From time to time I buzz around the Web to see what is going on in the world…

I know people in personal development say that following the news will corrode your mind, but sometimes I find some interesting stuff that actually can help my mind grow.

I think the news in the Internet world is a little different (not too much though) because – unlike TV news where you’re feed whatever the station wants you to see – on the Web you can choose what you click on.

Anyway, this week I found something on CNN.com that I thought was incredibly valuable.

It was a list of 20 questions that could ask yourself to help change your life.

I was surprised to find it, since CNN is about one step up from TMZ.com when it comes to quality news content.

But apparently, this was a content piece contributed by Oprah.com, so it all made a little more sense.

Back to the 20 questions…

I’m a huge fan of asking myself questions – even hard ones.

And this list, unlike others I’ve seen, was actually pretty good.

I learned the value of asking questions for personal improvement from a Tony Robbins cassette tape many years ago.

Tony told me that the type of questions that you ask yourself define your life.

If you ask yourself good questions, you get good answers.

If you ask yourself bad questions, you get bad answers – or answers that don’t serve you well.

How many times have you said to yourself, “why can’t I stop eating ice cream, chips, cooked food, bacon, agave, cashews, etc.?”

That kind of question isn’t going to help you stop eating the food you’re addicted to.

It’s actually going to affirm the fact that you need it.

Here’s why…

When you ask the question above, you get answers like:

… because I can’t stop.

… because I’m addicted.

… because I’m sad about something.

… because I’m bored.

… because…

All these statements, if you notice, affirm a negative thing about you.

You’re unable to stop. You’re addicted. You’re sad, bored, fat, tired, lazy, ugly, etc.

When you repeat these statements, sometimes you start to believe them.

What you have to do to get better results (and in the case of this example, stop binging) is change the question.

A better question to ask when you’re grabbing the ice cream, bacon, cooked food, agave, cashews, chips, etc. is this:

“Is there a better option for me right now?”

Chances are you’ll get some good answers from asking yourself that like…

Yep, there’s an apple.

Yep, I can make a smoothie.

Sure, I should just have a cup of tea.

See how easily you can go from feeling awful about yourself and what you’re doing to being proactive and in control.

All it takes is a question.

Let me give you some more.

Here are some more great questions you can ask yourself to get in great shape and great health. (Adapted from this CNN.com article.)

1. What is a better option right now?

This is the question I explained above.

It’s a fantastic question because it allows you to think of possibility, not what is causing the problem or issue you have.

When you ask for better options, your mind searches for them.

When you ask to find out what is wrong, your mind searches for things that are wrong.

You can use this question for more than just health related inquiries.

You can ask it when you’ve been watching too much TV, or when all your friends want to go out and drink, or when someone wants you to do something you’re not so sure about.

2. What can I do today that will make me healthier than I was yesterday?

This is my signature question.

If you ask yourself this one every day, you will find yourself easily making healthier decisions.

It’s amazing how it works.

I’ll bet you I can take a person who eats just pizza for every meal and make them one of the healthiest eaters on the planet just by having them ask this question every day.

Each day, this question challenges you to be better than you were the day before.

It’s that powerful.

3. What do I really want to do?

A lot of us are doing things we don’t want to do.

Whether it’s our particular exercise program or some silly restricted diet program, we have to enjoy our health journey.

If you don’t, you’re going to fail.

The purpose of this question is to knock your mind around a little and be honest with yourself.

Do you really like what you’re doing?

After you ask, listen to the answers.

4. Does what I want to do fit my goals?

This should really be labeled (3b).

This question is so closely tied to the last one that it almost should be asked at the same time.

When most people ask themselves, “what do I really want to do?” they almost always say that they don’t want to exercise or eat well.

So that question can be used as an excuse, not as an opportunity to grow.

That’s why this secondary question is so important.

When you have goals outlined, then you can frame the “what do I want to do?” question in a more specific way.

This way if you want to lose weight but in the moment you want to eat a sleeve of thin mints (or a bag of cashews, or…), you’ll notice that what you think you really want to do doesn’t fit into your larger goals.

4. What can I do now to get out of this rut?

When you’re in a rut, it can be difficult to get out of if you don’t ask this question.

Ask it and the answers will come.

Once they do, then it’s your responsibility to take action.

This is a good question to ask your friends as well so you can get advice to help you get moving.

5. Am I taking this all to seriously?

When it comes to those who are already doing really healthy things, sometimes asking questions about getting healthier aren’t the most important.

I know people (myself at one time) that take what they eat or how they exercise so far and so seriously that it starts to interfere with other aspects of their life in a negative way.

So instead of sitting at an organic restaurant enjoying their salad, they’re busy stressing out about where they’re going to eat their next meal or if they had any toxic exposure on their walk from the car to the building.

Look, it’s important to be concerned about these things, but remember food isn’t everything. Managing your own personal stress and your body chemistry is just as important to your health as eating.

If you are one of those way-to-serious health people, maybe it is time to ask yourself this question and see what you come up with.

All these questions will bring you fantastic, sometimes mindbending, sometimes revealing answers.

What’s even better is that every time you ask them, the answers usually change (unless you ask yourself one over and over again every few seconds, LOL!)

You can use these answers as you like, but I’m hoping you take action and make yourself better!

Do you ask yourself questions like this? Let me know in you have any inspirational questions that you want to share with everyone here.

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We have Kev’s SuperDelicious Cinnamon Bark back in stock!

This is what we’ve been using to make the most amazing cinnamon tea over the holidays for our family members.

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Live Awesome!
Kev

“I’ve tried everything to change my health–natural cures, alternative medicine, raw food, vegan diets–and nothing works. What do you suggest?”

Here is your answer in the form of a video essay (I got some great response from the last one, so I figure I’ll try again!)

I suggest an approach that takes the guesswork out of health, go ahead a take a look…

Question of the Day: Clearly my hobby–or brainchill–is the rubix cube. What hobby do you do to chill out during the day?

Click here and scroll down to the bottom of the page to leave a comment!

And yes, I said MSM for skin and nails

Live Awesome!
Kevin