Crafting a Life That Matters: 10 Essential Questions The Productive Woman

Self-reflection is always time well spent, especially if it's helping us grow as an individual. In this episode we’re talking about questions we can ask ourselves to help us create a life that matters.







Defining who you are as a person and how you want to live is the key to making a life that matters



I used to own horses. Several years ago I had a young horse in training with a trainer who required, as part of his training regime, that the owner come to his facility at least once a week for a lesson with that horse in training. During my weekly lessons, he shared various concepts behind his training philosophy. One of those concepts was four key questions he asked himself before every session with a horse or its owner, questions that helped guide him in structuring the session. The first question, he said, is “What do you want?” As he explained it, without knowing the answer to that question, you’d be wasting your time in the session. Without a destination in mind, you won’t actually get anywhere. 



That question has stuck with me because of its relevance to life in general. One key element of making a life that matters is awareness: knowing who you are, what’s important to you, and what you want your life to look like. Knowing what you want is key. 



This awareness requires time and attention to our thoughts--something that can be hard to come by when our daily lives are full--even when they’re full of good things! Taking--making--time for self-reflection must be intentional. 



With all that in mind, I started thinking about questions that can help us evaluate and shape our lives in meaningful ways. These questions can serve as a guide to explore personal aspirations, confront limitations, and carve out a path that aligns closely with your innermost values and desires.



Section 1: Understanding Yourself



Question 1: What are my core values and how do they shape my choices?



Understanding your values helps align your actions with what is genuinely important to you. Values are “a set of beliefs or opinions that influence how you live your life.” [6 Steps to Discover Your Core Values] 



Values “inform your behaviors and understanding of right and wrong. They help shape how you think, act, and feel. And ultimately, your values help you find happiness and purpose in life.” [20 personal values examples to help you find your own] 



The same article goes on to say:





“Understanding your own values is a fundamental part of self-awareness and getting to know yourself as a human being. With a better understanding of your values, you can develop more empathy. You might show better emotional regulation. And you might improve your communication skills. But identifying your values is difficult. It requires deep self-reflection and self-honesty — both of which take hard work.” 





This article suggests 20 examples of core values people might hold.



“The closer your decisions each day align with the big-picture view of what’s most important to you, the more likely you are to create the future you want for yourself!” [5 Steps to Define Your Core Values: A Compass for Navigating Life’s Decisions]



This article suggests 5 steps to defi...