A basic fundamental principle in sociology is that human beings are creatures of habit. Everything we do is for a reason, whether we are aware of the reason or not. The way we dress, what we eat, who we choose to hang out with- these are all behaviors that are not as unintentional as they may initially appear. We dress a certain way to portray the image we want of ourselves to others, we eat certain foods because of the way they make us feel or because of their nutritional values, and we hang around others that think in similar fashion to ourselves.

The problem is not that we are creatures of habit, but that most of us are unaware of the habits that we have formed. We do not consciously choose our behaviors. Therefore, to see better results in our lives, we can learn to take conscious control of our behaviors. How do we do that? We come to understand the importance of questions in staying "conscious" in our living.

Questions = Focus

Questions are the key to learning how to take control over our lives. In fact, a well-timed question can change our lives immediately. The key, then, is to ask ourselves better questions. By doing so, we direct our mind (that wonderful machine that calculates and analyzes data continuously) to find an answer. Thus, the end result of asking ourselves better questions is better answers. This is the key to changing our focus and the quality of our everyday lives.

So, if changing our focus is as easy as asking ourselves better questions, why do some people still lead lives that are full of pain, anger, or resentment? One reason is that they are asking themselves questions that necessarily lead to these emotional states. A good example would be to ask yourself the following question: "Why am I so lazy?" Your mind will provide you with various answers. However, asking yourself the question,"Why do I work so hard?" will also command your mind to find answers. Different questions, different answers. Same person.

This simple example of the power of focus allows us to see that the questions that we habitually ask ourselves go a long way towards determining the quality of our lives.

How do we know if a question is a "good" question or a "bad" question? Analyze the way the question makes us feel and act. If you are feeling down, tired, unmotivated, or frustrated, stop and take a look at the questions you are asking yourself. Invariably you will find that you are asking yourself mediocre or even negative questions.

What follows are some examples of questions that may serve to immediately improve your focus and attitude:

1. What is great about my life currently?
2. What do I have to be thankful about?
3. What skills do I have that are unique to me?
4. What is one thing I can do differently today to improve my relationships?
5. Who can help me accomplish my goals?
6. Who has already accomplished what I am trying to do?
7. Does this habit take me closer to my goals/dreams?
8. How has my life improved in the past year/month/week/day?