The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur

April 29Force of Questions

The power which one's imagination has over their body … is a force which none of us is born without … If left to themselves, a person is most likely to use only the mischievous half of the force …; and if they are one of these—very wise people, they are quite likely to scoff at the beneficent half of the force and deny its existence. And so … two imaginations are required: their own and some outsider's … The outsider's work is unquestionably valuable; so valuable that it may fairly be likened to the essential work performed by the engineer when he handles the throttle and turns on the steam; the actual power is lodged exclusively in the engine, but if the engine were left alone it would never start of itself.

Mark Twain—Christian Science (1907)

How much do you talk to yourself? Are you talking to yourself at this moment? Have you witnessed the impact or internal struggle of the two imaginations Twain refers to?

So, how do you use this power to push yourself out of the ruts and along the path?

The answer lies not in outside opinions, but in the internal questions you routinely ask yourself.

Studies have shown that questions have far more power to motivate and clarify than statements or affirmations.

So, “When will I make time to write?” is far better self-talk than “Darn it, I'm going to make time to write.” Our brains must search for the answer, and that wrestling with the need to find an answer is what keeps us focused.

Questioning is the essential ...