It has happened n number of times to me in the past. My brain has had a question, but I have always stopped it from slipping out, thinking I would make a fool out of myself. Only later would I realize that somebody else asked a similar question. And were applauded for asking such a great question! Do you relate to this situation? Then you need to understand the art of questioning.
The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge. - Thomas Berger
What makes us human, I think, is an ability to ask questions, a consequence of our sophisticated spoken language. - Jane Goodall
Interesting fact on art of questioning
At the age of four, children ask over 400 questions a day. Between the ages of two and five, the average child will have asked about 40,000 “why” questions, simply because they do not know.
As we age, apparently we do. By the time, we reach 44, adults only ask around six questions/day, mainly because we think either we know or are afraid of admitting that we do not.
Some one liners on Art of questioning
- Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton asked why. And rest is the history.
- We don't know what we don't know, and won't know unless we ask questions.
- The people who do not ask questions remain clueless throughout their lives.
- It is fine to be a fool for a minute by asking a question then to be a fool for life time by not asking.
- Knowing the answers will help you in school. Knowing how to question will help you in life.
Now we have understood the importance of asking questions let us discuss the few wonderful benefits of asking questions
Benefits of asking question
1. We learn about life
We all see a child asking so many questions in a day that is how a child learns about everything. This is the best method for learning, which we all stop applying when we grow up.
2. It will keep you humble
It reminds you that you do not know everything, and that is perfectly fine. As there are gaps in your knowledge, which you are filling up.
3. It improves quality of our life
The quality of our lives is directly related to the quality of our thinking. “The quality of our thinking, in turn, is determined by the quality of our questions.
4. It also prevents self-satisfaction
It signals a thirst for new data and an unwillingness to be content with the current status quo.
5. Questioning makes you more open
Your mind start working logically and it gives information already stored in the brain once you start asking questions.
6. You understand people better
Most people love to answer questions about themselves. We're all hungry to be understood, not just because we want to get our way but because we want to feel important.
7. It improves your decision-making ability
As asking questions will give you all types of perspective for the situation in hand.
8. It will give you happiness
as asking right and logical question will make you happy and satisfied.
Analysis so far
So now you must be thinking that I will give you some tips for asking wonderful questions or to improve your art of questioning. NO, I am not going to give you any such tips as I believe there are no tips as such.
There cannot be a shortcut for practice and perseverance. So to ask wonderful questions we need to practice asking questions and with continuous practice and habit of asking questions, we will improve the quality of our questions.
In the next post, we will analyze why people do not ask questions, what are the reasons and the possible solutions.
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