Questions, when they are stated we react so differently to them, don’t we? Some will respond without even thinking about the question. The automatic ‘Good Thank you’ in response to ‘How are you?’. Sometimes the question doesn’t even have to be asked, does it? Haven’t you had this happen to yourself, you greet someone and they reply with ‘Good Thank you’ because they’ve pre-empted the question of ‘How are you?’ as part of your greeting. Then we have those who will get defensive when you ask them questions, they feel questioned. Is that pun intended? Others again will think about your question and respond appropriately, well as appropriately as they think is appropriate.

Consider how differently the question “How can this be done” is processed. For one it will mean “what is required to do this?”, for another it means “this is impossible”.

Questions, the key to science. The key to development. The key to discovery. The key to our mind?

He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever. So goes a Chinese Proverb.

It really is no secret that questions are what have driven people to discover, develop and achieve. Remember the How’s and Why’s kids ask, didn’t we ask them, and some go on continue asking questions all their life. Newton’s “Why does the apple fall from the tree?”, a great example of what went on to discover some of our basic laws of physics. I’m sure you can think of many more examples, right?

“The important thing is to not stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” Albert Einstein

Questions are a basic principle of coaching and successfully applied by many forms of therapy.

It’s quite amazing what happens when we hear and process a question. Let me demonstrate this to you and we’ll have a little bit of fun with this if that’s ok. What I will ask you to do is stop and think about each of the following questions. The more thoroughly you read this the more fun you will have with it.

How do you fit a pink elephant in a refrigerator? Did you read the question correctly? Here it is again just in case you missed some important information, how do you fit a pink elephant in a refrigerator?

Where you thinking of a pink elephant before you read this question? Ok maybe you are in a room with pink elephants on the wall or at a toy store with pink elephants for sale, then you are the exception as you were thinking about pink elephants before you read this question. But, are you still thinking of pink elephants? Yes you are, no matter what else is happening around you, you are still thinking of pink elephants. Aren’t you? Maybe you are now thinking what type of pink elephant or maybe saying to yourself pink elephants don’t exist, they can’t exist. However in your mind you are getting a clearer and clearer image of a pink elephant, every time you read pink elephant that image of that pink elephant becomes more established. Are you also sensing the change in air around that pink elephant, hearing the sounds that come with that pink elephant, maybe even the smell? Eventually all of your senses will be aware of that pink elephant. In a moment now you will have a new memory about that pink elephant. You will be able to recall that pink elephant as if it were a real experience, as if you had seen that pink elephant, maybe even touched that pink elephant.

Can you still remember the rest of the question? Ah, you had to stop and think about that, maybe just for a 0.000000001 of a second, or even went back and reread the question, but you did, didn’t you?

Now let’ see how long it takes you to forget about that pink elephant.

In a fun way you have just let your mind experience the power behind processing a question and the amazing ability to build an image just from words. Combining the right questions with Hypno Coaching we can build new habits, unlearn undesirable triggers, master goals and achieve the life you deserve.