Why am I so confident these 20 questions will change your life?

Because that's what they're designed to do! OK, so I may be a bit cocky here, but confidence is my middle name! Hey, I'm a Life Improvement Coach, if I'm not confident who on this lovely planet of ours can be?

OK, frivolity out of the way... for now, anyway... let's get to business.

First things first... if you're reading this article, there's probably something in your life you want to change... something in your life that's causing you a few issues... maybe something that's causing you some (or a great deal of) pain, anxiety, stress or just plain old concern!

Or maybe, you just feel a bit lost in life... or you feel as though life's passing you by... or you're just lacking a bit of direction and need some help to get back on track.

Or maybe you've hit a real crisis point in your life... you got up this morning and thought, "What am I doing with my life? What have I achieved?" Maybe you even think your whole life has been a waste of time, effort and energy!

So, before we get onto the 20 questions that will change your life, let's just put one or two things straight in your mind. Please... don't skip this bit... this is vitally important and will enable you to get the most out of the questions to come.

First and foremost... life is a journey. It's full of ups and downs, highs and lows. If you're on a low right now, by the time you've done the "20 Questions" exercise, you'll be on a high. The secret is to stay on that high for as long as you can... I'll help you do just that! If you're on a high right now, working with these 20 questions will take you even higher... don't settle for the moon when you can reach for the stars!

Secondly, nothing is ever wasted in life. Everything you do, everything that has ever happened to you, is happening to you right now and will happen to you in the future is a part of you, creates the real you, helps you learn and helps you grow... everything! Whether you perceive something to be good or bad.. it's good! It helps you grow. If you can understand that and encompass it in everything you do, your life will become so meaningful and be filled with joy and happiness.

So, in a nutshell... wherever you are right now with your life... you're important... very important and everything that's happened to you is important... very important. You're a creation of The Universe, you are loved, cherished, desirable, wonderful... you're an important piece of the jigsaw... a vital component in this wonderful machine called life. So don't forget it!

If you want to achieve something in life, you first need to believe you are capable of achieving something in your life. I'm here to tell you... "You will achieve something in your life! Believe it... right now!" These 20 questions will help you do just that... but please, don't just read them and think through the answers... that'll be a waste of your time and my effort in putting this article together! You want to waste your time? Fine! But please don't waste mine! Lol!

Seriously, take a pen and some paper... lots of paper... and write down your answers to each question in infinite detail. The more detail you include, the better this exercise will work for you. Don't rush it... this doesn't have to be completed in one sitting. However, if you take a break, commit to starting again at a fixed time... put it in your diary... on your to do list... whatever you prefer. Just make sure you finish it!

Cool... now get yourself a nice cup of coffee, relax, find somewhere comfortable to sit and empty your mind for at least 10 minutes.

Just close your eyes and take yourself to your favourite place... the countryside... your garden... the sea... wherever you like being.

Just relax and let your senses do the rest...

What can you see?

What sounds can you hear?

Smell the air...

Feel the sensations...

Taste the atmosphere...

Relaxed?

Emptied your mind?

Cool... time to start changing your life...

20 Questions to Help You Set Goals

1. If money wasn't an issue, what one thing would you definitely do right now?

Be bold... be adventurous... go for something big, really big! Look, money's no issue, so don't hold yourself back. Dream... fantasise... go where you've never been before... let your mind take control... let your imagination run wild!

Write down anything that comes to your mind... don't limit yourself, initially, to just one thing, write a list... then go back to your list and pick the one thing you really, really want to do in your life.

2. If you couldn't fail, what one thing would you try right now?

OK, on the face of it, this is similar to the first question, but there's a subtle difference. You may just have held yourself back with the last question, because you were concentrating on finance rather than success. This question should take you to even greater heights... though don't worry if your answer to this one's the same as question 1... that just means you're already opening your mind to create incredible success in your life. Wow!

As before... don't hold back... go for something out of this world... think humungus!

3. If you could change one thing in your life, right now, what would it be?

No boundaries! No holding back! You're doing this exercise for you... nobody's going to see what you write (unless you decide to show them, of course!), so you can write what you really feel. Again, write a list to start you off, if you're not sure which one thing you really want to change, and then select your number one thing to change from your list.

4. Which aspects of your life need to be improved?

Look, you may need to go buy a new notebook for this one... I did! Lol!

Take your time... write your list... take a short 5 minute break... than go back to your list... leave some space... go back to your list every day for the next week... or every time your sub-conscious comes up with some more ideas and pushes them into the front of your mind!

Be ruthless! Perfection can't be achieved... sorry, but it can't and I make no apologies for using that dreaded word, 'can't'! You can achieve incredible things with your life, we all can... but perfection? Nah! By all means aim to be as perfect as you can... and you can get pretty damn close... but don't expect perfection.

So, if something's not quite perfect... you can still add it to your list! Look, this isn't meant to depress you... this list will act as a catalyst for improving things that aren't quite working for you as you'd like them to. So be happy... you're going to improve so many different areas of your life in the weeks to come!

5. If you had to choose one thing to work on that would make the biggest difference in your life, what would it be?

Now this is a toughy! Again, write a list, if you want and select your #1 thing from your list. If you're totally stuck, think about relationships, attitudes, finances, health and fitness, beliefs... Yes! Concentrate on beliefs... these are the things that hold just about everyone back in life! What beliefs are holding you back? How could you change those beliefs to help you move forward in life? Got the idea? Cool!

6. For each thing you've written down so far, what one thing could you do right now to get closer to making them happen? Write them down?

Notice the shift in direction, here? You're now concentrating on actions you can take to make the changes you've been thinking about become reality! This is very powerful and will need some thought... this is goal setting at it's best!

Make each action achievable... you're taking the first steps here, so look at something you can do to move you closer to making things happen... not necessarily something that'll take you all the way!

7. What do you want less of in your life?

Total honesty required here. It's so easy to accept things that are 'OK' and just get on with it! Sorry, that won't do today! Don't spend too much time here though, this one's a bit like a spring clean... you're just throwing out the stuff you don't need any more... like stress... traffic... sprouts!

8. What do you want more of in your life?

Go for a list of at least 50! Even better... go for 100! Nothing's too trivial... and nothing's too big either! Open your heart... open your mind... open the floodgates!

Made 100 yet? Cool... then you can move on to question 9!

9. What are your passions in life? What do you love doing? What gets you excited?

Now we're talking! What causes the hair on your back to stand on end? What causes your spine to tingle? What makes you jump out of bed in the morning? Or into bed at night!

Once you've found where your real passions lie, you can really start to move forward with your life. My passion's helping people, personal development, if you like. So writing this article has been pure joy! So look for things that put a smile on your face... things that you could do day after day... after day... after day... I think you know what I mean!

10. What do you hate doing in life? What gets you down? What's boring?

Sorry, but this is important. Once you have your list, you're going to use it to avoid these things with all the determination you can muster! List everything... then later on you can put in place some actions to make sure these things are well and truly thrown out of your life!

Well done! You're half way there... hope you're having some fun doing this exercise! You're meant to! Look, I know some of these questions are pretty tough, but enjoy the process... it's going to help you make dramatic and positive changes in your life! So be happy... just think how much better your life's becoming... right now!

11. Which person do you most respect in life? Why?

Tricky question, this! You can write a list if you have more than one. But you must write the reasons you respect each one of them. How many of their traits do you have? How can you become more like them? Once you have a #1, go out and buy any books about that person you can get your hands on. If they've written books, buy them as well! Learn about them... model them!

Look, if you have more than one person on your list, buy books about all of them... but not all at once! Buy a book, read it... then go onto the next... repeat!

12. Which person do you least respect in life? Why?

This is actually, probably more difficult to answer than the previous question... but this time, once you have your list, I'm not going to ask you to buy their books! Simply take a look at yourself... if you have any of their traits, find a way to get rid of them! After all, you don't want the traits of someone you have no respect for... do you?

13. Do you have any of the characteristics of either of the people you mentioned above?

OK, so you've already answered this question! You have, haven't you? Just a reminder to make sure you're answering these questions properly and not skimming through them! Lol!

14. What would your perfect life look like? Take out a clean sheet of paper and write it down... take exactly three minutes. Do the same for the next six days and then compare what you wrote down each day. Combine all seven sheets and you should have a blueprint for your perfect life.

I so love this question!!! To be honest, this question is a coaching exercise in itself. It will lead to lasting and dramatic changes in your life... so follow it through for the rest of the week!

The three minute bit is so important too... so make sure you stick to it. It's long enough to give you chance to write down the most important things, but short enough to make sure your thoughts come from your heart!

You don't have time to analyse, so get going and write furiously if you want to get everything down! And don't forget... you need to do this for the next 6 days as well!

15. What one thing can you do this week to take you closer to your perfect life? When are you going to do it?

Listen, there's no point doing all this thinking if it doesn't lead to you taking some action... and immediate action at that! You've started the ball rolling by doing this exercise, no keep the momentum going!

Think what you can do... write it down... with a date and time. Commit to it. this is an immovable object... it cannot be changed, postponed or cancelled... under any circumstances! It doesn't have to be big... but it must move you towards your ideal life.

After you've successfully completed it... repeat the process... again... and again... and again...

16. What things, people or beliefs are holding you back in life? What can you do to get past these things, people or beliefs?

Now this is s real biggy! We're all held back by beliefs, often picked up subconsciously and often in our childhood, that limit our potential. Parents, family, friends, teachers, media... the list is endless... all have an impact on our lives. Often, they influence us in positive ways, but they also have a negative impact on us as well. Even though people have a our best interests at heart, they often create limiting beliefs within us by things they say or do.

How often do you see parents 'wrap their children in cotton wool'? Sometimes, this can prevent children from becoming adventurous... all the way through to the time they take out their pension!

You'll need to shake off these limiting beliefs... and forgive those that created them within you... totally and unconditionally... just forgive them... right now... no limits... no ties... forgiven... forever... right now!

17. Which aspects of your life are you happiest with? How could you make them even better?

OK, time to put a smile back on your face! List everything... absolutely everything... that makes you happy... puts a smile on your face... makes you get out of bed in the morning! Or jump back in... oops, sorry! Already been there! Lol!

Now, when you have your list... write down one thing for each of them that'll make them even better. You now have a few more actions to put in your diary or to do list! Yeehaa!

18. If your friends, family and work colleagues were to wrote down a description of your personal qualities, what would they write? Would you be happy with that?

Hey, I'm feeling pretty tired, just writing out these questions, so you must be exhausted! Because you're working twice as hard as me.. at least you should be!

OK, make sure your list includes a wide cross section of people... and don't just pick your favourite work colleagues or family members. Pick a few you don't get on with quite so well... and be honest in what you think they'll say!

If you're really brave... actually ask some of them to do it for you... and comapare their actual comments with your thoughts! But don't be surprised if they're different!

19. What are your strongest qualities? How can you make them even stronger?

No holding back here! List them all and go over the top too! Look, it's not being boastful or arrogant... if you go around telling everyone else how good you are at everything, that's a different matter... but this is for you, and you only! So you can wax lyrical about yourself... and it's OK!

Guess what? You now have another list of actions to add to your diary or to do list! How cool is that?

20. What things do you do in your life that are not serving you or taking you nearer to what you want in life?

There will almopst certainly be plenty of them! But don't get down as you list them out! Remember, you're going to be taking actions to stop doing these things, so as you add each one to your list, give out a big cheer and wave them goodbye! Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio...

That's it! Done! Well almost... Look, I know I said 20 questions... but there's just one more you need to answer...

21. When are you going to start working towards the life you really deserve?

You've started... so you need to finish!

Taking the first step is often the hardest. You've already done that by answering these 20... er... I mean 21 questions. You've stretched your emotions to the limits with some of these questions, maybe even shed a tear or two. Hopefully, you've also put a few smiles on your face as well.

It's now down to you to keep the momentum going... if you need help... hire the best coach you can afford... you're worth it! Now... when are you going to start? Have you made a note in your diary?

Cool!

Look, you're important! So, start setting your goals right now and create the life you want and deserve!

Look out for more goal setting, Life Coaching articles from me very soon...