Quest: “a long search for something that is difficult to find, or an attempt to achieve something difficult.”
In order to get CLEAR, you need to ask the tough QUESTions. It would be great if a solution or a direction would just show up in an unquestionable epiphany. Yet that rarely happens.
On the other hand, most of us keep our quest in our heads. We go round and round in our thinking. We create different scenarios and narratives. We tell ourselves various stories about why we should or should not pursue a particular route. We end up confused.
How can we shift from confused to clear? Here a process…
The QUESTions Process
1) Pen to Page
Pen to Page comes from The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. I connect with it more than saying journaling. You must get your thoughts out of your head and onto paper.
Do this using QUESTions. A question can be answered quickly and with little reflection. A QUESTion requires a deep search and writing out your thoughts.
If you wanted to make a decision about which diet to follow when getting in shape, you might ask, What has every diet I failed with before had in common? What is required for me to remain disciplined? Go on a quest and write as much as possible around those two questions.
2) Patterns
QUESTions: Is there a theme in my Pen to Page writing? A pattern in my behavior? Is there a recurring behavior or thought process if I went back in time? Write those down because it might reveal what you need to cut or what you need to focus on positively.
3) Purpose
QUESTions: Why am I making this decision and lifestyle change? What are my ten most thoughtful reasons for doing this? Circle the top three and set a daily reminder to read those out loud to re-purpose yourself to the goal.
After that exercise, you can ask a final question… Which of the diet programs I’m considering is the best fit, given everything I have shared with myself o this page? Which will fulfill the purpose?
The QUESTion Process works because it combines thoughts, words, and actions. It moves you from confused to clear.
That’s not an easy method because it requires what most people are unwilling to give… time, energy, and reflection on the things within them.
Life is filled with never-ending QUESTions. Enjoy the journey.