Home > 26 Ways > #17: Question Everything?

26 Simple Ways to Nurture Your Creative Life

#17: Question Everything?

Why ask why?

By Chris Dunmire

How would you approach writing a curiosity-satisfying article about the importance of asking questions? Would you set out to answer why ask why? Or might you indulge yourself exaggeratingly in the question-asking process just to see how far-stretching

questioning

can be? Is "exaggeratingly" even a word? Is it really important? Do all articles have to answer a question?

Do you remember when you were a child? Do you remember how curious you were to find answers to the endless questions that filled your mind? Why is the sky blue? Where do babies come from? Why do I have to eat green things?

Did you ever think, as a child, that by asking your questions you would get to learn everything there was to know in the world? Or did you, simply by asking, experience the pleasurable curiosity-satisfying sensation of receiving answers to your questions? (Do you think I used too many commas in the first two sentences?) Or better yet, how did you feel when your questions were turned back to you — "Well, where do you think babies come from?"

Why do we feel a pleasurable sensation when our curiosity is satisfied? Is it because life is like one big jigsaw puzzle, and when we find ways to fit our pieces (answers to questions) in the larger picture, we understand life more fully? Or is it because it helps us realize that life is so much bigger than our little human issues and what goes on inside our small minds? That there might be something so much larger, grander, awe-inspiring at play?

Is there a God? Where did I come from? What is my life's purpose? Where am I going to after here? Are these also some of your questions? And do you have others? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why isn't there peace in this world? Why is my life important? Why is my creativity important? Why are my creations that I share with others in the world important?

Do you see more clearly the need for you to ask your questions? Or to ask more of them if you rarely ask? And then seek to find your answers? Or even find a place to hold on to while seeking satisfying answers? What if you can't find them? Do you keep holding on? Or does insanity happen to people who never stop asking? Have you resigned yourself (you don't think maybe it's all an illusion and you just have to choose your affiliations, do you)? Do you think the dot at the bottom of a question mark means to eventually come to a full question-asking stop? Why? Why not?

Ultimately, doesn't asking questions expand your world? Inspire your creativity? Give you more things to ask questions about? What would life be without questions? What is creativity without a question? Without a solution to be sought? Do you really want to know all the answers? Or is some mystery and intrigue a desirable thing?

What do you think of these?

Have you ever lied down in a comfortable place and tried to think of something you've never thought of before? If not, will you give it a try to see what it's like? How can we think thoughts we've never thought before? Can red wear blue? Is a circle around? Do flowers petal bicycles? What would happen if I visualized my jealous thoughts into 10-foot letters that spelled out L-O-V-E?

Do we ever have an original idea? Or are all ideas, insights, and experiences simply built upon those before it? Did you know it took me five months from conception to implementation to make this article happen? Have you ever read an article comprised only of questions? And how many questions make up this article? 49? 36? 52? Or is it some other number? What do you think? Is this article unusually evasive?

• • • Will You Take Action Now? • • •

Can you think of some questions you've been longing for answers to? Is it possible to think of something you've never thought of before? Where does creativity come from? Where does motivation come from? Where does meaning and purpose come from? Where did all of these questions come from? Will you be satisfied with all the answers that come your way? •

Did you know this article is © 2010 Chris Dunmire, CoachingYourCreativity.com, and all rights are reserved? (1/30/10).

About the Author
Did you know that Chris Dunmire finds meaning in life as an artist, writer, humorist, creativity coach, and driving force behind the popular Creativity-Portal.com Web site? And that Chris inspires people of all ages to be more creative through her articles, writing prompts, and project e-playbooks like her popular Dollar Bill Origami Money Plant, a "fun to make and gift away" craft project available for instant download at CreativeSlush.com? How cool is that?