You’re committed to building a mindfulness habit, and you already have some idea of when you’ll practice and for how long.
The one issue you keep running into, though, is whether you should use mindfulness questions or prompts to get you started.
Should you be asking questions about mindfulness or mindful questions about yourself?
What are the right questions to ask?
And what do you gain by asking them?
What Are Mindfulness Questions And How to Use Them
Mindfulness questions are those that invite you to take a moment and look inward.
So, yes, it’s about introspection, which benefits everyone (not just introverts). This is time you’re taking to get to know yourself better because you’re worth knowing.
The right mindfulness questions help you reflect on what’s going on with your heart, mind, and soul. They challenge you to confront old beliefs about yourself and take risks you would never have considered before.
The goal here is to help you grow into the person you want to be.
We’ve rounded up some of the best mindfulness questions to help you get started — along with some ideas on how to make the best use of them:
- Draw a question each day or week to use as a journaling prompt.
- Download (or create) a mobile app that gives you a daily meditation question.
- Choose a question to focus on all week for your mindfulness meditation.
- Post a list of your favorite meditation questions where you can see them.
- Write out the day’s question before beginning your meditation.
The Benefits of Mindful Reflection
With the help of mindful questions like the ones listed below, daily self-reflection can help with the following:
- Removing any blocks to healing from trauma.
- Building or enhancing your self-awareness.
- Improving your communication skills.
- Broadening your perspective and challenging your old beliefs.
- Helping you make peace with your mistakes.
- Improving your relationships with enhanced empathy and awareness.
- Improving your mental, emotional, and physical health.
You can’t move on when you fixate on either beating yourself up or blaming someone else. And for many of us, doing both is our favorite kind of multitasking.
41 Mindfulness Questions to Ask Yourself
Add them to a personal list of your own. And begin by choosing one for today.
Read the following questions slowly and mindfully, making a note of the ones you want to ask yourself.
Mindful Questions to Ask Yourself
1. When do I feel most alive or most like myself? What lights me up inside? This question may be difficult to answer if you’ve been stuck in a negative slump. Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t come up with something perfect immediately. Just do your best.
2. What do I want to have experienced before I die? A “bucket list” is an accounting of everything you’d like to see and experience before passing on. Create one. Dream big.
3. What do I find hardest to accept about myself? Dig deep on this one. Try to look past surface-level things and unearth traumas and behaviors rooted in your shadow self.
4. When am I most likely to feel attacked or triggered in conversations with others? Do you frequently feel like you’re constantly on the defensive in certain relationships? Consider why you think this way and what triggers the feelings.
5. When have I expressed my thoughts in a way that offended someone else? We’ve all said things we wish we hadn’t. Describe a time when you were guilty of offending someone by something you said. If you could apologize to the person now, what would you say?
6. What do I believe I deserve? And why do I believe that? Try to be positive — because you deserve a lot. Focus on your strengths, not weaknesses.
7. What do I believe I owe other people? And why do I believe that? Many people are taught to always put others before themselves. Were you raised this way? How has it affected you?
8. What guilt or shame am I holding onto that has made it difficult to heal and move on? This may be best for a weekend when you have time to pamper yourself and relax. These kinds of questions can dislodge difficult emotions.
9. What mistakes have I made that have taught me something I needed to learn? Mistakes are the best teachers. Without them, we wouldn’t grow. Think about a mistake you’ve made that taught you a valuable lesson.
10. What personal needs have I been putting on the back burner lately? Are the reasons good? What can you do to change the circumstances that will allow you to get back on track?
Meditation Questions to Help Your Practice
The following questions can help you make the most of your meditation time.
11. What helps me focus? Do you thrive in silence? Or maybe you work better with a symphony of background noise. What other things help keep your mind on the prize?
12. What helps me release tension and let go of distracting thoughts? De-stressing tools are lifesavers. What are yours? If you don’t have any yet, brainstorm possibilities.
13. How would I describe my “happy place”? Can I see it now? Your happy place doesn’t need to be extravagant. It can be, but it could also be something as simple as sitting in front of Netflix for a couple of hours.
14. What sounds help me feel more relaxed and more present? Psychoacoustics is an emerging area of study, and encouraging studies suggest that sound can significantly improve our mood and help us feel more comfortable.
15. What do I most want to enjoy about today, and how will I enjoy it? If it’s a typical day, and nothing out of the ordinary is scheduled, try to think of everyday activities you could enjoy more, like the smell of your pre-shower coffee or the breeze on your face as you walk to your office.
16. What do I love about today so far, and what difference does it make? Even if you’re having a horrible day, think of something that went right. It will make you feel better.
17. What am I often aware of during mindfulness meditation? What do you think that says about you and your current path? Do you believe it’s a sign from your higher self? Why or why not?
18. What thoughts and emotions come to the surface most often? Once you can pinpoint the emotions cycling through you, you’ll be better able to address them if necessary. If happy emotions are winning the competition, go you!
19. What do I most want to gain from today’s mindfulness practice? Think about what you want out of the day, then set an intention to make it happen.
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Mindful Check-In Questions
Think of these as a self-check to see how you’re doing on the inside.
20. What emotions am I feeling in my body right now? (my jaw, my back/shoulders/neck, my head, my stomach, etc.) To enhance the session, start with a body scan that will put you in touch with the exact state of your body at the moment.
21. What thoughts have been dominating my attention so far today? Are they common thoughts? Why do you think they’re at the top of your head today?
22. What matters most to me today, and why does it matter so much? Some things are more important on certain days. Figure out today’s priority.
23. Could I be perfectly content living as a single, unattached person? Don’t immediately say “NO!” if you’ve never given it serious thought. Many people love being single.
24. What have I done lately to push myself and step outside my comfort zone? Don’t beat yourself up if you’ve been in a rut and have done much more vegging than pushing. Periods of rest are also critical. So if you’re just getting back in the game, think about what you can do to rev yourself up.
25. What am I willing to do today that scares me? Why does it scare me? Facing fears is challenging, but confronting them will help you grow in countless ways.
26. What’s the most important thing I’ve learned about myself recently? Discovering new things about yourself is exciting and essential to personal growth.
27. What am I willing to risk to become the person I want to be? Everyone has a different threshold. What’s yours?
28. What is one change I need to make in my life this year and why? You may want to be healthier or happier, or perhaps you want to develop more compassion and thoughtfulness. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box.
29. Where do I want to be three years from now? Having long-term goals adds purpose to your life. Don’t hold back. Think about your ideal situation.
30. What am I holding onto right now that is holding me back? Everyone has baggage. It could be childhood trauma or something else entirely. Determine your hurdles and how to clear them.
31. What questions do I have about myself that I haven’t answered yet? We humans are fascinating creatures who are constantly changing and growing, both physically and emotionally. Think about questions pertinent to your current self.
32. Who do I depend on the most for emotional support? Is it a friend, family member, therapist, or yourself? Are you comfortable with the amount of emotional support you currently have? Why or why not?
33. How am I different from what I was ten years ago? You’ve come a long way, baby! Or maybe not. Either way is fine. But assessing your movement is an excellent exercise for learning how to dissect your life to see it more clearly.
34. What biases do I still carry around? Would you date someone shorter than you? Do you make assumptions about people’s intelligence based on their appearance? Everyone has biases. What are yours, and where did they come from?
35. What prejudices have I acknowledged and continue to work to overcome? If you’re one of the few people on the planet who can admit to having prejudices, take a second to pat yourself on the back. We all have them, but most folks refuse to acknowledge theirs. If you’ve crossed the Rubicon of admittance, explore what you’re doing to work on the issue.
36. What am I most proud of? Take time to think about the thing of which you’re most proud. If you’re still a work in progress, think about what you want to be able to say in five years.
37. How has my family impacted how I see and exist in the world? Our families — the people who raise us and are around during our formative years — significantly impact who we become. We don’t have to stick with their lessons and beliefs, but it’s important to deconstruct their influence.
38. What type of art most appeals to me? Are you a fan of Picasso? The Old Masters? Bob Ross? Or maybe sculpture, choreography, or installation art is your thing. Whatever the case, talk about it.
39. What do I take for granted daily? How can I change that? Do you mindlessly throw coffee down your throat in the morning or enjoy it? How about your shower? Do you take time to enjoy the hot water beating down on your body? Think about a few small things you could do a bit more deliberately, so you appreciate them more.
40. Who do I need to forgive for the betterment of my mental health? Forgiveness is a gift, and letting bygones be bygones is an excellent way to pamper your mental health. Plus, it allows you to move on with your life. Holding onto grudges pins us to negative places.
41. What do I most love about myself? Go ahead and boast about yourself! It’s a biological boon. Besides, it’s good to love yourself, and studies show that people who do enjoy better relationships and more success.
Why It’s Good To Ask Yourself Questions
Talking to yourself doesn’t mean you’ve gone mad. In fact, research proves that contemplating questions about your life and times can help you:
- Figure out your true talents and weaknesses
- Live more mindfully
- Identify your triggers
- Determine what you need to work on and why
- Maintain better control over your emotions
- Become unstuck
Self-questioning is just one of many tools your inner growth toolbox, but it is particularly useful in your mindfulness practice. It demands focus and keen attention to your thoughts, beliefs, and feelings.
Now that you’ve looked through all 41 questions for mindfulness meditation, which ones stood out for you? And what question will you ask yourself today?
