Our mind once challenged with a question never retreats to its previous state. A good question can fuel personal growth, open a new door, establish or enhance a relationship, solve a problem, change a life, and peak our curiosity.
Some questions can stop us dead in our tracks, command our attention, and can even change the course and trajectory of our lives.
On Saturday, I attended a memorial service for an entire family. The circumstances of their deaths could only be described as tragic.
A friend beautifully spoke about the family’s servant nature. He shared stories of how they used their time, talent, and money to impact the lives of people whom they had never met. And he framed it all up in a single question.
“How do you want to be remembered?”
—Pat Hauser
While Pat is not the first to utter this question, he posed it at a time that commanded attention. Mark and his family will be missed. They will be remembered for living out their faith through the generous stewardship of their time, talent and money. Few people who knew Mark could tell you what he did for a living. But they could tell you he liked to ask questions. Mark and his family will be remembered for purposefully and regularly asking,
“How can I help?”
—Mark Sheer
What type of impact would we have if every day we approached everyone we met, and every challenge we confronted, with the attitude of how can I help?
Billy Graham was recently asked what was his greatest discovery about life. He responded without hesitation, “The brevity of it.”
No time to wait! Spend some time with these two questions and your mind will not retreat to its previous state. You will likely change the course and trajectory of your life.
- How do I want to be remembered?
- How can I help?
What is the most important thing you would like to do to help in the next six months?
I want to be remembered for the love and passion I shared with those I came in contact with.
I personally use How Can I Help? as a question in my business daily. It's asking this question outside of work that I probably need to work on!
David, couldn't we all ask this question more often. It is so easy to think how can you help me? A good challenge would be to look for one opportunity a day to ask this question. We know opportunities are all around us.