5 Self-Reflection Questions We Should Ask That Most People Avoid

Perhaps you’ve heard these famous words of Socrates, “The unexamined life isn’t worth living.”

Whether you agree with Socrates or not, a superficial life is weak, unfulfilling, and filled with stuff that don’t matter in the end, not to mention that it keeps you from being what you were born to become.

We should set aside time for self-reflection to get to know ourselves and see if we’re living our own life or someone else’s.

“Self-reflection entails asking yourself questions about your values, assessing your strengths and failures, thinking about your perceptions and interactions with others, and imagining where you want to take your life in the future.” – Robert L. Rosen.

The point of self-reflection is to examine your thoughts and actions, consider your motivations, and gain insights into your life; it’s a process of self-discovery that helps you to live life intentionally and more deeply instead of coasting or drifting to a substandard, regret-filled destiny.

Here are five self-reflection questions to guide you along your journey of self-discovery and unlocking your best life. 

What do I believe and value?

When you get clear on what you believe and value, you can make decisions that support your life and the direction you want to go, even when it is uncomfortable or unpopular. 

Your core values and beliefs are the driving force behind your decisions. 

What do you stand for?

What do you stand against?

What kind of person are you when no one is watching?

What kind of person do you want to be when no one is watching?

What are my weakness and strengths?

What special skills or qualities do you possess?

What life experience have you gained?

What are you exceptionally good at? 

What are some of your weaknesses?

And what areas of your life need some attention and improvement? 

What are my aspirations and goals?

What do you aspire to become or achieve?

What are your dreams?

What have you been putting off?

What are your short-term and long-term goals? 

When you compare your life today to this time last year, are you moving in the right direction, drifting off course, further behind, or right where you were twelve months ago? 

Evaluating this part of your life reveals your priorities and whether you need to refocus your attention and energies to ensure you unlock your desired outcomes. 

To put it another way, you’ll see whether you’ve been making progress toward living the life you say you want to live or if you’ve been procrastinating or daydreaming. 

What have my failures and setbacks taught me? 

Failure is feedback; your past is a lesson. 

You can harness the power of your failures and setbacks to propel you toward your destiny or let them paralyze you. 

You can quit or adjust course and keep going.  

Failures and mistakes can forge character if you learn from them.

Am I fulfilling my purpose and living authentically? 

Whose life are you living, your own or someone else’s?

Are you living your purpose? Can you say, “I was born for this!”?

Are you being true to yourself?

Are you following the course you’ve charted or conforming to external pressure or societal expectations?

Are you planting a flag in the ground and saying, “This is who I am!” or are you selling yourself short by fitting in, pleasing people, and seeking approval?

Purpose and authenticity create a life of fulfillment. Spend meaningful time in self-reflection to see if you’re living the life of your dreams or living to satisfy someone else’s dreams. 

Final Thoughts

You deserve a life you care about – one you’re passionate about and are excited to get up in the morning and live! So, ask these self-reflection questions often to motivate yourself to stay on course and unlock your best life!