“New Year’s eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights”
Hamilton Wright Mabie
This year is coming to an end. Just a couple more days to go.
But before we step through that doorway I’d like to quickly share one last article with 3 of my favorite questions of all time that can help you shape 2017 into 365 days that will be simpler, happier and self-kinder.
Stay safe, enjoy your New Year’s celebration and see you next year!
1. Is this useful?
It’s very easy to spend a lot of time on things that do not really matter much. To spend hours, days or even weeks on being angry at someone, replaying a mistake or failure in one’s mind or to dwell on something negative and feeling more and more like a victim.
So I try to ask myself this question as often as I can to question and confront my own thoughts. To catch myself and to wake myself up when I get stuck in negative thought loops going round and round.
By doing so I:
- Suffer less.
- Waste less time on going round in circles.
- Spend more of my time on finding a practical solution.
2. What is one very small step I can take right now to get the ball rolling?
This is my favorite question for when I want to get started with something or if I want to get going again with something that have fallen to the side for some reason.
Because it makes things easier. Makes them feel lighter.
This question prevents me from trying to escape into procrastination and helps me to avoid the side-effects of that such as sinking self-esteem and simply a lot of time being wasted on trying to hide.
3. Will this matter in 5 years? Or even 5 weeks?
This one helps me to simplify.
To let go.
To not make a mountain out of a molehill.
To find the healthier and happier perspective.
To not lose my focus and energy to crippling worries.
To find a lightness in life where I do not have to carry around 5 tons of unnecessary mental baggage.
It is a truly wonderful question.
Henrik Edberg is the creator of the Positivity Blog and has written weekly articles here since 2006. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Gothenburg and has been featured on Lifehacker, HuffPost and Paulo Coelho’s blog.
Comments on this entry are closed.
Halpfull
Awesome simple three questions to bring in the new year,…..
Thank you for encouraging and enlightenments through 2016…
This article stirs up the thought process in my mind, as it relates to, how I want to start off the New Year ahead. I know it has done the same for many other people too.
Thanks for this!
Good Advice And Questions To Me Ever. Thank U Lott Mr. (Henrik Edberg) I Would Like To Say More Abwt Ur Advices And Ideas Cz It Helped Me And Changed Many Tings In My Lyf! But I Dnt Knw Writing English Dat Well. Thank U Mr. Henrik I Wil Rmbr U Ever.
Questions are OK but why aren’t you already living with such thoughts?
They should be so habitual as to not be really noticeable.
Wonderful articles…thenx
I have started reading Your blog just 2-3 weeks ago and I’m just impressed by the simplicity of Your tips and by the….positivity of Your thoughts :)
Three questions best yet on your blog. Keep up the good work.
Greg Berry Stratford Ontario Canada
Very simple but extremely powerful, thank you!
I will be sharing this blog post with my awesome creative readers so they too can move forward and feel more happiness :)
Very helpful! I also like to ask myself “How big is God?” As I believe he is omnipotent (and good!) the question is very comforting to me.
I’m enjoying your blog. Thank you so much!
Indeed. When I am about to quit. I read your blog over and over. So I get back on the track again. Thanks for inspiring and helping us to boast our self -esteem instead.
Yes, very helpful. Concise and relevant- easy to implement and important for peace. Especially the first one, well for me anyway! Thank you :-)
Hello. Fresh and new to this Positive Blog. No comment so far. Just some good knowledgeable readable articles. Looking forward to 2017 for a better life achievement and happy ending in everything encountered.
Love your articles. Here’s a quote to consider…
“Often when you think you’re at the end of something,
you’re at the beginning of something else.” -Fred Rogers-
Thank you for enlightenment in the year 2016. Happy new year – 2017