http://www.marcandangel.com/2009/07/13/50-questions-that-will-free-your-mind/

50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind

1) How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? 30

2) Which is worse, failing or never trying? never trying.

3) If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do? we do things we don't like because we feel a social obligation to do them because it's the social norm, so we waste time and energy doing them for no good reason. We like things we don't do because when we don't do them we can idealize them and when we do them we see them for what they really are, because nothing is perfect.

4) When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done? hopefully I will have done everything I have said I would do.

5) What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world? Remove all hatred and replace it with empathy.

6) If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich? Orgasm provider ;-)

7) Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing? I strive to always do what I believe is right, sometimes it just takes me a little longer to wrap my head and hear around the moral and ethical struggles to stand up and do what I believe is right when it will hurt others or it goes against the social norm.

8) If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently? I wouldn't. I always strive to live each day as if it were my last because it always could be.

9) To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken? about 75% the other 25% is stuff beyond my control and I can then only control how I react to it.

10) Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things? both! Both if I had to pick I'm more concerned with doing the right things, we all make mistakes.

11) You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful and unjustified. What do you do? Tell them I disagree with their assessment and explain why, but keep an open mind that their experience with that person could be drastically different than my experience with that person.

12) If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be? Be kind.

13) Would you break the law to save a loved one? Yes.

14) Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity? I think this is too artsy of a question for me to understand.

15) What’s something you know you do differently than most people? The way I think about life and death.

16) How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy? Because not everyone values the same things.

17) What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back? Walked Haidrian's Wall, the thing holding me back is money.

18) Are you holding onto something you need to let go of? Literally, no...emotionally, yes.

19) If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why? Anywhere on the ocean...because ocean.

20) Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster? I push once and wait because pushing again does nothing.

21) Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton? Neither, I'd rather be somewhere in between.

22) Why are you, you? Because of a mixture of DNA, how I was raised, and my own life experiences.

23) Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend? Yes, most of the time.

24) Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you? Loosing touch with someone who is nearby.

25) What are you most grateful for? The amazingly loving, funny, supportive, caring, generous, kind, and genuine people I have in my life.

26) Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones? Never be able to make new ones.

27) Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first? Yes. Sometimes you just know in your heart that something is true.

28) Has your greatest fear ever come true? Yes, my marriage.

29) Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now? Yes, because it shaped who I became in the wake of that pain.

30) What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special? Being alone in the fields of my grandparents farm with the dogs because nature, freedom, animals, and a sense of peace and safety.

31) At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive? Anytime I'm with Scott.

32) If not now, then when? As soon as my heart, mind, and body are all on the same page.

33) If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose? Only the time it takes to do the thing.

34) Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever? Yes.

35) Why do religions that support love cause so many wars? Because people think their way of loving is right and the other's are wrong.

36) Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil? For yourself, yes...for someone else, no. We all make that judgement call for ourselves.

37) If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job? I would take some time off and then try to go part time.

38) Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing? More that I enjoy doing.

39) Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before? No.

40) When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in? Every time I create something.

41) If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today? Jia and Scott.

42) Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous? No.

43) What is the difference between being alive and truly living? Living is fulfilling your heart and soul's desires...being alive is just breathing and going through the motions.

44) When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right? Always.

45) If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake? Because many people fear failure.

46) What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you? Nothing, if someone judges me for something that's on them not on me.

47) When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing? This morning as I wheezed in bed because my nose was stuffed up.

48) What do you love? Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love? I love drinking cold, clean, water and I've said it out loud at least twice today.

49) In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday? What about the day before that? Or the day before that? In detail? No, in an overarching way? Yes.

50) Decisions are being made right now. The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you? Some decisions are not mine to make, but the ones that are I try to make for myself for the right reasons, though sometimes the right reason is to make the decision for someone else. http://www.marcandangel.com/2009/07/13/50-questions-that-will-free-your-mind/ 50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind 1) How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? 30 2) Which is worse, failing or never trying? never trying. 3) If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do? we do things we don't like because we feel a social obligation to do them because it's the social norm, so we waste time and energy doing them for no good reason. We like things we don't do because when we don't do them we can idealize them and when we do them we see them for what they really are, because nothing is perfect. 4) When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done? hopefully I will have done everything I have said I would do. 5) What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world? Remove all hatred and replace it with empathy. 6) If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich? Orgasm provider ;-) 7) Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing? I strive to always do what I believe is right, sometimes it just takes me a little longer to wrap my head and hear around the moral and ethical struggles to stand up and do what I believe is right when it will hurt others or it goes against the social norm. 8) If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently? I wouldn't. I always strive to live each day as if it were my last because it always could be. 9) To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken? about 75% the other 25% is stuff beyond my control and I can then only control how I react to it. 10) Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things? both! Both if I had to pick I'm more concerned with doing the right things, we all make mistakes. 11) You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful and unjustified. What do you do? Tell them I disagree with their assessment and explain why, but keep an open mind that their experience with that person could be drastically different than my experience with that person. 12) If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be? Be kind. 13) Would you break the law to save a loved one? Yes. 14) Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity? I think this is too artsy of a question for me to understand. 15) What’s something you know you do differently than most people? The way I think about life and death. 16) How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy? Because not everyone values the same things. 17) What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back? Walked Haidrian's Wall, the thing holding me back is money. 18) Are you holding onto something you need to let go of? Literally, no...emotionally, yes. 19) If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why? Anywhere on the ocean...because ocean. 20) Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster? I push once and wait because pushing again does nothing. 21) Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton? Neither, I'd rather be somewhere in between. 22) Why are you, you? Because of a mixture of DNA, how I was raised, and my own life experiences. 23) Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend? Yes, most of the time. 24) Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you? Loosing touch with someone who is nearby. 25) What are you most grateful for? The amazingly loving, funny, supportive, caring, generous, kind, and genuine people I have in my life. 26) Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones? Never be able to make new ones. 27) Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first? Yes. Sometimes you just know in your heart that something is true. 28) Has your greatest fear ever come true? Yes, my marriage. 29) Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now? Yes, because it shaped who I became in the wake of that pain. 30) What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special? Being alone in the fields of my grandparents farm with the dogs because nature, freedom, animals, and a sense of peace and safety. 31) At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive? Anytime I'm with Scott. 32) If not now, then when? As soon as my heart, mind, and body are all on the same page. 33) If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose? Only the time it takes to do the thing. 34) Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever? Yes. 35) Why do religions that support love cause so many wars? Because people think their way of loving is right and the other's are wrong. 36) Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil? For yourself, yes...for someone else, no. We all make that judgement call for ourselves. 37) If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job? I would take some time off and then try to go part time. 38) Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing? More that I enjoy doing. 39) Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before? No. 40) When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in? Every time I create something. 41) If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today? Jia and Scott. 42) Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous? No. 43) What is the difference between being alive and truly living? Living is fulfilling your heart and soul's desires...being alive is just breathing and going through the motions. 44) When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right? Always. 45) If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake? Because many people fear failure. 46) What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you? Nothing, if someone judges me for something that's on them not on me. 47) When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing? This morning as I wheezed in bed because my nose was stuffed up. 48) What do you love? Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love? I love drinking cold, clean, water and I've said it out loud at least twice today. 49) In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday? What about the day before that? Or the day before that? In detail? No, in an overarching way? Yes. 50) Decisions are being made right now. The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you? Some decisions are not mine to make, but the ones that are I try to make for myself for the right reasons, though sometimes the right reason is to make the decision for someone else.

Posted 5 years ago