If you’re being evaluated by a boss on this attribute (or if you are a coach with clients who are evaluated), it’s important that you understand how the boss defines and measures engagement. Is your (or your client’s) boss looking for specific activities and/or volume of movement of things and/or style?

Engagement has a very discernible vibration. For example, a few people (really very few) can multitask and be fully engaged in the multiple tasks at the same time. However, for most people, multitasking scatters their energy making, it easy for others to be confused wether they are engaged in one task or another.

Telephone conference calls are ripe for multitasking because others do not have visual clues to additional activities. But those who are tuned in energetically will know when someone is shifting attention from the conversation to other things. I always know when my clients or friends are distracted. Sometimes I call attention to it ("Do you have to attend to something else?") and other times I do not.

To me, "engagement" means being involved, being present, caring. I’m sure that many other words can also help to define the word and/or concept. I don’t think there is only one dynamic or element. I think many dynamics work together.

So, I’ll tell you a story out of school … When I was very young, I learned the importance of "looking" engaged at school. My farther was a college professor so I had good training on that one. There were times that I was totally bored but looked engaged because I knew the body gestures and facial expressions. (I wanted to maintain my status as a favorite student.)

Most of the time, I really was interested in school subjects. A fascinating dynamic happened as a result of this occasional facade. I found that when I put out those "fully engaged" signals, I soon moved from thinking about other things to actually being fully engaged. Sometimes I tuned into the subject from a totally different perspective and learned at a deeper level.

So, in fact, I ended up being even more engaged, and differently engaged.

So, you can LOOK engaged or you can BE engaged. How engaged are YOU?

What do you say to yourself that is negative that keeps you from manifesting what you want in your life? Do you know the words? Do you know how often you say the words to yourself? Do you say them out loud to others?

One of the things I love to do is to help people to transform their language from negative to positive. Of course, the thoughts behind the words need to be changed, as well, but sometimes the language itself is like a key to unlock those negative unconscious thoughts and bring them into conscious awareness. And, once unlocked, the thoughts can more easily be transformed.

To identify your statements of negative self talk, focus in on any subject, but here are a few suggestions to prime the pump.

Health: Do you talk to yourself or others about an illness or affliction you have? For example, "I’m tired of being sick." Or, "My knee is still hurting me."

Money: Do you have disempowering thoughts and chatter about money? For example, "We can’t afford that." Or, "I don’t have enough money." Or, "This economy is really getting me down."

Career: Do you get into conversations with yourself or others about your job or career? For example, "I don’t feel confident in my job." Or, "I don’t seem to be getting anywhere in my career."

And, on and on. You know what a negative statement is, especially when you hear others say one. When you’re paying attention, you hear it in yourself, also. However, sometimes when the statement is yours, you may find that it has become so familiar that you believe the words are the truth. You may even be able to "prove" they are true.

Those negative statements can be an avenue to making a simple change that set you on the path to creating what you want in your life.

I invite you to read and follow the process in a Self Development Technique called Self Empowerment by Transforming a Phrase.

And there have been so many others since those early days. Energy work means so many different things to so many different people, and I won’t even attempt to give the definitive definition. I can only tell you what it means to me.

In a few words: "Energy Work" means working with subtle energies in non-invasive ways. I am able to perceive the energy field that underpins each person, place, thing, or idea. Sometimes the "work" is to notice the energy. Other times the "work" is to make an adjustment.

The REAL truth of how I learned about energy is this: I have learned primarily from my clients. Collectively, they are my greatest teachers. They ask me questions that I could not possibly know from ordinary reality, and so I access the energy field (the subtle energies) for the information.

That makes me look smart. But it is not so much a matter of intelligence (which I also have), but a matter of a finely-tuned skill. My perception makes use of all my physical senses, my sense of balance, my intuition, and my feelings.

Often, I believe more in my clients’ magnificence than they do themselves. So I hold a vision — I hold the energy — until they can step into it. It’s both natural and easy for me to see the maginfiicence, even while others are trying to convince me of their limitations or deficiencies.

Of course, you may have come to the idea of energy work from a totally different path. All paths are valid, enriching the whole area of understanding the power of subtle energies.

Years ago, I started writing a book, called the Symbolic Language of Energy. Some of my students of the MAP Energetics Process have read
it and encouraged me to return to it and publish it. Maybe. In the meantime, I make the knowledge available in my client sessions and my TeleSeminars. In the meantime, also, I am excited that so many others who have done energy work over this span of time have also been publishing.

I think that the language of energy is more potent that the language of words. Don’t get me wrong, I love words. I use them a lot! But I also know that the real way that we communicate and impact change is with subtle energies, including images, and waves of light, and sound vibration.

Far more in our world is invisible than visible to the physical eye. Energy work makes me more aware of our expansive and expanding world.

Jeanie Marshall is a Personal Development Consultant and Coach
and a QEC Level 1: Certified Practitioner
Call her at 310-392-1987 for an Private Consultation
Personal Consulting and Coaching • • • Energy Work and QEC Sessions

“Today we’re going to learn about the BOQ,” I said, pronouncing it Bock. My demeanor suggested they already knew — or should know — what the letters stood for, just the way that most acronyms are stated. Came a flurry of activity as they wrote the letters, trying to jog their collective memories of the words that B, O, and Q might possibly represent.

I did not leave them long in this state of mild confusion. They knew me well enough to know that I liked to play. They rose to the occasion and expressed their relief in laughter as I said, pointing letter by letter: Basic Operating Question.

One way of thinking of the Basic Operating Question is to consider it your “default” question. It is the question you think of first when you are facing a certain type of situation. In some situations, you might be well aware of your BOQ, but in others you may not. Questions guide you all day long, and some are more empowering than others.

For example, when the phone rings, you are likely to wonder who is calling and may formulate the question “Who’s that?” or just think, "I wonder who that is." While it’s customary to answer out loud with your name or with "hello," still you will be silently questioning who it is until you know.

If you have a tense relationship with your boss who motions you to his or her office, your BOQ might be “What have I done wrong now?” If your relationship is cordial, perhaps your question is "What can I do for you?"

You walk into a room with others present and your BOQ in your thoughts might be “What’s going on here?” If you have arrived late to a meeting, your default question might be "What have I missed?" Often, others will answer your questions even if you have not verbalized them because they are predominant in your thoughts, and so you are projecting them.

A BOQ can be positive, negative, or neutral. It can be empowering or disempowering. It can be easy to answer or not. It can be verbalized out loud or only thought about. It can be a neat sentence or a disjointed thought or a crisp, clear question. The Basic Operating Question itself, as well as its quality and resonance, guide the quality and resonance of the answer.

The purpose of identifying your Basic Operating Questions is to discover if they are helpful and empowering. And, if not, to craft more helpful and empowering ones. A long-time habit of asking a particular Basic Operating Question will not necessarily be instantly changed just because of discovering one that you consider better, but that is a good starting place. After identifying one or more of these, it is important to practice your new, empowering Basic Operating Questions as often as possible.

I invite you to read Ask Questions that are Empowering, an article that gives you additional information on empowering questions.

What’s your BOQ in each of the common situations you regularly face in your life? For example, when you get up in the morning, when you get to your place of work, when the phone rings, when you see coworkers, when you go to a meeting, when you get into your car, when you go to sleep at night?

Once you have identified the situations that are most important to you, note the default question, and adjust it if it needs to be more empowering. Now, practice, practice, practice.

I led groups in what I then called "relaxation techniques." An important aspect of all my relaxation techniques and guided meditations is breathing. In those days, I made the suggestion (as I have thousands of times since then) to practice focused, intentional breathing, three to more times a day, for three to five breaths. When counting, I consider one breath is composed of an in-breath and an out-breath.

The hardest part of this exercise is remembering to do it! It’s so easy. There’s nothing to buy or carry around. There’s no special place to arrive at or proper clothing to select. You can even do it secretly right in front of others.

I suggest you identify some activity that serves as a reminder to do the exercise — waiting at stop lights, riding elevators, answering phones, and other regular activities you’re already doing.

In one course in those early Stress Management workshop days, I had about 20 participants who were eager, responsive, and mostly stressed. They had come to the right place! I made the suggestion about using the focused, intentional breathing exercise at the first class. I also led them through some intentional breathing so that they would have a direct experience for themselves and to discuss with classmates.

I noticed that one man didn’t return after the first class. He had seemed so eager and responsive, that it seemed unusual. To the surprise of both of us, we rendezvoused unexpectedly months later — in an elevator. He expressed appreciation beyond what I might have expected for the one class he attended.

He explained that he put the focused, intentional breathing exercise to use beginning the next day. He said "that was what I enrolled in the class to learn, and I learned it! I knew I would enjoy the rest of the class, but with my very heavy schedule, I decided that finding something that worked so effectively could not be topped."

So, breathe. Breathe intentionally, one in-breath followed by one out-breath. And then do it again. And again.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES. I have gathered together a list of helpful resources to support you in your meditation practice. At different times, you might be interested in different resources, so check in frequently for Meditation CDs, ebooks, courses, etc. at Meditation Resources.

Finding the Balance in Your Breath gives you the relaxing break you
need to regain your balance and enhance
your personal development and success.

You will discover how, with practice, you can find your balance,
especially in your breath. You can learn through experience how it
feels to lift yourself up or calm yourself down by focusing fully on
your breath. When you listen to this guided meditation regularly,
you’ll more easily and naturally experience balance, peace,
strength, and fulfillment throughout your daily life.

This guided meditation is available at my web site in mp3 format,
and in CD format at Amazon.com.

You may define "happiness" in any way you want, but the happiness I want to speak about is the kind that comes from the inside. I mean happiness that tells you that you are free, peaceful, perfect as you are. It is peace of mind. It is happiness without demands on others.

In a true state of happiness, there is no guilt or shame or jealousy or self-doubt, or any other negative feelings, thoughts, or emotions. Surely, it’s important to experience and recognize negative emotions … to feel them fully and then respond appropriately. I feel negative emotions fully takes a matter of seconds or minutes, by the way, when you are generally in a state of happiness.

If it takes you many hours or even days to overcome negative emotions about a situation, you are in a state of non-happiness or false happiness. Some people ACT happy, when they really are not. Acting happy can be helpful when dealing with others, from time to time, and it can also be helpful to you when pretending makes true happiness a little more accessible. But it’s important that you not fool yourself into believing that the facade is a state of happiness.

Happiness in 2012

In this remarkable year 2012, you might have powerful goals and dreames. The goals and dreams you envision may or may not facilitate your happiness when you achieve them. However, if you are happy right now in the midst of your unfulfilled goals/dreams, you will also be happy when you achieve them.

Life is in the journey, not the destination, as you know. And the journey needs to be energized by happiness and love, so that each destination is a celebration and not a disappointment.

The Right Kind of Loser

Do you resent being called a loser? If so, reframe that immediately. Set your sights on losing negative emotions and anything else that holds you in a state of unhappiness. Or perhaps you find yourself in a state of boredom or disinterest. Call the lack-of-happiness state whatever you want. Lose that! Lose the boredom and you can more easily feel the vibration of happiness. Happiness is a distinct vibration, with a range of frequencies.

Your happiness is already inside you. You don’t have to find it. You can’t change someone else to get to your happiness. You don’t need to do anything at all outside yourself. Certainly it is inspiring to be with others and to learn and to be in motion. Anything you do can facilitate your happiness. But to be happy is an inside job.

Release or let go of (other ways to talk about losing) any of the clouds that are in your energy field. Notice when you have negative thoughts, which can take many forms: complaining, criticizing, doubting, and so many other examples. Notice, and let them go. Turn off (lose) the television, as it is designed to dampen your Spirit and numb your intellect.

When you lose the negative stuff, what is left? Yup, happiness. In addition to happiness, love and freedom and playfulness are more accessible.

Decide to be Happy

So, I end this with a challenge. Make the decision to be happy. The decision takes only a few seconds, yet if it is a powerful enough decision, it will assist you in making many, many other decisions.

A strong decision to be happy will alert you to notice immediately when you are in a state of non-happiness. As soon as you notice, shift your attention to a happy thought or put a smile on your face or get up and take a walk. Almost any action can begin the shift of your energy so that you can have greater access to the state of happiness in which I am challenging you to decide to live.

As you establish new happiness patterns, you will live more frequently in this magnificent state. Yes, you will forget at times. Yes, your attention will be drawn by challenges or negativity. Notice, and turn your back, recommitting to your decision to live in a state of happiness. You cannot be happy by giving your attention to unhappy ideas.

Your happiness patterns will get stronger, building your confidence. You will step into your own power, and stay there longer. You will love life more fully. Decide now to make future decisions from inside your state of inner happiness. In other words, move to a state of happiness before you make any major decisions.

What decision do you want to make today about your relationship to happiness?

The event is called Energy Work for Manifesting. I will be incorporating energy work techniques, some ideas about manifesting, and information that I think you will find valuable. It is what I like to call "mindful information," which is why I have named this blog as I have. I use a variety of meditative and visualization processes.

Ethical Statement: I give fully during the Energy Work processes I offer, without embedding any suggestions to make purchases while you are in a meditative state. I am not here to hypnotize you, but to support you to greater freedom.

I will offer incentives or discounts or bonuses, available only to those who are registered. An mp3 will be available only to registered participants within a few days following the live event.

Here is the full information. Registration is now available http://mindfulinformation.info

Are you ready to manifest all that you desire in your life?
Do you deserve to be, do, and have all that you want? Is this your time to be fully who you are?

Regardless of your current relationship to money, prosperity, or abundance,
you’ll want to tap into the energy work and information in this
Energy Work for Manifesting TeleSeminar.

Do you wish your life and manifesting were happier and more satisfying?
Do you want to reduce the contradictions in your life?

If so, you’ll appreciate the many aspects of this
Personal Development TeleSeminar.

Do you want techniques that you can use daily to enhance any aspect of your life?
Do you want to know about tapping into
powerful information and people throughout the world?

If so, do yourself a favor and attend this
Energy Work for Manifesting TeleSeminar.

I love to help people to be quickly on the path they most want to walk. In an emergency, it’s great to have some quick methods that instantly clear stuff. However, people rarely learn anything when someone else snaps his or her fingers to make a change for them.

We all need to have techniques that we can practice regularly — ways that are quick and effective. Most uncomfortable situations we find ourselves in we have created (consciously or unconsciously) over time. To be truly empowered, we need to learn new practices to create what we want that are natural replacements for the practices that created what we didn’t want or like.

Quick Energy Work Techniques and Practices

In this context, "quick" has a double meaning. I mean that the energy work can create change quickly and that the practice of each technique is quick. There are many empowering practices that take longer and can also be valuable, like journaling, meditating, writing plans, and so many more that are also very effective.

Regardless of the time invested, most energetic techniques work best by repeatedly using them. There are exceptions, because more and more we are all accessing higher and higher levels of consciousness that do allow us to manifest in the twinkling of an eye. But do not be discouraged if you cannot manifest quickly … this time will come, if you practice now and regularly.

An Example

For example, recently I worked with a client who over-reacted when one of her colleagues asked her something. Her over-reaction resulted in some dissonance in the relationship. The interaction took place by email, one of the tools that facilitates both effective communication and equally as effective miscommunication.

My suggestion for her was simple, and quick. It’s also rather obvious, but the point is she hadn’t done it and I could read the energy well enough to know that it would have made a difference. My suggestion was: write the email and let it sit. The sitting does not need to be long, but some other activity that fully engaded her attention needed to be placed between the writing and the sending. And this activity needs to be free of ruminations about the situation.

The next step is to relax into a high intention (eg, promote understanding, be loving, open up communication) and imagine that she is reading the email as if she were the intended recipient. Edit, as needed, and send (or don’t send) or make a phone call if that is more in keeping with her intention). Even if she doesn’t change one word, her high-intention consciousness will be infused into the message.

Life is made up of little experiences like this. Standing all alone, it might seem rather insignificant. But always, we are creating our lives by our reactions to these little experiences.

After I made this suggestion to my client, she realized that she often over-reacts like that when she’s under stress. An additional reflection was that she spends more time cleaning up these messes than the time it would have taken her to do the suggested process.

Clearing Energy

I have a natural gift of being able to work with energy to clear energy fields and situations. I believe an even more important gift is to develop practical, accessible methods and to describe them so that individuals know how to change something in their lives.

Energy Work Sessions

I offer one-on-one sessions by telephone. Find information at Energy Work Sessions.

Energy Work for Manifesting TeleSeminar

I regularly offer a free TeleSeminar. Registration is required and telephone charges may apply. Skype access is available.

Here is the full information for registration.

A "puddle" is one of the ultimate ways to re-frame a "bottomless pit" or a "dark hole" or an "abyss" or an "unfathomable chasm" or "deep yogurt" or an "empty void" or "in trouble" or — well, you get the idea.

"Moving through puddles" includes the concept of cycles, of life in constant change. You move through puddles more easily when you understand that everything is constantly moving and changing, including you! Feelings of joy when moving through puddles come with the realization of the magnificence of living in an ever-changing, ever-expanding Universe.

"Life is like riding a bicycle.
To keep your balance you must keep moving."
— Albert Einstein

Bottomless Pit Syndrome

Folks often telephone to tell me they feel stuck or in a bottomless pit of something or other. I accept their perceptions and accompanying feelings as honest representations. And, I know that one of the reasons clients call me is so that I can see what they do not readily see and, in turn, assure them that something more hopeful than hopelessness is really happening for them or is possible.

So, as I hear their stories (and I don’t let them spend too much time here), I survey their energy field to see how their perceptions are represented, catch the vision of their true desires, and envision them as already empowered. I suggest that they speak their story briefly because I want to help to move them to where they want to be rather than keeping them in their current circumstances where they do not want to be.

I honor their experiences without buying into their beliefs in insufficiency. If I collude with them in their limiting beliefs, I do not serve them. I am of no value to them if I join them in their bottomless pit or dark hole. I believe in their magnificent, not their brokenness.

Sometimes clients argue for their limitations — trying to convince me how bad it is. My tolerance for interacting in such conversations is low. I listen deeply, compassionately, and quickly — needing minimal details to be helpful — then I suggest or facilitate empowering strategies. Sympathy is not one of my skills; empathy I can do; compassion, however, is the consciousness in which I prefer to reside. I am patient, yet my gentle impatience is usually more often a gift to my clients.

Most of my regular clients know that I hear and understand their condition with few facts, so we move effortlessly from their succinct storytelling to strategies for empowerment. Envisioning clients moving through a puddle rather than colluding with them to strengthen the abyss is a gift I offer. My assisting them to see themselves moving through a puddle rather than an abyss is another benefit for them. I witness their process, lovingly.

The Puddle Scenario

So here is the basic puddle scenario, a composite of multiple clients and client sessions. I call the client "Jim," just so we have a character.

Jim feels feelings he has felt many times before. Once again, he has gotten himself into an untenable position with his boss. Last year, with his previous boss, a similar situation occurred. And, yes, he has experienced somewhat similar dynamics with co-workers and family and friends.

He is angry. He is angry at himself and his boss. He sees two ways to respond: (1) quit and feel like a quitter or (2) stay and feel like a loser. To choose whether it feels better to be a loser than a quitter is not very empowering.

Of course, you and I can see immediately, even with little data, that Jim has many more options than these two. However, Jim sees himself as a victim of circumstances, even though he is not typically a victim. Jim sees himself from inside a bottomless pit with two options, not in a puddle with many options.

When you understand the idea of puddles, you view life as a series of experiences. Or a series of puddles. You know that the puddle is simply one experience that will be followed by others. This does not necessarily mean that you wait for the sun to evaporate the puddle, but that is one option. Enjoying making mud pies is another. Putting on your boots is another. Splashing gleefully in the water is another. Dancing in the puddle to the tune of "Singin’ in the Rain" is still another. And there are many more options. See, already this is more fun than weighing the pros and cons of being a quitter or a loser.

Jim’s state of consciousness or mood is the key to how he relates to this experience. If Jim walks into the puddle with his eyes open to the experience, he will move knowingly through the puddle. He will move through it — this is important for him to recognize while he is in the puddle. If Jim walks into the puddle with his eyes closed (the most common way most people get into a puddle), his job is to open his eyes and recognize that he is in a puddle. If he relates to the puddle in some of the ways suggested in the previous paragraph, he will have a more positive experience in this puddle which will open the way to more positive experiences in future puddles. How he feels right now is the key.

The consciousness or mood with which Jim acts makes all the difference; his specific actions are secondary. If Jim has an attitude of strong resistance against stepping into one puddle, he is likely to encounter a bigger and/or denser puddle when next it is puddle time. However, if Jim is joyful as he steps into or around the puddles, he will find most of them dissolve on their own, which means that he can then give his positive attention to the most important puddles.

As Jim focuses on lifting his mood or consciousness, more and more options open for him. He may find himself playing with a big puddle to make a lot of little puddles so that he can more easily navigate through or around them. Or he might play with a lot of little puddles to make one big puddle so that he can spot it more easily or float on top of it or swim through it. Playing can be empowering and fun. He can use the puddles to make him feel more in the flow of life.

What Color is the Puddle?

Since first presenting the idea of Puddles as a way of viewing life’s cycles and challenges (in 1995), I have heard from many clients and readers. Sometimes they telephone to report "I’m in a puddle." My initial response is "What color is the puddle?"

Or, I might ask some other playful question that helps to focus the attention on the energetics of the puddle, on what they want, or on how they feel rather than the issues that spin them in circles like a cess pool. It is not that the issues are unimportant, it is that people can deal much more effectively with the issues if they focus on and change the energetics or feelings first, rather than attack the specific circumstances when they are discouraged.

Questions that help to give the attention to the energetics of the puddle rather than the details of their problem are: How big is the puddle? Is the puddle muddy or clear? What does the puddle sound like? Additional questions are included in the eight-step process below, which is designed to help you move through a challenging in a more empowering way.

An Energetic Process

1. Name a situation that you consider to be very challenging or problematic (1-9 words).

2. Describe the situation briefly in the way you might tell a loving, non-judgmental friend you have not seen for a while. This friend, who is wise and enlightened, cares about you and listens quickly and deeply. Don’t bore your friend with all the details!

3. Select an image for the situation that captures how you feel about it. Consider such images as, a brick wall, a bottomless pit, stuck/sticky, hot lava, quicksand, a large vat of brown yogurt, a cesspool, a roller coaster, a sticky pot of dung.

4. Re-frame this situation a "puddle" no matter how it might initially seem. If you have any difficulty naming your situation a mere "puddle," just start by believing it could be a puddle. You may put your situation in a puddle or put a puddle in your situation. Some of these ideas may make you laugh or smile or feel lighter.

5. Describe the energetic dynamics of the puddle. For example, what color is the puddle? What texture is it? What size is it? How thick/thin is it? What shape is it? What sound does it make? What does it smell like? How does it taste? How does the water feel on your fingers? How close are you to it (or it to you)? If it had a name (other than puddle or pit or pool), what would it be? Add any other dynamics you perceive. Be creative. Play.

6. Experiment with changing the characteristics. For example, if yours is a puddle two feet in diameter, can you change it to one foot or to four feet in diameter? If you cannot, no need to struggle, experiment with changing another aspect. Can you hear your puddle utter a cacophony of shrieks or sing a sweet melody? As you play with such dynamics, you give yourself an experience of dominion over the puddle which can translate to enhanced confidence with respect to the situation itself. Stretch your imagination.

7. Clarify desires about your puddle. How close do you desire the puddle to be? What color do you desire the puddle to be? What song would you like to sing while you are in your puddle? What song would you like your puddle to sing? As you become clear about your desires while working with the energetics, you will find that your perceptions of the condition and situation change. Be playful. Inspire yourself. Splash.

8. Reflect on how you now experience the situation (refer to #1 above). Is it different? If so, how? Repeat the above steps as often as needed to achieve the desired relationship to the situation.

Appreciating a Puddled World

The world is filled with a variety of puddles for your pleasure to choose. Appreciate the differences; rejoice in the variety. I believe the most empowering relationship to puddles is to move through them consciously. You can choose your personal style from a myriad of possible approaches. Different puddles help you to develop yourself and enhance your life experiences. Your mood or consciousness is all-important. The world offers you puddles in all sizes and shapes and depths and colors in order to expand the world — where else would you play in the sunshine after a rainfall?

©1996, 2012, Marshall House.

In order to experience life, you are always asking. Not every asking has a question mark at the end of the statement, or an upward inflection of the voice, as is common in English language speech. Not every asking involves words. Your cells ask for sustenance. Your lungs ask for oxygen. Your mind asks for thoughts. Your stomach asks for nutrition. Your fingertips ask for touch. Asking, you are always asking.

In an article I wrote many years ago, Ask Questions that are Empowering, I express thoughts about asking questions which are empowering rather than disempowering. Asking is not just a matter of extracting information from someone. Asking questions that are empowering is a means of engaging effectively with others. When you ask yourself or others empowering questions, you move the relationship with yourself or others forward in a positive way.

Even though you may think "I don’t have any questions," you are still asking. You may be asking for the question. "What is the question?" is a powerful question. Or you may be observing, which is still asking. When you smell a meal cooking, you ask if you are hungry or what is for dinner, or your stomach asks with hunger pangs for the simmering food. You are always asking, always.

When you take in the beauty of a scenic view with pleasure, you are asking. You are asking for more of that experience; you are asking for more experiences similar to that. Appreciation asks for more to be appreciated.

When you hear your doorbell or telephone ring you are asking who is there. When your dog barks from another room, you instinctively ask the reason for the barking. As you open your email software, you ask who has written to you.

To articulate a question can be very powerful. If you muddle through the formulating of a question, that can also be empowering because the sorting out process clarifies the most relevant ideas. When you bring a question into focus, you are already getting close to the answer. In many cases, the answer is so contained in the question that it answers itself.

What are the questions that you will be asking today? Is there an over-riding or over-arching question that you will be asking yourself or others?