Questions to Help Navigate Your Day
Throughout the journey of self-discovery, it takes time that is not just a momentary thing. Many processes will be undergone, whether with sadness, happiness, or both. The body has already prepared empty spaces for each and every feeling that will arise and enter.
Perhaps what we will truly enjoy is the process itself, to the extent that we forget how happy we envisioned reaching the end of the dream would make us. Because finding joy in the process will bring much more happiness and indeed needs to be cultivated. Because indeed, happiness is a practice.
Don’t ask until when and how long the search process stops and heads towards the finish line. Maybe after how much time, maybe after enduring so many tragedies, maybe after numerous tears. What is certain, and worth being grateful for, is that we know what we are searching for.
There are several questions that can be quite helpful in the search process and in living day by day.
1. What do you desire every day?
That there’s always something to aim for after waking up is the first feeling of gratitude. There are days that one wants to finish by chasing something dreamed of, something to be done, something to be achieved on that day, something to leave an impression, something to be remembered, and perhaps someone to meet. It becomes interesting that there’s a short finish line, which makes us want to quickly put on our shoes, change clothes, warm up, and start running from early morning.
2. What values do you have within yourself?
Many philosophies, many figures, much history, many desires, and so many examples, teachings, and role models contain values that can be derived from them. It doesn’t have to be sought out personally; sometimes learning, observing, listening, and seeing for oneself leads to finding values that we want to hold onto, want to struggle for, and still want to maintain in our daily lives.
3. What can you do to make this place better?
A very effective question to dispel idleness, moments when you don’t know what to do, where to go, and what place to aim for. A simple question that will awaken oneself to start thinking about what can be done to make the surroundings better, through energy, thoughts, materials, brainpower, and perhaps ideas.
4. What’s on your to-do list today?
A simple activity and its plan. Some try to divide it by time, for example, morning, noon, afternoon, and evening. For example:
Morning: Wake up — Worship — Clean the room — Exercise — Shower — Breakfast — Do assignments
Afternoon: Study — Lunch — Worship — Do assignments — Meeting
Afternoon: Meet friends — Worship — Cycling — Cleaning
Evening: Worship — Read the Quran — Study — Do assignments — Make a to-do list
More or less like above. You can also add the time to each activity. Be as creative as possible.
5. What good deed can be done now for others?
In essence, helping others will bring happiness to oneself. The question about doing good deeds for others when you don’t know what to do will be quite an effective reminder. By remembering it, the activities to be done next will lean more towards productive than consumptive ones that are less meaningful. Because in reality, helping others is helping oneself.
Roughly, the questions above can help in living the day. Especially in a state of not knowing what to do. Becoming a better person today compared to yesterday is an added value, and then tomorrow should be better than today is a second added value.
Thank you, happy for sharing
And don’t forget to be a good person. May good things last long.
March 2024
