Sally Powell

View Original

The big open ended questions

The big open ended questions

If we don’t ask ourselves the big open ended questions over time we lose track of what we want, who we are, what matters.

I am not the same person as the teenager who was choosing a university degree. I do not value the same things as I did when I was in my thirties buying a house. My body is not the same. It takes longer to heal than I have the patience for and I creak at the knees when I bend down to pick up Lego. I am no longer embarrassed about the size of my feet. Size 9.5.

We change.

Our bodies change

Our needs change

Our tolerances change

Our friendships change

Our dreams change

I am not even the same as I was at the start of this pandemic.

Going through old files has made me really consolidate, start to boldly say yes to what I want to do. And while difficult, acknowledge what I no longer enjoy.

How have you changed since last March? Have you allowed yourself time to reflect?

What do you want?

Big open-ended question.

Who are you?

Big question.

If we don’t ask ourselves them, who will.

Sam asked to work with me because she wanted to build confidence in her decisions at work. By the second conversation she said ‘I want to know what my purpose is’.

Callum asked to work with me because he was struggling to transition into a new, more demanding role. He also wanted to know how he could find out what he loved again.

Sam and Callum are courageous. Big questions take courage to ask and answer, and trust that the answers will come.

What would you love to ask yourself? One of the questions I keep asking is, ‘who am I hear to help?’ and I trust that the right people show up.

Like what you read? Share this with a friend or colleague.