31 questions to ask yourself

Family

• Where did your ancestors come from and what challenges did they face?

• What kind of childhood did your parents or grandparents have? How was it different from and similar to your own?

• Who do you care for in your family? How does that relationship help define you?

• How do you celebrate the holidays? What traditions do your family hold dear?

• Describe a specific place that holds important meaning to your family.

Childhood

• Describe your childhood home. What are some of the details that stand out the most? What made your home different to your friends’ homes?

• What did you do as a child when school let out for the summer? What activities did you previously pursue but don’t have the time for now? How can you get back into them again?

• Who was the most influential teacher when you were little? How did this person leave such an impression?

• Write a letter to your teenage self giving advice and revealing what the future holds.

• Write a letter to your future self outlining your expectations for the years to come.

Health and happiness

• What happened in your life today? List five things that went well.

• Describe your perfect day – beginning with breakfast and ending with dinner.

• Write about the last moment you remember being truly at peace. Where were you? What were you doing? How can you tap into that feeling again?

• When was your last good cry, and how did you feel afterwards?

• How do you look after yourself after you’ve had a bad day?

• What keeps you up at night?

• How has this year been different from last year?

• “When they go low, we go high.” How do you put this phrase into practice?

Relationships

• List three people who contribute to your circle of strength. Next to each person’s name, describe why he or she is so dependable.

• If you had to choose, who is the most precious person in your life? How did you meet this person and what do you think your future holds together?

• Who looks up to you? How do you nurture that person’s spark?

• If you could have a conversation with a loved one who has passed away, what would you ask him or her?

• Write a letter to someone you haven’t seen in a long time updating him or her on what’s happened in your life since you last saw each other.