As a child, I asked a lot of questions. I was really curious. Most children are! They want to explore and know more about things that they did not understand. Unfortunately, this natural urge is curtailed very early in life when parents tell their children that this is the way it is. Those like me, who refuse to accept that as an answer, go on to really test their parents to no end.

One of the things that my father did to satisfy the endless barrage of questions was to buy books like ‘Tell me how’, ‘Tell me why’ and others. And then when it became too much, he made sure that I took to reading (just like him). At least some of my search was satiated with books. But our discussions on human behavior, life, mythology, religion, philosophy, and spirituality did not cease!

In fact, I think he fueled it even more by keeping up with letters (that looked more like manuals) once I left home at age 16. This was such a core part of growing up that my father gifted me a question mark locket on my 18^th birthday.

Over the years, the kind of questions that I ask has changed but I do not see an end to the questions that pop up!

Why You Should Not Stop Asking Questions

He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever.                                                                                                                                   – Chinese Proverb.

It might seem like an obvious thing to say that questions help us learn. While there are other ways of acquiring knowledge, it is only with the help of personal inquiry that we are able to truly understand concepts and discover the truth for ourselves.

One might say that one does not need to ask questions if one has understood the concept that is being referred to. This may be something that you feel is most applicable in an instructive setting like a school, college, or class. Even when we refer to such a situation and even when you feel you have understood the concept fully, it is only by asking questions that you will take it to the next level. There is a huge difference between grasping a concept and internalizing it.

Asking questions helps us gain clarity into things that may not have been explained. The more we question, the higher level of clarity it gets us.

When we challenge the things that are being handed over to us by others, we open up new channels and routes in the brain that help us become more creative and individualistic. It allows us to see different perspectives and newer ways of thinking.

As we open up these channels we start to think on our own. We are able to shed any previous restrictions that have been set on us by parents, family, society or the world at large, and this leads to wisdom.

Asking questions can lead to better empathy, discovery, understanding, greater relationships, ideas, perspectives, solutions, and a whole new world. Asking questions can also be used to find a culprit, shame someone, create fear, or manipulate. And as is true for any tool, it can be used in a destructive manner than in a constructive one.

However, the ONE main reason why you should not stop asking questions is this:

If you stop asking questions, you become a puppet in the hands of others who want to manipulate you. Over time, you start accepting things more easily and with less resistance. If you have been fortunate and if your natural explorative nature has not been squashed, you should ensure that you never let it die down, despite any kind of resistance.

Ask your questions to yourself, to others, to the authorities, to the bosses, to the relatives, and to the world. But ask them with a sense of curiosity and with an intent to learn more.

Questions asked to oneself reveal your true nature to yourself. We begin to understand who we really are and what we would like to do (separate from the influence of others).

Questions that we ask others help us understand them better so as to increase empathy and form better relationships (personal and professional).

Questions that we ask authorities help us change the current order of things, bring about change, and look at newer perspectives. These are the questions that can help bring about change; a change that may be very essential in our thinking and in our way of doing things as time passes.

Asking questions is the one power that you have to empower yourself and change the world!

If you have tons of unanswered questions and want to start exploring, get in touch and we can begin to fuel this amazing fire inside you again!

Featured Image by Anemone123 from Pixabay