics both relate to the distinction between good and bad or right and wrong. However, morality is usually thought of as personal and normative, while ethics is the standards of good and bad distinguished by a particular community or social setting.

Because the seriousness of the two topics can elicit emotional responses, if we’re not careful, debates on ethics and morality can get heated quickly.

A good moral or ethical argument takes the whole picture into account.

For instance, how would you answer the question, “ Is killing always wrong? ”

Our first instinct may be a resounding Yes!

But looking at the big picture, we might ask: What if it occurs in self-defense? What about soldiers? Are they held to the same ethical standard civilians are?

These are the types of philosophical questions we encounter in this category.

Here are some additional examples:

Is it possible to make moral judgments without religion?

Is morality relative or absolute?
Where do morals come from?
Is it possible to make moral judgments without religion?
Is killing justified under certain conditions?
What makes something immoral?
How do you define “good” and “evil”?
Why do most people think that lying is bad?
Should all actions have equal consequences?
Does every human life count equally?
Is it ever justified to hurt others?
Is it fair to punish criminals with death?
Does morality come from within or outside ourselves?
Is stealing ever permissible?
Is it ever permissible to deceive others?
Should we judge acts based on their outcomes alone?
Should we always follow the rules even if doing so causes harm?
Is slavery ever ethically defensible?
Is dishonesty always wrong?
Would you kill one person in order to save 1,000?
Are lies permissible if they protect someone’s feelings?
What defines a person?
Are we obligated to help others?
Is it wrong to kill animals?
Are humans replaceable?
What is virtue?

Love is an abstract concept defined in a number of different ways. It’s described as:

a state of mind
a relationship
or a desire.

You’ll find a biblical definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8:

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.…”

Here’s a collection of philosophical questions about love:

Which is more important: love or money? Why?
Is there such thing as true love? If yes, where does it come from?
Do all human beings want to be loved?
Can anyone ever really understand another’s feelings?
Are children born with an innate love for their parents?
Are some relationships better than others?
Can life without love exist?
What makes someone fall in love?
Why do people get married?
Is there a difference between love and lust?
Is marriage necessary?
Does love last forever?
Is it okay to love yourself?
Is love natural or a choice to be made?
Where do we find love?

Hard Questions Concerning Death

Have you heard the cliché: “The only certainty in life is death and taxes”?

Death truly is a certainty of life.

While some people choose to face the reality of death head-on, others pretend like it doesn’t exist.

Perhaps it’s the finality of death that sparks fear.

Regardless of how we feel, our time on earth will end at some point in the future.

How should that impact how we live today?

Discussing death can be healthy when done in the right manner.

How would you like to be remembered after you die?

Here are some questions about death we can use to explore the topic, provoke thought, and potentially positively affect how we live:

Why do people fear death?
Can we know for certain if there is life after death?
How would you like to be remembered after you die?
What happens to the body after you die?
Does “good death” exist?
What would happen if we lived forever?
Should we try to prolong our lives at any cost?
Could immortality be possible?
Is euthanasia wrong in all circumstances?
Is death actually the beginning?
Why is it acceptable to kill insects?
Should terminally ill patients be able to choose death?

Questions with Respect to Universal Human Rights

Man ponders whether universal human rights exist.

Universal human rights are those rights which apply equally to everyone regardless of race, religion, gender, or creed.

They include freedom of speech , equality before law , right to justice , and more.

The philosophy behind human rights is based upon the idea that humans deserve respect and dignity, and—ultimately—the right to life.

They’re largely considered universal because they are natural, belonging to all members of humanity simply by virtue of being human.

Some philosophers argue that such rights can’t be taken away, while others claim they are conditional.

Here are a few questions to help us think critically about human rights:

What makes something a human right?
Do you believe human rights even exist?
Are human rights actually universal?
Are humans rights and entitlement the same thing?
Can torture be justified?
Is liberty a human right?
Is personal autonomy a right?
Do governments have the authority to regulate what people do?
Does democracy guarantee individual liberty?
How much control should individuals have over their own bodies?
If someone commits murder, do they still have the right to life?
Who has the ultimate responsibility for protecting human rights?
Has modern technology made us more or less humane?
Is education a human right for all people?
Is war ever justifiable?
Is due process a universal right no matter the crime?
Is capital punishment ever appropriate?
Are there any downsides to universal human rights?
Is free speech a universal right?

Philosophical Questions About Politics, Government, and Society

This category contains some of the hardest philosophical questions out there. Most of us have strong beliefs about politics, government, and society that make it hard to form an unbiased opinion.

Besides political topics, questions in this category also address social issues , social construct , culture , power , and influence .

We can go so far as to question who gets what— when, where, and how.

If you wish to argue successfully—no matter what side of an issue you align with—it is paramount to understand the opposing viewpoint.

Let’s look at a few questions:

What makes a country democratic?
What responsibilities does a government have to its constituents?
Do democracies always make better decisions than dictatorships?
What constitutes good governance?
Is rebellion against government ever justified?
Is socialism fair? What is “fair”?
If you rob from the rich and give to the poor, is it wrong?
Are laws always good?
Is taxation justified?
What is the ideal government? Why?
Should the will of the people always be followed?
What role do political parties play?
Who defines corruption?
How do I know whether my views are correct?
Is voting compulsory?
Is there such a thing as too much freedom?
Is bribery always bad?
Are police officers obligated to protect criminals?
Should citizens obey unjust laws?
Who decides which laws apply to whom?
Where do we draw the line between criminal behavior and civil disobedience?
Does the state have the moral duty to provide healthcare for its citizens?
Is wealth redistribution morally correct?
Should college be free for all? What about grade school or high school?
Are freedom and liberty the same thing?
What makes someone free?
What makes a crime a crime?
Is it right to govern the number of children families can have to control the world’s population?

Deep Questions to Make You Think

Deep philosophical questions are designed to help you think critically and reflect on the subject at hand.

They are meant to challenge your beliefs so that you may stand more firmly in them , knowing why you believe what you do.

Here are some examples:

What is reality?
What are the limits of science?
Where did all matter come from?
Can I trust my senses?
Is there an innnate moral code?
Does time exist objectively?
Who created God?
Is there a soul?
Are perceptions real?
Is “fair” the same for everyone? Who determines whether or not something is “fair”?
What is time?
What makes you … you?
What is truth?
Is truth reality?
What gives life meaning?
What determines success vs. failure?
Why do bad things happen to good people?
How do I know what’s true?
Should we judge others by their actions?
What’s the purpose of life?
Where do ideas come from?
What is justice?
What is evil?
What makes someone “good” or “bad”?
Can something be true without evidence?
Is fate real?
At what point does consciousness begin?
Can time be altered?
Is there a cause for every effect?

Easy and Funny Questions for Conversation Starters

Some philosophy questions are easy, fun, or even funny! These make the best conversation starters.

Not all philosophy discussion topics have to be as serious as “What is the meaning of life?”

Learning should be fun and engaging, so don’t shy away from humor when asking deep questions or coming up with unorthodox answers.

Sometimes the most amusing questions lead to the most profound realizations.

Here’s a list of somewhat random philosophical questions to start fun conversations with kids, teens, and older students:

If two people understand things differently, who is right?

Is time travel possible? Why or why not?
Do memories still exist if you forget them?
Are animals freer than man?
Are twins unique?
Are animals like people?
Do trees feel pain?
How do you know you’re not dreaming right now?
Are insects conscious of life?
What makes something humorous to some and not to others?
If you save time on something, what happens to that time?
Why do we talk to ourselves?
If you try to fail and do, did you actually succeed?
Can 2+2 ever be something other than 4?

For more ways to engage students in the study of philosophy, try these fun and creative philosophy activities .

Epistemology Questions

Epistemology is concerned with knowledge. It asks questions like::

How does knowledge work?
Why do we need it?
What kind of things count as knowledge?

Epistemologists study these kinds of questions because they’re interested in understanding how humans acquire knowledge.

They also investigate how to differentiate between opinion and justified belief .

As such, epistemological questions analyze which types of evidence can be trusted as reliable sources of information and why.

Needless to say, this category can contain some pretty interesting philosophical questions:

What is the role of reason in determining what’s true?

How do we determine if something is certain?
How do you know if you know something?
Does anyone ever truly learn anything?
Who decides what counts as true knowledge?
Who determines the difference between fact and fiction?
What is the relationship between facts and opinions?
What is the source of human knowledge?
What is knowledge?
What is the nature of certainty?
What is the basis of our confidence in claims made by other people?
What is the role of reason in determining what’s true?
What is the relation between logic and reasoning?
What is the connection between language and thought?
What is the distinction between perception and imagination?
What is intuition?
What is the function of intuition?
What are thoughts?
What is the purpose of thinking?
If two people understand things differently, who is right?
If we had 1000 years to learn, could we know everything?
Is there an end of knowledge?
Is everything subjective?

Logic and the Universe

Some of the hardest philosophical questions involve logic and how the universe began.

The historical discipline of logic largely began with Thales , known as the “Father of Western Philosophy.”

Before this point in history, questions of existence were largely “explained” with Greek mythology.

As it stands today, logic can be described as the discipline of distinguishing good vs bad reasoning.

But who defines “good” and “bad”?

It’s important to note that even the best logical conclusions can be false.

Logic doesn’t equal truth.

( Investigate the difference between logical thinking and critical thinking here if you’re interested).

You’ll notice many questions in this category address our origins and creation:

Can order come from chaos?
Can something be created from nothing?
Where did matter come from?
Is everything relative?
Is there only one universe? How do we know?
Is there such thing as absolute truth?
Are there different levels of existence?
Do we live forever?
Was the Big Bang a real event?
Is space finite?
Is time eternal?
Is logic a created concept?
What time is it really?
Is the mind the same as the brain?
What are numbers?
Does the universe end?
Is there such a thing as perfection?
Does sound exist without hearing?
Are people in a different timezone in the past (or future)?
Where does fear come from?
Does pain exist in itself or just our perception of it?
What is hope?
Could there be a parallel universe?

Philosophical Questions About Religion

Maybe some of the toughest questions are those of religion. Religion for many is the driving force in their lives (and for good reason).

Religious views affect how we raise our children, interact with others, make decisions, and so much more.

As such, questioning religious principles can be tricky. Some parents go so far as to encourage their kids to not question at all.

Others choose a different route, knowing their children will soon enter a world that will challenge them to question what they believe.

Encouraging teens to question their beliefs—in a structured setting with the Word of God in hand—can prepare them to “make a defense” to those who ask about the hope that is within them (1 Peter 3:15).

Here are some questions about religion:

Does God exist?
Does God’s existence depend on our belief in him?
Can love exist without God?
What constitutes religion?
Are miracles real?
Is religion compatible with science?
Why does faith matter?
Who decides which religions are right?
What makes a person a Christian?
Should I follow my beliefs blindly?
Is God a created being?
Can morality exist without religion?
Is there a higher power?

Unanswerable Philosophical Questions

Let’s talk about some of the challenges that arise when we delve into the world of ideas.

Since philosophical thought lives largely in grey territory, it deals with questions that can’t be answered with the usual “yes or no,” “this or that” definitive response.

And as our children search for answers to these philosophical questions, they will encounter deceptive lies disguised as logic.

Many college professors of philosophy today will tell you that life’s biggest questions remain unanswered.

Yet those who possess a biblical worldview have a much different perspective.

Even in a lost, confusing world, the Bible is a compass that always points true North. It declares truth in matters the world deems unanswerable.

That’s why it is so important to teach our children how to think and how to reason from a biblical perspective.

Philosophy and Critical Thinking Go Hand in Hand

Critical thinking involves asking questions, analyzing arguments, evaluating evidence, and making decisions based on those evaluations.

It requires us to use logic, reasoning skills, critical analysis, and judgment.

Sound familiar?

Critical thinking is an essential skill that allows us to make decisions and solve problems effectively.

And while it may not seem so at first glance, it is a skill that enables us to defend our beliefs effectively when challenged.

That’s why we focus so heavily on critical thinking from a biblical worldview in the resources we offer at Homeschool Adventure .

If you’re looking for a way to help your students develop critical thinking from a biblical worldview as they explore the history of ideas, check out Philosophy Adventure :

will your children recognize truth?

Philosophy Adventure teaches students 6th-12th grade how to write skillfully , think critically , and speak clearly as they explore the history of ideas .

It was written to bring history alive! Instead of memorizing facts, students “travel back in time” to walk alongside ancient philosophers.

All the while, they will be challenged to examine what they believe about the world around them, and why they believe it .

By the end of the year, students will have written their very own book of philosophy!

Tips for Using These Questions as Philosophical Debate Topics

Philosophical questions about life are naturally thought provoking.

When used properly, even controversial philosophy topics can be effective springboards for critical thinking—a skill that will benefit your teen for life!

Questions can spark wonderful, stimulating debate among older students, especially those in upper middle through high school.

A family discussing a philosophical debate topic.

And philosophical debates can be fun but also challenging, providing the perfect opportunity to practice critical thinking.

If you’ve never tried debating in your homeschool, you can use some of these philosophical questions to start.

A quick note:

Not all questions are practical for satisfying philosophical discussions.

The purpose of debate in the homeschool setting is to practice and improve critical thinking, active listening, argument formation, and even teamwork.

Its purpose is not to waste time on frivolous arguing.

Those of us who believe that the Bible is the Word of God know that absolute truth exists. Consequently, questions to which Scripture provides clear answers may not be the best choice for learning how to debate .

Likewise, you may want to avoid questions whose answers would have to be based solely on speculation—with no practical way to confirm facts or conclusions.

However, keeping all of that in mind, it can be immensely productive for older, more mature students to try to debate a stance they personally disagree with.

Doing so can help them better understand their opponent … and equip them to effectively counter opposing views they may face in “real life.”

Only you know whether your students are ready for such a task, so use discernment.

Since the list of questions we provided is pretty extensive, here’s an abbreviated list of questions that would make great philosophical debate topics :

Does anyone else’s happiness affect my own?
Is socialism fair? What is “fair’?

How to Debate Philosophy

When you debate a philosophical question, follow the same general outline as any other debate process.

An at-home, sibling-to-sibling or parent-child debate may proceed as follows:

Assign the debate topic, first and second positions (for or against the question), and allow time for students to brainstorm ideas.
Encourage students to organize their ideas into simple arguments or points.
Practice structuring those ideas into a speech with an introduction, rebuttal (for those arguing in the second position), points to make, and a conclusion.
Designate a neutral third party to declare a “winner.”
Start the debate.

Depending on your schedule, this entire process can be done in a single day—or stretched over the course of a week (or even a month).

How to Handle Different Age Groups

Simply adjust how deeply you go into each step, depending on the ages of your students.

For younger middle school students, consider keeping the debate more like a simple discussion and less of an emphasis on structure and speeches.

However, you may want to encourage high school students to organize well-developed arguments and rebuttals.

Philosophical questions about life are naturally thought-provoking.

We actually have even more thought-provoking questions here .

When used properly, even controversial philosophy topics can be effective springboards for critical thinking — a skill that will benefit your teen for life!

About The Author

Jordan Mitchell

Equip students to identify deceptive lies disguised as logic, get 25% off for the next 20 minutes only.

240 Philosophical Questions contains 60+ pages filled with open-ended questions that inspire thought and reflection. Includes built-in tips for discussion and ways to use questions as debate topics.

15 Questions that Teachers and Parents Can Ask Kids to Encourage Critical Thinking

By Maureen Leming

Each student walks across the graduation stage, diploma in one hand and a proverbial toolbox in the other. Inside the box is every skill and piece of knowledge they've learned throughout their childhood. The contents of this toolbox will be their building blocks to success beyond high school.

In addition to impressive classroom discoveries — like producing electricity from potatoes or building their own paper mache volcano — there's a vital skill every student should possess: critical thinking. They'll use this skill to assess, critique, and create, propelling them to thrive in the real world as they participate in engaging conversations and offer constructive solutions to real-world issues.

Fortunately, this valuable skill can be developed both inside and out of the classroom. Teachers and parents can encourage kids to think deeply and critically about the world by asking good questions. We'll explore why, as parents and teachers, the questions we ask our kids matter — and what we can be asking to help them excel.

How Questions Guide Young Students’ Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is about so much more than simply knowing the facts. Thinking critically involves applying reason and logic to assess arguments and come to your own conclusions. Instead of reciting facts or giving a textbook answer, critical thinking skills encourage students to move beyond knowing information and get to the heart of what they really think and believe.

15 Questions to Encourage Critical Thinking

What is one of the best ways to encourage critical thinking? By asking excellent questions!

We have compiled a list of 15 questions that you, as a teacher or parent, can ask to encourage kids to think outside the box. Let's dive in.

1. How Do You Know This?

Whether it was by word of mouth, classroom knowledge, or a news report, this question prompts students to consider whether their source of information is reputable.

2. How Would Your Perspective Be Different If You Were on the Opposing Side?

This question encourages kids to role-play from an opposing person’s viewpoint and discover a perspective outside their own so that they can better understand the broader situation. Extracurriculars like debate class — mandatory for all Hun middle school students — is a powerful way to accomplish this goal, as students must thoughtfully anticipate their opposition's arguments in order to counter them.

3. How Would You Solve This Problem?

Finding creative solutions to common problems is a valuable life skill. This question is the perfect opportunity to encourage young minds to wander!

4. Do You Agree or Disagree — and Why?

Choosing a side in any debate challenges students to consider both perspectives, weigh the arguments, and make an informed choice.

5. Why? Why? Why?

Just like when you were a young kid, ask why repeatedly to push students beyond a simple first, second, or even third answer, to get to the real depth. Be careful, though, not to ask them to the point of frustration — you want learning and exploring to be a positive experience.

6. How Could We Avoid This Problem in the Future?

Ask students to apply critical thinking by analyzing how they could prevent a certain issue from reoccurring.

7. Why Does It Matter?

Whether they're learning about a historical event or a mathematical concept, it's important to understand why the topic is relevant today.

8. What's Another Way to Look at This Issue?

It can be easy to learn one worldview and automatically believe it is the only, or the best, way. Challenging kids to think of a creative alternate perspective encourages them to think more broadly.

9. Can You Give Me an Example?

Inventing an example, or pulling from experience to share a real one, is an excellent way to apply critical thinking skills.

10. How Could It Have Ended Differently?

It takes some innovation and careful analysis to storyboard a different ending, considering "what could have been" rather than "what is."

11. When Will We Be Able to Tell If It Worked?

Kids will be pushed to consider what constitutes success and how it can be measured in scenarios where the results aren't set in stone.

12. Why did you ask that question?

Instead of answering a question at face value, this question encourages kids to think about what the merits of the question may be.

13. Who Would Be Affected by This?

Students as the next generation of leaders and game-changers. When making any decision, it's important to consider who will be impacted and how.

14. What Can This Story Teach Us About Our Own Lives?

From literature to social studies, students interact with all kinds of different stories. Help them take these narratives one step further by examining how it relates to their lives.

15. Why Is This a Problem?

Analyzing why something is a problem — rather than just accepting that it is — will help students develop strong problem-solving skills of their own.

The Hun School of Princeton Teaches Critical Thinking

At the Hun School of Princeton, our teachers ask these questions, and more, in combination with our student-centered learning approach that helps kids of all ages think critically about what they’re learning.

As a premier private school in Princeton, NJ , we aim to help students think deeply and develop well-rounded skill sets through immersive, problem-based learning .

Schedule a tour today to see our program in action!

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How to create critical thinking questions (+ examples)

Critical thinking is becoming a lost art in modern society.

Far too many people never develop their ability to step back and look at their own beliefs and assumptions with a questioning mind.

Here are some questions and examples for how to boost your critical thinking capabilities.

1) Why is this topic important or controversial to people?

The first way to develop critical thinking is to understand what narratives are and why some issues and topics are so controversial and divide people.

For example, why is the topic of crime so divisive in many societies? Why do some believe in much more justice reform and lenience while others say that keeping society safer requires being much harder on criminals?

There’s a real absence of critical thought in society today and it’s leading to intense political polarization and us versus them narratives that leave people feeling isolated and insecure.

2) What tends to bring people the most together and drive them the most apart?

Increasing critical thought is about really looking at what divides us and what unites us.

Asking this question is a great way to dig into that.

For example, I have noticed that the upcoming World Cup is something that unites many people across political, racial and class lines.

Politics, on the other hand, tends to do the opposite. While politics often unites groups of people, it sadly does so by often opposing them and polarizing them against other groups.

Playing people off against people to maintain power is a trick as old as time, after all.

3) How do I look to those who disagree with my worldview? What is their conception of me? What is my conception of them?

Looking at the way you see the world is the basis of critical thinking . You may remain a socialist or a conservative or a fundamentalist Muslim.

But you will have looked at it from an honest and objective assessment.

For example, if you are a democratic socialist, what do those who disagree with you think of you? As someone who disagrees with you I can tell you:

They consider you naive, dangerous and party to a sneaky form of authoritarianism wrapped up in compassionate language.

What do you consider them? Likely self-righteous, greedy and party to a form of exploitation and injustice wrapped up in the language of “opportunity.”

4) What is my identity and what do I mean by it?

Who are you?

Why did you answer what you did and not something completely different?

Digging into this will boost your critical thinking like you just took steroids.

The reason is that you will find out so much of who you say you are is what you have been told you are.

But who are you really?

It’s a journey to find out, but it’s rarely as simple as physical characteristics, cultural labels or what the economy decides you are.

For example:

You’re a 36-year-old sushi chef, half-Japanese, half-white, you have a girlfriend of three years and take the bus to work (which is exhausting). You love tattoos and have four, but plan to get more.

But what made you focus on these things, exactly?

For example, your answer to who you are could have been:

You’re a spiritual explorer who loves to play drums and feels a sense of pain about your father leaving your family at a young age. You’ve always had nightmares about sea monsters chasing you and have no idea why.

But the second answer wouldn’t be things that you feel society or others would find “normal,” and they might strike you in fact as “oversharing.”

Why? Is that normal that they would be considered oversharing?

5) What makes me certain I am right? What do I even mean by being ‘right’?

pexels ivan samkov 7394573 1 How to create critical thinking questions (+ examples)

What does it mean to be correct or “right” to you?

The question sounds stupid but it’s crucial to know in order to improve your critical thinking .

For example: one person may consider something to be right because it aligns with pure principles or with a feeling of moral rectitude and compassion for others;

Whereas someone else may believe that the idea of moral wrong and right is an illusion to feel safe (which is more or less what the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said, for example).

What makes your right better than someone else’s right?

How does our idea of wrong and right influence the way we behave in the world and to those around us?

7) What motivates me most in life? What do I think motivates others most?

What motivates you the most in life?

To put it differently: what gets you up in the morning?

What do you think motivates others? You may have an idea: work, money, family, love, sex, power, fun, health…

Take your ideas about what you think motivates others and then compare it to what they actually tell you when you ask them .

You may find that many people are unsure about what really motivates them or are just motivated by pre-packaged narratives and priorities which the media, economic system and society has basically installed in them.

8) What factors made me who I am today? What made others who they are?

pexels vlada karpovich 4050388 1 How to create critical thinking questions (+ examples)

What shaped you the most in your life?

It may be other people, places, beliefs, tragedies, victories or boredom.

It may be confusion itself that turned you the way you are, or even political or religious persecution or the experience of being a minority.

It may be that the biggest influence on you has been your job path and how you found your mission.

What about other people?

Ask them, watch them, study them. Everyone has so many factors that made them who they are, but usually there are a few dominant influences and factors that turned them into who they are.

9) How do I feel if I consider there may not be a black-and-white answer to some questions?

Earlier I spoke about the importance of determining who you are and why, in addition to determining to what right and wrong mean to you.

One crucial way for how to create critical thinking questions is to examine how you might feel is there were many issues and questions that don’t have a black and white answer.

Simple example? War.

It’s hell, as has often been said. But it’s also as old as the first days humans lived in caves and even before.

All life struggles to survive and all too often it goes to battle against its neighbors, other groups and even in some cases people even end up fighting their own family members as we saw in the US Civil War.

Could there be some part of war that is inherent to the human condition? As Doris Lessing said, are we prepared to be honest at the excitement that some people feel from an oncoming war and the enjoyment that some secretly get considering the destruction and horror of conflict?

At the same time, are we willing to face the true injustice and pain of war? Have we ever sat with a refugee who’s lost family members in war (I have); have we ever listened to the pain of a person persecuted daily in a warzone?

What if war is both part of being human and also deeply unjust and horrible. What about if there is no simple answer and just throwing up a peace sign isn’t enough to solve the behavioral and social aspects behind conflict?

Sit with that feeling of discomfort for a bit. It’s good for you. It’s being human.

10) What if I was born on the ‘other side’?

This is a great question to ask in order to develop critical thinking skills . Ask how you would see the world differently if you were born on the other side.

Example: instead of being born into a middle class Belgian family whose dad works for a cellphone software developer, you were born to a poor Congelese family and sent to mine cobalt for cellphones at age 12.

Another example:

Instead of being born as a Palestinian subject to the presence of Israeli soldiers at checkpoints and a separate existence from the richer country next door, you were born in Israel and raised to focus more on the danger from next door rather than the humanity.

How would you be different?

Use your head

Critical thinking is all about using your head and slowing down just a bit from jumping to conclusions.

We don’t know everything, and even if we are more right about a certain subject we may be able to learn unexpected insights and answers from the ways in which somebody else is wrong.

Critical thinking is about trying to make it all a little less personal and a little more perceptive.

Life’s full of paradoxes, mysteries and complex subjects and experiences. Let’s use the questions above to approach it with a bit more open curiosity and care.

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How to answer critical thinking questions

Whether you are studying and preparing to take the LSAT or looking to engage in more meaningful workplace discussions, you need to know how to properly answer critical thinking questions. Luckily, there are some key facets to critical thinking that can guide you along the way.

Thinking critically requires one to proceed beyond mere information recall. When asked to answer questions critically, one should engage their reasoning, evaluation, articulation, and questioning skills. You must closely examine the question in order to arrive at your justified answer.

In this guide, we’ll be sharing some tips to help you answer critical thinking questions adequately. Read along as we discuss the ways to answer by asking useful questions, relying on logic, anticipating specific problems and solutions, and clearly communicating your thoughts. Let’s get into it!

We’ll be discussing the following 6 methods of answering critical thinking questions in order to give you a framework to start with:

Ask the Important Questions

When you follow-up a question with your own questions, you are engaging in truth-seeking behavior, which is a key element of critical thinking .

Examples of questions you can ask to arrive at a critical answer include:

Consider All Possible Solutions

Don’t merely stop at your first answer to the problem you’re being asked about. Take things a step further by drafting several different solutions. Follow step-by-step routes in your mind to try and anticipate how these solutions would play out in reality.

Articulate Yourself Clearly

For each point or claim that you make, you should have a valid justification or explanation. Let’s say, for example, that you are asked a question about how to distribute a low amount of resources to a large community.

Examine and Reflect

Each time you read the question, check to see if there are meanings or intentions in the question that you didn’t notice before. You can also take this time of reflection to discover ways in which your own assumptions or biases may be negatively influencing your answer.

Only after examining and reflecting can you get to the precise heart of the question at hand. Then, you can pair it with an equally precise answer.

Research and Inform Yourself

For example, if you are asked a question about the economy of a country that you are unfamiliar with, you should research before answering.

Organize Your Thoughts

Read the answer back to yourself and see if your message is coming across clearly based on the grammar and syntax you’ve used.

Final Thoughts – 6 Critical Thinking Answer Tips

If you’ve been wanting to learn how to better answer critical thinking questions, then hopefully our guide has given you some inspiration. Some of the key aspects of critical thinking involve one’s ability to ask pertinent questions, examine and reflect on one’s thoughts, set aside biases, make judgments, and clearly communicate.

https://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/defining-critical-thinking/766

https://www.utc.edu/academic-affairs/walker-center-for-teaching-and-learning/faculty-programs/faculty-fellow-programs/faculty-fellow-program-development/basic-elements-of-critical-thinking

9 Provoking Critical Thinking Questions to Ignite Deep Reflective Discourse

Self-improvement

Besides radical skepticism. Critical thinking can be defined by these three questions:

What is true?
Why is it true?
What else is true?

Your ability to question a piece of incoming information. Doubt it, so you can come up with the best possible solution is more important than any certificate or diploma you’ll ever receive during your life.

Think about it.

In a typical company. People don’t hire other people to just stare at a screen and click buttons. If the job was to sit behind a monitor all day and tick random boxes. A company wouldn’t require a whole hiring team. Every corporation in need of staff would simply go outside the tall building they reside in and pick the first person passing by willing to sell his soul to the corporate regime.

No. What HRs are really interested in when they conduct interviews is this: They are trying to evaluate how you think.

Can you press the right buttons for the needed tools? Yes, surely they are looking for that, too. But more importantly, can you solve a challenge in an elegant way? Can you find your way out of a situation when things get sideways? Can you properly evaluate difficult cases and find the best possible solution without ruining the established systems and values?

These are the actual skills HR members are after.

Cognitive skills. Not mouse-clicking skills.

And while you can easily teach a smart person how to operate a particular software. What you can’t teach. Or at least will require a substantial amount of effort and nerves. Is to try to teach a dump person how to think properly.

But as I said in my recent post on how to improve critical thinking skills . We are systematically not challenged.

No matter the work you do – unless you work for NASA. Between 2 and 3 years. A job usually starts to feel like a venomous tonic of bitterness.

The repeated mundane tasks not only lead to a lack of drive. But also deteriorate your thinking.

If you happen to be in such an unchallenging and depressive state. Or if you are simply looking for ways to shake the cocktail of thoughts that circle inside your brain.

The following critical thinking questions will resurrect your enthusiasm and remove the rust from your gray matter.

Note: To better engage with the text. I highly recommend grabbing a notebook and answering the questions on paper. No rush. You can tackle them in the order you like. Also, don’t need to answer them all now. Tackle one question now and the rest when you have the time.

9 Provoking Questions to Foster Critical Thinking:

1. what are we absolutely sure is true, 2. what would my ideal life look like in x years, 3. if i had to write a book, what would it be about, 4. what’s the one thing i can do that will make everything else easier or even unnecessary, 5. what am i currently avoiding, 6. what kind of problems do i want in my life, 7. what can i learn from this person (or situation), 8. would could be, 9. what do i want to want.

The standard way we think about a problem or when we face a certain situation is to reason by analogy. We approach a situation looking at what someone else did to solve it. Then, we copy the solution and slightly adjust it to fit our case.

But a more sophisticated way to look at incoming situations is by reasoning based on first principles.

That’s precisely the question above: “What are we absolutely sure is true?”

For example, in an interview where Elon Musk talks about first principles. He explained that Tesla was able to become what it is – one of the largest companies that offers affordable electric cars. Not by doing what everyone else did with batteries – buy the expensive batteries and put them in a car. No, the Tesla team figured out what batteries are made of. What are their core materials? Once the team saw that the spot market value of these core materials is really cheap. They simply had to find a clever, and better way to assemble the pieces in a battery shape.

All of this means that when you are presented with a task. Don’t blindly copy what everyone around you is doing. Think about what is surely true. Then reason from there to find the best solution.

The second critical thinking question is: “What would my ideal life look like in X years?”

You can replace the X value with the number of years you fancy. But probably the prior question you should ask yourself is this: “What does my ideal life look like – in general?”

We rarely think in that direction. And even if we do. I don’t think we think enough about this.

If you ask yourself this question now. You’ll probably say something general like: Working a meaningful job; Traveling the world, etc., etc.

But what kind of job? Where do you want to travel?

What makes this question great is that it creates a series of sub-questions. Questions that are equally deep and challenging.

Additionally, you can tailor it to a product or for your job.

For example, “How do I imagine the best possible version of this product?” Or, “How do I imagine the perfect day in my day job?”

If-I-Had-To-Write-a-Book,-What-Would-It-Be-About

What makes this critical thinking question great is that it forces you to think about what you know. And more precisely, to try to package what you know in a volume. Furthermore, it will reveal what you value most.

If you think that you should write a business book. Then probably you value money. Or innovation more than anything else.

If your answer is a psychology book to understand human behavior , for example. Your interests are probably around the spectrum of understanding yourself along with others.

What-is-The-One-Thing-I-Can-Do-That-Will-Make-Everything-Else-Easier-Or-Even-Unnecessary

We are used to having endless to-do lists. We imagine that the more things we do. The more our value will increase.

Looking at the top companies in the world and the most successful athletes will show you otherwise.

The best in the business are not good at everything. They are masters of one specific category.

For instance, a basketball player is superb at playing basketball. Does that mean that he’s good with math? He can be. But probably he is not. Surely, though, he’s doing OK in life.

The point is to figure out what one thing you should focus on that can remove things from your list of tasks and help you achieve better results.

And this question can be applied to everything:

Fitness : I can train at home with a set of dumbbells, which will make going to the gym unnecessary. I will save time and money and still be in shape.
Business : I can focus on creating a single product. I don’t need a range of products in the same category. This will remove the need for additional machines and staff.
Investing : I can focus on investing only in these 3 companies. This will prevent me from trying to learn about the rest of the industry – and stress about the rest of the industry. Plus, increase my return on investment because my cash will be focused on a small portfolio.

Do you avoid talking about an important topic with your spouse? Do you avoid changing your career? Are you purposely drowning yourself in endless social media posts to avoid thinking about your future? Are you purposefully not starting to work on the current task because you are no longer motivated by the work you do?

There are many things we can avoid.

You can even avoid thinking about avoiding things.

Once you crystallize what you are avoiding. You can then ask yourself why.

Why are you avoiding this? What’s the core reason?

The more you ask why, the more terrain from your puzzled unconsciousness you’ll uncover.

Probably you don’t want to bring a certain topic for discussion with your spouse because you’re afraid of her answer. Or, you avoid taking a leap to another career because you are afraid that you’ll suck.

Fortunately, the more you discover. The more you unclothe your inner thoughts. The better you’ll understand yourself and what you need to focus on next.

What-Kind-of-Problems-Do-I-Want-In-My-Life

Life is basically a series of problems. The good news is, that we get to choose some of our problems.

I know, it sounds a bit absurd. But you’ll see why in a minute…

When you purchase a car, for example. While you surely solve most of your transportation-related issues – i.e., you won’t have to rely on public transportation. Another set of problems comes attached to the ownership of a car. In particular, you’ll now have to handle all the car-related problems – gas bills, changing tires, repairs, etc. And the magnitude of some of the issues will depend on the car you got. For instance, a heavy truck will require more gas and a lot more cash for maintenance than an ordinary sedan.

A similar way of thinking can be observed in every other area of life.

If you don’t want the frustrating experience of the daily commute. You can find a remote job or start your own online business . By doing so, however, your life doesn’t become issue-free. You’ll now have remote job problems – feeling isolated, lonely, etc. – or business problems – need to hire people, figure out how to grow your business, etc.

A subset of questions arises from the “What kind of problems do I want in my life?” Probably the most interesting one is the following: “What kind of problems am I willing to deal with?”

Owning a pet can be observed from the problem lens.

Surely having a dog is an extremely joyful experience. But it’s definitely not a walk in the park. You have to devote a substantial amount of time to care for the animal – feed him, take him out, etc. Yet, people get pets all the time because they are willing to deal with the challenges that come with the ownership of a pet.

What I want to say is that at times, the world might seem totally fucked . Like everyone is against us, and like someone ordered a horde of problems to come our way. This is not entirely true. We choose most of the issues that eventually occur. And we have the power to reduce the number of problems with critical thinking.

What-Can-I-Learn-From-This-Person-(or-Situation)

Negative feedback makes us uncomfortable. Something that turned out to be not so pleasant is purposefully avoided by the brain. But whether we like it or not. Feedback and trying, failing, and then improving are two of the best ways to grow, become an adaptive thinker , and hammer critical thinking barriers .

There is one extra option, though. A harm-free way to get better.

It’s: To safely observe life from the side bench and take notes while other people do stuff.

If a colleague is doing better than you in your day job. Calling him names won’t do you any good. A much better alternative will be to see what you can learn from this person.

The same concept applies even if someone is underperforming or simply acting like a jerk. There’s a lot of gold not only in “what to do”, but also in “what not to do”.

If you’re struggling to find people to mimic in your physical life. Simply read books written by smart folks.

Reading is probably the best way to expand your thinking skills and outsmart the competition.

My favorite ones in relation to thinking are:

Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke
Thinking in Systems by Donella H. Meadows
Seeking Wisdom by Peter Bevelin

Thinking only considering what’s already available is not original thinking. You’re simply browsing the catalog of what’s already been made.

The question “What could be?” encourages critical thinking. Furthermore, it ignites creativity and passing the ordinary.

With this question, you break apart from the everydayness and press break from the mundane. You create space to think and to dream.

“What could be” is a mindset.

Just because something is the way it is, doesn’t mean it has to be like this forever. Also, it certainly doesn’t mean it’s the right thing.

So, when the time comes. When something requires a change. Or if you are thinking about solving a problem. Don’t only rely on what’s already been made by others. Ask “What could be?”

With a question. This question: “What do we want to want?” Is how the ground-breaking book Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari ends. Arguably the most difficult critical question of all.

Because we copy what others want – called mimetic desire . We usually want things everyone around us is longing for. A big house. A stable job. A social media profile with a lot of followers. A wardrobe full of clothes you only wear once.

A dramatically better way to look at life – and essentially at what you want. Is not to preoccupy your mind with what others have and thus copy their desires. But to ask yourself: “What do I want to want?”

Then, further questioning your answer with: “Do I want this because it aligns with my personal values , or do I want it because others are craving it?”

Our goals and our habits are based on our wants.

To ensure that you’ll end up in a place you like – not just land in a random job you’ll regret, for example. The best way to approach your life is by first figuring out what you want.

By far, “what do I want to want?” is the best question I have found that can help you determine the proper direction of your life.

Some Closing Thoughts

There are numerous articles online that aim to improve the way we think. How to approach critical thinking and thinking in general.

I’ve personally covered a lot on the subject in the following entries:

Thinking Strategies for The 21st Century;
5 Critical Thinking Strategies to Enhance Problem-Solving
What Are The 7 Critical Thinking Skills ;
What To Think About ;
Powerful Critical Thinking Quotes (Deconstructed);
How To Think Better .

And while there are many good articles and books on the topic. They give you a false sense of knowledge. As if the mere possession of a book or simply reading an article about critical thinking can improve your ability to reason.

Essentially, these are all words on a page – a printed page or a web page, it doesn’t matter.

Reading the words won’t make you superiorly smarter. Using the words will.

And the first step toward using the words we digest is asking yourself questions. Hard questions. Critical questions.

A unique feature of our brain is that if you feed it questions. It will do its best to answer them. Even if nothing initially comes to mind.

So, don’t just scroll through what I’ve labeled above as critical thinking questions. Go to a quiet place. Undust your old desk – the one you used to study when you were a student. Then, take some time to think about the questions above.

Are the answers start to make you feel uncomfortable?

Good. You’re in the right direction.

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Problem-solving: In any workplace, there are bound to be problems that arise. Critical thinking enables employees to analyze the problem from different angles, identify the root cause, and develop effective solutions.
Decision-making: Critical thinking is crucial when making important decisions. Employees with strong critical thinking skills can better weigh the pros and cons of various options, anticipate potential outcomes, and make informed decisions.
Innovation: Critical thinking enables employees to think outside the box and develop innovative solutions to problems. Employees can identify new and creative ways to approach problems by examining the situation from different perspectives.
Communication: Effective communication is essential in any workplace. Critical thinking helps employees to communicate their ideas clearly and persuasively. It also enables employees to listen actively, ask insightful questions, and respond thoughtfully.
Time management: In fast-paced work environments, employees must make decisions quickly. Critical thinking lets employees quickly analyze information and make informed decisions without sacrificing quality.

What problem or issue are we trying to solve, and what are the underlying causes?

A manager leads a team that needs help meeting its sales targets. Rather than simply increasing sales numbers, the manager first tries to understand the issue’s root causes. After conducting research and analysis, the manager identifies that the team needs more sales training and skills to engage with potential customers effectively . With this understanding, the manager can develop targeted training and coaching programs to improve the team’s sales skills, ultimately leading to better sales performance.

What are the potential consequences of different courses of action, and how can I mitigate risks?

A manager is considering launching a new product line. Before making a decision, the manager should evaluates the consequences of different courses of action. They consider factors such as market demand, production costs, and potential profitability, as well as potential risks such as supply chain disruptions or low sales volume. With this understanding, the manager then develops strategies to mitigate risks and maximize the chances of success. By taking a thoughtful and strategic approach to decision-making, the manager can increase the chances of success and minimize potential negative consequences.

What data do I need to make an informed decision, and how can I ensure its accuracy and reliability?

A manager is considering expanding into a new market. To make an informed decision, the manager needs data on market size, consumer demographics, competitor analysis, and potential regulatory barriers. The manager then works to ensure the accuracy and reliability of this data, which involves validating sources, cross-checking data against multiple sources, and engaging experts in the field to provide additional insights.

What are the potential unintended consequences of the actions, and how can I minimize them?

A manager is considering implementing a new cost-cutting measure, such as reducing employee benefits. While this may help the organization save money in the short term, it could also have unintended consequences, such as reduced employee morale and increased turnover. To minimize these unintended consequences, the manager could consider alternative cost-cutting measures or work to mitigate the impact on employees by providing additional support or incentives.

How can I test the assumptions and hypotheses, and what metrics can I measure success?

A manager is considering launching a new product. The manager has assumptions about the market demand for the product, customer preferences, and production costs. To test these assumptions, the manager conducts market research, analyzes customer feedback, and conducts cost-benefit analyses to determine the product’s viability. The manager then sets metrics for success, such as sales targets or customer satisfaction ratings, and tracks these metrics over time to determine if the product is meeting expectations.

How can I anticipate and prepare for potential roadblocks or obstacles and develop contingency plans?

A manager oversees the development of a new product dependent on a key supplier for a critical component. The manager anticipates potential roadblocks, such as delays or quality issues with the supplier, and develops contingency plans to identify alternate suppliers or develop in-house capabilities for the component. In addition to developing contingency plans, the manager also communicates and aligns these plans with relevant stakeholders, including team members and leadership. It helps ensure everyone is on the same page and prepared to pivot if necessary.

How can I learn from past experiences and mistakes and apply those lessons to the current situation?

A manager oversaw a marketing campaign that failed to generate the desired results. After analyzing the campaign, the manager identified that the messaging was unclear and did not effectively communicate the product’s value proposition. When planning a new campaign for a similar product, the manager could apply the lessons learned by ensuring the messaging is clear and effectively communicates the value proposition.

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How can I leverage our team’s diverse perspectives and expertise to generate creative solutions?

A manager is tasked with improving customer satisfaction ratings. The manager could convene a cross-functional team, including representatives from sales, customer service, marketing, and product development. The team could then use brainstorming sessions or design thinking techniques to generate creative solutions, drawing on their diverse perspectives and expertise to create innovative ideas. By involving the team in the solution process, the manager not only taps into the collective knowledge and experience of the team but also increases buy-in and engagement around the solution.

What is the long-term impact of my decisions, and how can I ensure they align with our organization’s mission and values?

A manager overseeing a manufacturing operation may need to make decisions about sourcing raw materials or disposing of waste products. By considering the long-term impact of these decisions, the manager could work to identify suppliers who prioritize sustainability and implement practices that reduce waste and minimize environmental harm.

How can we effectively communicate our decisions to the team to gain buy-in and support?

A manager observes that their team feels disconnected from the work being done daily. Upon thinking, the manager understands that the team needs to be made aware of the rationale behind decisions made by the management. They can explore various communication strategies and channels to ensure team members understand the rationale behind decisions.

What feedback mechanisms can we implement to regularly assess and enhance our processes?

A manager observes little performance improvement even after reviews and appraisals are over. They conclude that the feedback mechanisms are insufficient as they work infrequently and without coordination for follow-ups. It helps them search for better processes to implement with their team.

Suprabha Sharma

Suprabha, a versatile professional who blends expertise in human resources and psychology, bridges the divide between people management and personal growth with her novel perspectives at Risely. Her experience as a human resource professional has empowered her to visualize practical solutions for frequent managerial challenges that form the pivot of her writings.

Test your critical thinking skills for free to start growing.

The free critical thinking assessment helps managers discover the hurdles to their growth.

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6 Critical Thinking Questions For Any Situation

Critical thinking questions depend on what’s being ‘thought about,’ but one universal example includes, ‘How do I know what I think I know?’

What Questions Promote Critical Thinking In The Classroom?

by TeachThought Staff

While it’s true that critical thinking is a foundation rather than a brick, how you build that foundation depends on the learning process itself: exposing students to new thinking and promoting interaction with that thinking in a gradual release of responsibility approach.

The following graphic from learningcommons (the link/domain have expired) is most useful for its universal applicability via its simplicity–six basic questions that characterize critical thinking.

The questions are general enough that they can be used with almost anything–different age groups, content areas, and various learning contexts.

Whether you’re exploring math theories with a high school classroom, astronomical phenomena in a university, or a picture book in the elementary classroom, the questions can be used with few changes to promote critical thinking.

In addition to 28 Critical Thinking Question Stems For Any Content Area, the questions below might prove useful to you as you help your students better understand what ‘critical thinking’ means and how it can improve their own lives.

1. What’s happening?

Establish the basics and begin forming questions.

2. Why is it important?

Ask yourself why this is or isn’t significant.

3. What am I missing?

Consider, alone or with others, if there’s any crucial information or perspective you might be missing, or that the ‘thing’ in question is missing.

See also 6 Alternatives To Bloom’s Taxonomy For Teachers

4. How do I know what I think I know?

Identify how you know what you think you know, and how that meaning was constructed.

5. Who is saying it?

Identify the ‘position’ of the ‘thing’–a speaker and their position on an issue, for example–and then consider how that position could be influencing their thinking.

6. What else? What if?

Ask, ‘What else should we consider?’ and ‘If we consider it, how will it change X or Y?”

6 Critical Thinking Questions For Any Situation; image attribution learningcommons

TeachThought is an organization dedicated to innovation in education through the growth of outstanding teachers.

100 Inspiring Questions That Make You Think About Your Life

What makes successful people resilient and persistent in achieving their goals and desires?

He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how. – Voltaire

In just a few words, Voltaire has answered.

Successful people take and effort to ask the right questions that drive them to answer that adds meaning to their purpose.

The more questions you ask yourself, the more you learn about yourself. It keeps you curious and grateful for life and its challenges. Your innate drive to question yourself and find answers will keep you on the path to self-growth and let you take motivated efforts to accomplish your goals.

When you know the why, the whats and hows will become clearer. And you will find all your answers only when you seek them by asking questions.

Questions that make you think are like fuel to critical thinking and problem-solving. If you cannot stop to ask questions, you will never find better ways and that will be the end of growth.

If you want to keep moving ahead, self-assessment and clarity are much required. Having the right questions will always help you have a clearer vision towards your aspirations and dreams.

Here is a compilation of 100 questions that make you think and help you get started on the path to wisdom:

Questions on Self-Reflection

Remember wisdom favors those who seek it. Everything in your life starts with you. Understanding your innate abilities, fears, desires, insecurities, and feelings is necessary to deal with them effectively. Introspect yourself and see where you stand.

1. How would you describe yourself?

2. Do you think your dreams are a reflection of something deeper within your mind?

3. How old do you feel?

4. What are the things that you do but don’t like doing?

5. What are the things you like to do but haven’t been doing?

6. How often do you zone out?

7. What are the things you are proud of?

8. What are the things that make you feel scared?

9. What makes you happy?

10. Do you feel introverted or extroverted?

11. What are the things you are most thankful for?

12. Who are you most thankful for?

13. Who are the people you trust?

14. What do you want to change in yourself?

15. What is that you like the most about yourself?

16. What one thing would you want a second chance with?

17. Do you love yourself?

18. What is the ideal version of yourself you want to be?

19. What little things make you happy?

20. Who do you enjoy being around with?

21. What do you fear the most?

22. What are the things you think you should let go of?

Questions on Behavior

Our habits, behavior patterns and how we communicate with others have a lot to say about our efficiency in any project we take up. Simple routine habits like the time you wake up every day are capable of impacting your productivity every day.

Getting an insight into your own behavior will help you understand why you feel what you feel, and how helpful or harmful it is to your growth and success.

23. How do you show your emotions — anger, sadness or happiness?

24. Which everyday routine you are better off without?

25. What do you do when you feel lost?

26. How do you celebrate your happiness and success?

27. How well do you communicate with others?

28. How well do you sleep?

29. Do you eat healthily and on time?

30. Does your work interfere with your personal life? How do you balance work and personal life?

31. How do you spend your leisure time?

32. What activities relax you?

33. What activities make you feel anxious?

34. What habits do you want to break and which ones do you want to cultivate?

Questions on Future Aspirations and Goals

Goals are like the lighthouses that guide one’s life. If they are vague and have no particular importance, you may keep wandering the sea of confusion and end up wondering what you did wrong.

Your goals need to be aligned with the long term big picture that you have for your life. Maybe if you start asking the right questions, you will get the answer to where you actually want to be.

35. What are your passions?

36. If you won the lottery today, how would you be in 5 years?

37. What work would you like to do if it’s not paid and there are no restrictions on time and resources?

38. What’s the best reality you wish for and how does it compare to your present?

39. What do you expect from your career? A promotion, raise, satisfaction or everything?

40. Are you on the job which aligns to your goals?

41. Which one event in your life has been the biggest so far?

42. What would you like to be the experience you want to share your mentees or children with?

43. How far do you think you are from achieving your big dreams?

44. What would you do if you had just a year left to live?

45. What advice would you give to your past-self 5 years ago?

46. And what do you think your future self would advise you?

47. What is the biggest priority in your life right now?

48. What is your biggest regret in your life?

49. How do you plan to deal with your regrets and successes? Do you stop trying or do you keep working for it?

50. What is your ideal career?

51. Do you want to retire? If yes, how and when?

52. How do you measure success?

53. What resolutions do you often take?

54. How many goals have you accomplished?

55. Do you have unfinished projects you have always wanted to be done?

56. How much help did you provide your loved ones in achieving their goals?

57. How many of your goals have you achieved?

58. Did you get to have the time resources you needed to complete your goals?

59. What are your immediate goals?

60. What do you need to get your goals completed?

61. Are your deadlines realistic and motivating?

62. What will be your reaction if you have accomplished a goal and vice versa?

63. What limitations are you facing in achieving your goals?

64. What steps are you taking to tackle these limitations?

Questions on Growth

Every experience, whether successful or not, teaches us something. It could be in the form of skills, knowledge, life lessons, relationships, and social interactions.

It is necessary to gauge your growth in both personal and career space in every experience you undertake so as to be aware of your capabilities and build your self-confidence.

You should also be aware of what works for you and what doesn’t when it comes to developing your skills.

65. What makes anything interesting to learn for you?

66. What are the things that you wish you are good at?

67. What actions do you regret the most?

68. What inaction or missed opportunity that you regret?

69. What do you usually say to yourself when you fail at something?

70. What experiences improved your self-confidence?

71. What do you think can improve your self-confidence?

72. How would you describe your last year in three words? And what would be the three words for your coming year?

73. What new skills did you learn last year?

74. What do you plan to learn in the coming days?

75. What are the mind blocks and difficulties that you overcame last year?

76. What are the things you wish to experience and learn about?

77. Which decision of yours turned out to be the best?

78. Which decision did not work out as you hoped? And why do you think that is?

79. What do you think you need to improve on?

80. What do you think you are really good at?

Questions on Beliefs

The way we shape our lives is very much dependent on our moral values and beliefs. One who believes honesty is paramount will not stoop low to cheat and lie to earn money.

Their meanings of success would differ from that of a con artist. The decisions you take in your life, the goals you set for yourself are all dependent on your belief system.

81. Do you believe in the concept of love at first sight?

82. What does doing good deeds mean to you?

83. What do you prefer — live to work or work to live?

84. What do you think makes life meaningful?

85. What do you think makes anything right or wrong?

86. What do you think is better — being the biggest fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond?

87. What do you think inspires you?

88. What are the most important things to you in life?

89. What are your values?

90. How do you prioritize your goals and desires in life?

91. Do you believe in networking and connections to learn from peers and mentors?

92. What beliefs are holding you back from progress and which ones are helping you?

Questions on Motivation

If you cannot find yourself enjoying what you do, chances are your motivation for that job is quite weak. But not all work is jolly even if it means it will get you to achieving your big dreams.

Finding a way to motivate yourself through all the grunt work required is crucial to achieving your goals. And that also requires some self-digging.

93. What does the present mean to you?

94. When do you feel the most motivated?

95. Which methods help your motivation?

96. What makes you discouraged in pursuing your desires?

97. What are the things you do that make you lose track of time?

98. Who has had a positive impact on your life?

99. Who demotivates you?

100. What opportunities are you looking out for? How prepared are you to take up if that opportunity arrives?

Remember, the wise never stop asking questions especially to themselves. Once you have the answers, you can be rid of self-doubt and get to working your dreams to reality with conviction and undeterred commitment.

If you want to understand yourself more so as to start living the life you want, these articles can help you:

How Self-Reflection Gives You a Happier and More Successful Life
8 Things to Remember When You Don’t Know What to Do with Your Life
How to Live a Meaningful Life: 10 Inspiring Ideas to Find Meaning

Featured photo credit: Allef Vinicius via unsplash.com

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5 Questions to Improve Critical Thinking Skills

Helen lee bouygues.

March 16, 2023

As the spread of misinformation continues to negatively impact society , the question of how to improve critical thinking skills is more crucial than ever. Although a complex and multifaceted concept, critical thinking can be defined , and more importantly, learned.

One of the most important steps to developing critical thinking skills is asking yourself the right questions when making a decision or verifying a piece of information. A central tenet of critical thinking is the concept of metacognition – “thinking about your thinking” – which is the ability to ask yourself incisive questions about your thought process.

To do this well, you need to know and understand the types of questions that will help you better analyze your thought process. The following five questions can help.

How Do You Know What You Know?

Research suggests that human beings have approximately 6,000 thoughts a day, on average. These include everything from the mundane, “what will I have for breakfast,” to more profound and complex, “what am I passionate about?” All or most of these thoughts include various opinions and assumptions. For example, you may choose to avoid eggs for breakfast because you believe it causes high cholesterol. How do you know that?

Perhaps you read a story about the correlation between eggs and high cholesterol in a medical journal or maybe you saw a TikTok video by an unlicensed medical professional making the claim. The point is that one of the first elements of becoming a strong critical thinker is to examine the ideas, thoughts, and opinions you have and ask yourself why – why do you believe what you believe and how did you come to this conclusion? Doing so will help you better examine and analyze your sources.

Can You Slow Down ?

Emotional responses are one of the most common deterrents to critical thinking. While it is normal to experience an occasional emotional response, learning how to control your emotions and to approach decision-making in a manner that is calm, thoughtful, and measured is an important step toward becoming a good critical thinker. Controlling emotions requires taking the time to slow down, resetting and reflecting on your thoughts and feelings before making a decision. Doing so will allow you to process your feelings, ask yourself why you feel the way you do, and decide on the best option moving forward.

Think about it in terms of deciding between a small purchase, such as choosing what salad to buy versus a big purchase, like a new car. Deciding what salad to have for dinner is a low-involvement decision that is perfectly normal to base your choice on simply how you feel at that moment. You would not, or at least you certainly should not, base your decision on a new car simply on impulse.

Smart car shoppers go through the process of identifying the need for a new car, researching options, deciding what features are most important, and comparing prices and deals before making a purchase decision. So rather than responding emotionally, they stop and reflect on their options and make a decision based on sound reasoning.

A central tenet of critical thinking is the concept of metacognition – “thinking about your thinking” – which is the ability to ask yourself incisive questions about your thought process. Tweet

Have You Considered Another Perspective?

A hallmark of a great critical thinker is the ability to examine counterarguments and to consider opposing viewpoints. Doing so helps provide a more complete picture and greater insight into any topic or issue. Similar to constructing a pros and cons list when faced with a difficult decision, considering multiple perspectives helps ensure all the necessary information is available to make a sound and informed decision, and to be a better critical thinker. The following are a few tips for considering multiple perspectives and examining counterarguments:

Be a part of a diverse group. Regularly surround yourself with individuals of varying backgrounds – cultural, racial, socio-economic, and more. Because personal experiences shape our perspectives, being surrounded by diverse individuals helps us see issues in different ways and to consider points of view that were previously unrecognized.
Spark healthy debates by encouraging others to challenge and disagree with your opinions and viewpoints. When you surround yourself with individuals whose opinions and perspectives may not align with yours, it can encourage a healthy exchange of ideas and debate.
Seek out opinions and ideas that do not align with your established viewpoint. It’s important to find a balance between an opposing viewpoint and inflammatory ideas and opinions. Be careful to avoid the latter in pursuit of gaining differing perspectives.

Does Evidence Support Your Point of View?

In line with the first question, which asks individuals to examine the source of their thoughts and ideas, it is also necessary to identify and examine the evidence that supports a point of view. Is there any? Providing supporting evidence of a point of view forces you to interrogate your conclusions and confirm whether it’s right or wrong.

When gathering and examining evidence, it’s significant to separate relevant facts from extraneous information. For example, perhaps you believe social media usage is harmful to young children. Identifying what year social media began is not relevant to your argument. However, referencing an academic research study that makes a correlation between social media usage and depression in young children is relevant evidence.

Supporting evidence for a point of view can come in many forms, including academic research, quotes, news sources, and statistical data. The following are a few tips for gathering accurate and relevant evidence to support your point of view.

Ensure that the evidence is relevant to your point of view.
Ensure that the source of the evidence is credible. For example, a news story from a verified outlet is more credible than an anonymous post on Reddit.
Ensure that the information provided from your evidence is current. For example, data from a research study conducted 15 years ago may not be as reliable as a study conducted two or three years ago.
Ensure the evidence comes from an authoritative source. For example, if you are relying on an academic research study, ensure that it meets the requirements of a quality academic study. That is, it’s been published, the methodology is well-documented and can be replicated, and the study acknowledges its limitations.

A hallmark of a great critical thinker is the ability to examine counter-arguments and to consider opposing viewpoints. Doing so provides a more complete picture and greater insight into any topic or issue. Tweet

How Do Your Experiences Affect Your Opinion ?

Here’s a shocking secret – we all have biases. Therefore, we are all guilty of sometimes being influenced by these biases in our thoughts, opinions, and decision-making process. Our biases may be rooted in everything from our gender, racial identity, religion, sexuality, socio-economic background, and more. However, biases aren’t inherently bad, as long as we are conscious of them and understand how they affect our thoughts, opinions, and decision-making.

Cognitive biases, for example, are a type of thought process rooted in human beings’ tendency to want to simplify information processing. An example of this is availability heuristic , which is a helpful device that allows individuals to make decisions based on past experiences and learned and stored information. A simple example is a child that knows not to play with fire because they have, in the past, accidentally burned themselves.

Conversely, sometimes biases are rooted in negative and misleading perceptions that lead to poor critical thinking. For example, biased assumptions against certain races or religions that are rooted in the perception that one is superior to another will prevent you from considering diverse points of view. Recognizing and examining our biases is essential for becoming a better critical thinker, as it requires a deeper reasoning on our thoughts, opinions, and decision-making process.

Biases aren’t inherently bad, as long as we are conscious of them and understand how they affect our thoughts, opinions, and decision-making. Tweet

Critical thinking is a process of interrelated steps, versus a single stand-alone skill, with some steps more challenging than others. However, they all represent important aspects of rational thought and decision-making. And one of those essential steps is the ability to ask yourself the right questions throughout your decision-making process. The five questions outlined above are an excellent place to start.

Helen Lee Bouygues is the president of the Reboot Foundation

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How to Decide Where to Live: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Move

A guide for finding a home you love in a place that feels like home.

Deciding where to live — whether it’s for a year or a lifetime — can mean weighing up dozens of complex considerations. These span from broad factors like the local job market, to more specific concerns like whether it will really feel like home without your favorite coffee spot or dog park nearby.

When you’re asking, “Where should I live?,” picture your life in the next few years. What’s important to you in a community now may change, even in the short term, as you move through different life stages.

To help avoid regrets that can come from picking the wrong place, we’ve gathered some practical search tips and considerations that can help you land in a place you love coming home to.

1. Is it close enough to the important people and places in your life?

Think about life’s essentials, both the people you hold dear and the places you want and need to get to:

Friends and family: Social connections enrich our lives and can help us live our dreams. Consider how important it is for you to be close to family and friends and social networks.

Schools: If schools are going to be a primary factor for you imminently or in the next several years, you can discover homes for sale or rent within specific school attendance zones or school districts by typing the name of the school district into the search bar on the Zillow® app .

Other essential places: Consider how much travel you want to do to get to work, health care facilities, grocery and hardware stores or dining and entertainment.

What’s the maximum amount of time you want to spend commuting?

Consider your commute, whether it’s driving, busing or taking the train or subway. If you plan to use public transportation, take note of proximity to transit stops. When you’re commuting regularly, you’ll quickly notice the difference between a three-minute walk to the bus stop versus a 20-minute one.

You’ll also want to consider alternative transportation options. Are rideshare services and carpooling options available? Cities large and small are increasingly allowing micromobility services . What does this look like in the areas you’re considering?

TIP: Use the “ Travel times ” feature on Zillow’s app to see how long it takes to get between home and important places using various modes of transportation (private or public transit, walking and biking). All Zillow listings feature a Walk Score, Transit Score and Bike Score in the Neighborhood section. The features will give you an idea of how easy it is to get around without a car.

2. Is it too close to things you’d rather avoid?

Think about how you’d like to live. Is quiet important to you or do you like to be near the action? Use Google Maps to explore the area if you’re home shopping on the app, or drive the streets if you’re touring in person. If you’re seeking quiet, take note of proximity to things that generate noise, including:

fire stations
transit stops
venues that draw large crowds
railroad tracks
busy roads or highways

3. What’s the job market like?

If you’re thinking of moving to look for a new job, and working remotely isn’t an option, research the labor market there. Consider whether the neighborhood is close to a job center and the kinds of jobs that pay a living wage. If you’re starting a business, research local demand for what you want to offer.

TIP: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes regular updates on economic conditions in metro areas around the country to give you an idea of what it might cost to live there.

4. How much will it cost to live there?

If you’re looking at unfamiliar places, research the cost of living, home values and rents , and tap your real estate agent’s knowledge of the local market.

5. How much control do you want over what you can do to your property?

If you’re searching in a neighborhood with new developments, there’s a good chance there will be a Homeowners Association (HOA) that governs what you will be permitted to do to your home and yard.

TIP: If you prefer to have more control over your living situation, use Zillow’s home search to filter out homes in neighborhoods with HOAs. The feature also lets you search only for homes with HOAs if you prefer more rules over what your neighborhood looks like.

6. How walkable is it?

Are there sidewalks and pedestrian-friendly crosswalks, or will you be walking to the dog park along a busy street with no shoulder? Choosing an area with high walkability and alternative transportation options, like rideshare services or public transportation, could allow you to minimize or forgo car expenses.

TIP: Check out the walkability score on Zillow’s home listing details. A Walk Score is a starting place, but a little research will help ensure that you can truly walk to what you need and want.

7. Is it near green space?

What does your prospective neighborhood offer in terms of nature? Studies increasingly indicate that exposure to nature and green spaces brings health benefits . What’s more, recent research suggests that the availability of accessible and usable green spaces is “ significantly associated with neighborhood satisfaction .” If you have canine friends or plan to get some, nearby parks are indispensable.

TIP: Green areas on a Zillow listing’s map represent parks. Dog parks are also marked on Zillow’s maps.

8. What kind of climate can you expect?

Do you love the four seasons or do you prefer a more temperate climate? And did you know there’s such a thing as microclimates that can result in variable temperatures even in the same city?

For larger climate concerns, platforms like ClimateCheck and nonprofit research organization First Street Foundation offer online tools that give you a snapshot of what the climate risk might look like in a particular zip code.

9. Does it meet your needs for safety and security?

Your concerns for safety and security might look different depending on your circumstances. For instance, if you have children or pets, you might want to look for areas nearby where they can play safely. If your concern is a lack of crime, you can research crime data through the local police or sheriff’s department. And if your notions of safety include such things as legal protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ people or income protections for renters, you can screen for that too on Zillow listings.

TIP : Each Zillow home listing shows whether the home is in an area that offers legal protections against discrimination.

How important is it that you feel a sense of community?

Beyond friends and family, community is another way to find social connectedness.

Access to nearby groups or activities that align with your interests
Whether there’s a homeowner association or a management team that sponsors events and mixers in your apartment complex
Whether there are amenities that encourage social interaction, such as play fields, an arthouse theater, multiplex, recreation center or library
Are there common areas in your rental or apartment complex that might make it easier to meet others? What about coffee shops, dog parks or playrooms to meet fellow dog owners or parents?

Additional tips for deciding where you should live

Consider the pros and cons of where you live now.

Another way to narrow down possibilities is to take inventory of your current neighborhood and think about what you like and dislike about it. Start a pros-and-cons list and keep it handy as you search.

Visit the area at different times of day

If you can, visit at different times of day so you get a true sense of what it might be like to live there. Talk to people who are out and about, grab a drink at a local coffee shop and talk to the barista, or the couple walking their talk. Think about that sense of community. Do you feel it here?

Stay in the neighborhood you’re thinking about living in

Consider grabbing a short-term rental in one or more neighborhoods as a way to test out different lifestyles. Maybe you're not sure if you want to live in the urban heart of the city, but you think you might love it. Find out what it’s like to live above a restaurant or on that quiet farm road you always dreamed about. Renting gives you a chance to figure out what you like and dislike in neighborhoods, sample a diversity of experiences and learn more about yourself, so that when you're ready to commit, you're more informed.

Tap the local expertise of a real estate agent

Real estate agents and property managers are a great resource to tap for local market conditions. By sharing your priorities and needs with them, they can help you narrow down choices so that you’re not wasting time touring homes that aren’t a good fit.

Whether you're buying or renting, it's worth doing the hands-on research upfront. Take some time and visualize yourself there. Is this place actually a fit?

Next: Try our house-hunting checklist or learn how to decide which type of rental is best for you .

Susan Kelleher

Find an apartment you’ll love on Zillow

With Zillions of up-to-date listings and filters for your must-haves, it's easy to find your perfect apartment on Zillow Rentals.

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Stay on track with Renter Hub

Save your favorite rentals, message landlords, track your application status, create a free renter profile and more - all in your Renter Hub

More From Forbes

This activity will help you feel less overwhelmed at work.

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According to The American Institute of Stress, 83% of U.S. workers report experiencing daily ... [+] work-related stress

It's a typical day at the office. You're sitting at your desk and all of the sudden your Slack notifications start blowing up as everyone decides to respond to a question in unison, meanwhile you glance at your email inbox and see you have 10 new unread messages in the last 15 minutes meanwhile you're drawing a blank on what the next step is in the project you're working on because the distractions have caused you to lose your train of thought.

Suddenly the overwhelm and anxiety creeps in when you notice it's already 3:00 p.m. and you wanted to be done with everything by 5 p.m. The feeling of impending doom sweeps over you as you realize you're going to be bringing this work home with you (again) tonight and most likely answering emails from home. Maybe you’re even wondering if you should quit .

This has become the norm lately at work for you and you're not alone. According to The American Institute of Stress , 83% of U.S. workers report experiencing daily work-related stress and 50% report not being engaged at work, which leads to loss in productivity. The good news is there are ways for you to regain control over your day, make better decisions, and feel more in control.

Most importantly, it’s important to understand this isn’t your fault and there’s nothing wrong with you because the same tools we use to streamline our tasks and enhance productivity have also become our biggest sources of overwhelming stress. Technology has changed the way we communicate and collaborate, offering countless platforms for interaction. However, the constant influx of messages, emails, and notifications has created chaos inside of our brains when they’re perpetually bombarded with information.

This neverending digital onslaught not only strains our cognitive abilities but also makes it really hard for us to be effective at work. This is because being in a perpetual state of overwhelm hampers our decision-making, creates frustration, and ultimately affects our interactions with colleagues and family. The solution lies not in working harder or faster, nor in self-criticism for failing to meet demands, but in slowing down, taking a breath and asking yourself some questions that will help you feel clear, calm and in control.

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024, what’s happening in our brains.

Your prefrontal lobes govern executive functioning, which guides decision-making, planning, task prioritization, and time management. As long as your prefrontal lobes are in charge, you are able to navigate daily challenges effectively. Beneath the prefrontal lobes lies a deeper part of the brain responsible for basic survival functions, such as sleep, hunger, breathing, heart rate, and emotions. When you are thriving, this survival center sends signals of excitement and joy, enhancing your motivation, attention, and memory.

However, repeated stress from crises, difficult clients, or demanding bosses can trigger anxiety and fear, leading your brain to panic. Our brains are hardwired to respond to fear with fight, flight, or freeze reactions, which are essential for survival, but problematic in modern life.

When in survival mode, the prefrontal lobes start deferring to fear, impairing your ability to react positively and effectively. This results in black-and-white thinking, diminished intelligence, and poor perspective. Overworking and chronic stress can short-circuit your brain, leading to poor decisions and reactions driven by anger and fear. Recognizing this helps in managing stress and maintaining healthy brain function.

The Four Questions

So what do you do when you’re trying to work on multiple projects at once while emails pile up in your inbox, everyone seems to want to answer a question on Slack and your phone keeps pinging with notifications?

In order to combat the overwhelm you have to slow down, take a beat and ask yourself these four questions:

1. What Am I Thinking About Right Now?

The one thing we have complete control over is our thoughts, so this is where you want to start. When facing a work issue or deciding whether to keep working or go home, it's crucial to check in with yourself. If you're at home, working late into the night, and feel your brain short-circuiting, stop and ask yourself, "What am I thinking about right now?" This simple question can help you regain clarity and make better decisions.

2. How Do I Feel?

Our thoughts trigger our feelings, so it's important to ask, "What am I feeling?" Feelings of exhaustion and overwhelm often stem from self-imposed pressure, leading to anxiety and confusion . This is when the mind starts to spiral into fear, with thoughts like, "If I don’t get this done, I’ll be fired or my boss will be mad." Such feelings prevent the prefrontal lobes from making rational decisions.

Before moving on, it’s crucial to acknowledge and accept these thoughts and feelings. When you acknowledge and accept, you recognize and identify what you’re feeling and then accept that feeling without judgment . When we have a feeling we don’t like we tend to push it away or think, "I shouldn't feel this way" or "I'm too anxious and that's a bad thing."

When we fight or ignore how we feel, the feelings become bigger, which only makes us more anxious and overwhelmed. For example, when you’re feeling triggered at work you can say to yourself, "I acknowledge I’m feeling frustrated and overwhelmed right now. I accept this is how I’m feeling right now and that’s OK, it’s not bad or wrong to feel this way.”

You're noticing your thoughts and feelings, but you're not judging them. This allows you to move through the feelings as opposed to getting stuck and circling the drain about the "shoulds" or "what-ifs."

Over time this will help you shift your mindset around your perceptions about how you think and feel. Acknowledgment and acceptance don’t mean agreement; recognizing a feeling doesn’t mean it’s true.

The next step is to challenge the original thought.

3. What Else Could Be True? (Am I Confusing A Thought Or Feeling With A Fact?)

If you’re thinking, “I can’t keep up with all of the demands” and feeling overwhelmed, ask yourself, “What else could be true?” Is it true that you can’t keep up with all of the demands or that there are just too many things on your plate right now? Is it true that if you don’t get all of this work completed today you’ll be in trouble with your boss or that maybe you need to have a conversation with your boss to discuss your workload?

This cognitive reframing method helps us explore alternative perspectives and possibilities, rather than fixating on a single negative outcome. By challenging initial, often irrational, thoughts with this question, it becomes easier to uncover more balanced and constructive viewpoints. This technique helps reduce anxiety and promotes clearer thinking, which enables you to make more rational decisions and builds your resilience in the face of challenges.

4. What Action Will I Take?

The final step is to determine what you’re going to do next. You’ve recognized you’re overwhelmed and you now know it’s because you’re juggling too many projects at once. You don’t know what the solution is right now, but you know you can’t fix this problem today. You finish up your day and go home to rest and when you return the next morning, you can address the real problem which is that you’ve got too much work.

How Will I Know If It’s Working?

If you want to know if your prefrontal lobes are back in charge, ask yourself the three C’s:

1. Am I Clear?

Do I know what my next step is?

2. Am I Confident?

Do I have the tools and knowledge I need to take the next step?

3. Am I Calm?

Do I still feel really anxious?

If you answer “yes” to these questions then you’re ready.

Take these four questions and write them down and put them somewhere near your desk or office so you can see them at all times. Your goal is to be able to use this four-question method several times throughout the day. It will feel awkward in the beginning and you may feel some resistance to doing something new, but over time it will become second nature.

Technology is only advancing and new platforms pop up every day, which means feeling overwhelmed isn’t going to go away anytime soon. Instead of pushing yourself to work harder or faster, try slowing down, taking a breath, and asking yourself these key questions to regain calm, clarity and control.

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COMMENTS

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Related: 6 Ways to Improve Critical Thinking at Work Share a time you had to use critical thinking to solve a problem. Employers ask this question to determine if you've actually had to use critical thinking to find a solution. Think of a time you had to deeply think about a problem. Share what your process was with the interviewer.
100 Inspiring Questions That Make You Think About Your Life
Questions on Self-Reflection. Remember wisdom favors those who seek it. Everything in your life starts with you. Understanding your innate abilities, fears, desires, insecurities, and feelings is necessary to deal with them effectively. Introspect yourself and see where you stand. 1.
5 Questions to Improve Critical Thinking Skills
The five questions outlined above are an excellent place to start. Helen Lee Bouygues is the president of the Reboot Foundation. Get monthly updates, news about critical thinking, and links to free resources. One of the most important steps to improve critical thinking is asking yourself the right questions when analyzing information.
How to Decide Where to Live: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself
If you're thinking of moving to look for a new job, and working remotely isn't an option, research the labor market there. Consider whether the neighborhood is close to a job center and the kinds of jobs that pay a living wage. If you're starting a business, research local demand for what you want to offer.
How To Feel Less Overwhelmed At Work
When feeling overwhelmed at work, slow down, take a breath, and ask yourself these 4 questions to regain calm, clarity and control.