How Journaling Can Help You Stay Sane and Centered During a World Crisis
By: Sílvia Bastos
Tags: Mindfulness, Stress, Anxiety, Journaling, Writing

The Art of Questioning

Big changes are happening in the world right now, and we can either let ourselves drown in them or we can accept the change and adapt to it.

In order to keep up with the change, I have found that one of the best practices is to build a habit of questioning.

What does that look like in terms of journaling?

Let’s take what you wrote in the previous step as an example. After you gained clarity and relief by writing down your worries, you can use them as fuel to strengthen your mind and completely transform your approach to life challenges.

Here are a few examples of how you can do that:

1. Shifting into a positive mindset

Example question: for each worry/fear that I wrote down, what is something related that I am grateful for?

Example answer: “My kids keep distracting me all the time” turns into “I am grateful that I get to spend more time with my kids”, or “I’m worried I’ll lose my job and end up without money” turns into “I’m grateful that I live in a developed country, that I have shelter, food, electricity, and internet connection.”

2. Problem-solving

Example question: how can I make it easier for myself to exercise and stop spending so much time on social media?

Example answer: I can set an alarm in the evening and switch off my phone two hours before bed. When I wake up, I can commit to a simple exercise (eg. one push-up) and start from there.

3. Deconstructing fears

Example question: what is the worst that can happen if I lose my job, and what can I do in that case?

Example answer: if I lose my job, I will start by spending my savings. I’ll eventually run out of money; when that happens, I will dedicate all my time to look into government funds or online job opportunities. I can easily survive on rice and beans for a few weeks, and worst-case scenario, I’ll end up living with my parents or friends for a few months.

4. Dive into self-discovery

Example question: what is it about staying at home that is driving me mad?

Example answer: I have a hard time staying still and being with myself. I get frustrated with my procrastination. Deep down, I feel extreme guilt and shame for feeling so bad despite my privilege, while others are suffering much more than me in the world. When I finally feel happy, I almost feel that I need to “tone it down.” I guess I just need some appreciation; and as for my guilt, I could ease it by contributing in some way to help my community or other people in need.

After you write down your problems or worries, you can intentionally direct your thoughts towards problem-solving, appreciation, self-reflection, or whatever you need by simply following it up with a question. When you turn your problems into questions, you are creating an invitation for your most important answers to come.

“The quality of your life is a direct reflection of the quality of the questions you are asking yourself.”―Tony Robbins

Now, this is only one example of how you can use questions to help you cope and change your mindset in this time of extreme change. Now let’s explore the full potential of what happens when you start thinking in questions.