Taking the time to dive into deep, thought-provoking questions can be a bit daunting, sure. But it’s also a remarkably effective strategy for self-care and for improving your general mental health. Regularly asking and answering deep questions, wholeheartedly, opens the door to a more fulfilling and intentional life.
If you’re someone who likes writing, these questions can double as journal prompts, bringing reflection and profound thought to your life. But remember, there’s no need to rush – take your time. Self-exploration isn’t a sprint to the finish line; it’s an ongoing journey. As you explore these questions, prepare to discover new facets and dimensions of yourself.
Sections
- Deep questions to get to know yourself
- Deep questions to promote self-growth
- Deep questions to ask yourself about your relationships
- Deep mental health questions to ask yourself
- Deep questions to ask yourself about life
- Deep questions to ask yourself daily
- Hardest questions to ask yourself
- Deep spiritual questions to ask yourself
- Deep questions to ask yourself at the end of the year
Deep questions to get to know yourself
Self-understanding is like owning a compass in a world that’s constantly evolving. It’s a strong foundation, it gives direction, and it can lead to a more satisfying and meaningful life. Here’s a list of thought-provoking questions that are designed to usher you toward a better understanding of your true self.
1. What are three words you would use to describe yourself?
2. What’s something you wish people knew about you without having to tell them?
3. What are the top three values that you live by?
4. What activities make you lose track of time?
5. What’s your biggest regret in life so far?
6. Who has had the most influence in shaping who you are today?
7. What do you see beyond your reflection when you look in the mirror?
8. If you could meet your 5-years-older self, what questions would you ask?
9. What does success mean to you?
10. What are you most proud of about yourself?
11. What are you most afraid of and why?
12. How do you handle stress and anxiety?
13. How do you define happiness?
14. If you could change one thing about your personality, what would it be and why?
15. What’s one thing that you haven’t done that you really want to do?
16. How do you handle criticism?
17. What’s the one thing that you can’t stand in other people?
18. How would you describe your relationship with your family?
19. What’s something you’re passionate about but rarely get a chance to talk about?
20. What’s the first thing you think of when you wake up?
21. What do you believe sets you apart from others?
22. If you had the power to change one thing in the world, what would it be?
23. How do you feel about the idea of getting older?
24. What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken and what did it teach you about yourself?
25. What worries or scares me the most about the future?
26. Do I feel it’s more important to love or to be loved?
27. What’s the one thing I can’t imagine living without?
28. What are the things that usually get me all teary-eyed?
29. What’s the last time I’ve got really angry? What’s the real reason behind that anger?
30. What would I do differently if I knew no one was judging?
31. What’s the one thing I love the most about myself?
32. What does peace of mind mean to me?
33. What’s one principle I stick to, no matter what, even if it means taking a hard hit?
You might also like this article about tactics on how to become more self-aware.
Deep questions to promote self-growth
Personal growth isn’t a walk in the park. It’s more like a mountain climb, complete with slips, stumbles, and breathtaking views. But with every tough question you ask yourself, you plant a flag on that mountain. Here are some hard-hitting questions to help you navigate your path to self-growth.
1. What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t, and why?
2. What are the top three personal goals you have right now?
3. How do you handle failure, and what have you learned from it?
4. What scares you most about stepping out of your comfort zone?
5. What are some beliefs you hold that might be holding you back?
6. What’s something that you’ve changed your mind about in the last year?
7. How do you typically react to challenges or obstacles?
8. What’s one area of your life you’d like to improve the most?
9. When do you feel the most authentic version of yourself?
10. What does personal growth mean to you?
11. Are there any habits or behaviors you’d like to change?
12. What’s the most important thing self-growth has taught you so far?
13. What’s one thing you can do today to promote your personal growth?
14. How do you handle change, especially when it’s unexpected?
15. Who or what motivates you to grow?
16. What’s something you’ve let go of that has positively impacted your life?
17. How do you deal with self-doubt or fear?
18. How do you measure your growth and progress?
19. What skills do you want to learn or improve?
20. How do you balance self-improvement with self-acceptance?
21. What’s the most valuable piece of advice you’ve ever received?
22. Are you truly content with your life, and if not, what would you change?
23. How are you making a positive impact on the world or on other people’s lives?
24. What have I been taking for granted in my life?
You might also like to get some tips to get out of your comfort zone.
Deep questions to ask yourself about your relationships
The truth is, relationships, whether platonic or romantic, are complex. They require effort, understanding, and patience. But by asking these questions, you’re stepping up to the plate, ready to hit a home run in the game of understanding and improving your relationships.
1. What’s the most valuable lesson a past relationship taught you?
2. What do you value most in your relationships?
3. How do you handle conflict in your relationships?
4. What qualities are most important to you in a friend?
5. How do you express love and how do you like to receive it?
6. What’s one thing you would change about your relationship with your best friend?
7. How do you maintain boundaries in your relationships?
8. Do you feel you can truly be yourself in your relationships? Why or why not?
9. What role do your friendships play in your life?
10. How do you handle the end of a relationship?
11. What’s the most challenging part of your current relationship(s)?
12. How has your relationship with your parents shaped your adulthood?
13. Do you think your relationships are healthy? If not, what can you do to improve them?
14. How have your past relationships influenced your current ones?
15. What’s something you need to forgive someone for?
16. Are there any unresolved issues in any of your relationships? What are they?
17. What’s one way in which you can become a better friend, partner, or family member?
18. How important is communication in your relationships?
19. Are there any toxic relationships in your life? If so, what steps can you take to address them?
20. What does a successful relationship look like to you?
21. How do you handle jealousy or insecurity in your relationships?
22. How do you support your loved ones during tough times?
23. How do you balance giving and taking in your relationships?
24. How have your relationships changed as you’ve grown and matured?
25. What does trust mean to you in a relationship and how do you build it?
26. How many friends of mine can I honestly say I’d trust with my life?
27. Am I setting a good example for others around me?
You might also find it helpful to ponder some questions to ask yourself about your romantic relationship.
Deep mental health questions to ask yourself
Mental health is a crucial, yet often overlooked, aspect of our well-being. It’s good to have in mind that mental health isn’t a destination; it’s a continuous journey. It’s okay to have bad days. It’s okay to seek help. It’s okay to prioritize yourself. In fact, it’s more than okay; it’s necessary. So, keep this list handy and dive in whenever you need a mental tune-up.
1. How often do you check in with your mental health? How do you do this?
2. Do you often feel anxious or depressed? If yes, what triggers it?
3. Are there any emotions you’ve been trying to avoid dealing with?
4. How well do you manage stress?
5. What’s one thing that always lifts your mood when you’re feeling down?
6. Are you comfortable talking about your feelings, and if not, why?
7. Do you often find it hard to focus or concentrate?
8. What steps do you take when you realize your mental health is suffering?
9. How well do you sleep at night?
10. What activities make you feel the most relaxed and at peace?
11. How often do you practice self-care and what does it look like?
12. How much time do you spend alone, and are you comfortable with it?
13. What’s something you worry about excessively, and why?
14. Have your eating or drinking habits changed recently? If so, why?
15. Are there any unresolved issues from your past that still affect you?
16. Do you set healthy boundaries in your relationships?
17. Are there any negative habits or behaviors you’d like to change?
18. How often do you feel overwhelmed, and how do you cope with that feeling?
19. How do you handle feelings of anger or frustration?
20. How comfortable are you with seeking professional help for mental health issues?
21. Do you practice mindfulness or meditation?
22. Do you often compare yourself to others, and how does that affect you?
23. How well do you balance work, rest, and play?
24. Is your internal voice more on the kind side or more on the harsh side?
25. Are there any toxic repetitive patterns I’ve always been falling prey to in my life?
If you think you might be dealing with some mental health issue, you might like to consider therapy.
We recommend BetterHelp for online therapy, since they offer unlimited messaging and a weekly session, and are cheaper than going to a therapist's office.
Their plans start at $64 per week. If you use this link, you get 20% off your first month at BetterHelp + a $50 coupon valid for any SocialSelf course: Click here to learn more about BetterHelp.
(To receive your $50 SocialSelf coupon, sign up with our link. Then, email BetterHelp’s order confirmation to us to receive your personal code. You can use this code for any of our courses.)
Deep questions to ask yourself about life
To make life ride smoother, sometimes it’s necessary to ask the tough questions, the deep ones, that make you look at life through a different lens. Remember, there’s no right or wrong answer. This journey is yours and yours alone.
1. What are the three most important values in your life?
2. If you could go back five years, what advice would you give your past self?
3. Are you leading the life you want to or the life others expect of you?
4. What’s your idea of a ‘good life’?
5. What do you want to be remembered for?
6. If today was your last day, would you be proud of the life you’ve lived?
7. What life experiences have shaped you the most?
8. If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
9. Are there any dreams or goals you’ve given up on? Why?
10. What does ‘happiness’ mean to you?
11. If life is a journey, where is yours leading?
12. Do you live more in the past, present, or future?
13. How do you handle life’s uncertainties?
14. What life lessons do you wish you learned earlier?
15. Is there something you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet? Why?
16. How do you define ‘success’ in life?
17. What makes your life meaningful or fulfilling?
18. Do you believe everything happens for a reason? Why or why not?
19. What would you do if you weren’t afraid of failure?
20. Are you more afraid of failure or success, and why?
21. How do you handle life’s disappointments or setbacks?
22. If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?
23. How do you make difficult decisions?
24. What’s the most significant risk you’ve taken in life?
25. If you could write a letter to your future self, what would you say?
You might also like this article with some proven ways to become happier in life.
Deep questions to ask yourself daily
Daily introspection helps you lead a more mindful, purposeful life. Consider these questions your mental calisthenics, the kind that’ll keep your brain fit and your soul enriched. The questions below can be used as something to kickstart your day and keep you on your toes. You might want to get one a day or choose a couple that aligns more with your current self-improvement goals and stick with them for a while.
1. What’s my main focus for today?
2. How can I make today better than yesterday?
3. What am I grateful for today?
4. What’s one thing I can do today to move closer to my goals?
5. How can I make today meaningful?
6. What can I do today to take care of my mental health?
7. Who can I reach out to or check in on today?
8. What’s one thing I can learn today?
9. How can I bring positivity into my day?
10. What’s one act of kindness I can perform today?
11. Am I holding on to something that I need to let go of?
12. What’s one self-care activity I can commit to today?
13. What can I do today that my future self will thank me for?
14. Am I prioritizing my needs and well-being?
15. How can I challenge myself today?
16. What’s one positive affirmation I can tell myself today?
17. Am I fully present and engaged in my activities?
18. What’s something I can improve on or change about my daily routine?
19. How can I best express my creativity today?
20. What’s one unhealthy habit I can work on breaking today?
21. How can I cultivate more patience today?
22. What’s one thing I can do today to step out of my comfort zone?
23. How can I turn a potentially negative situation into a positive one today?
24. What’s one way I can show appreciation to someone today?
25. Am I living true to myself, and what can I do to better align with my values?
26. What can I do to make someone smile today?
27. What could I do to bring a smile to my face today?
Hardest questions to ask yourself
This is the section where you’re going to face the questions that are hardest to ask, the ones that make you squirm, wince, or maybe even shed a tear. But here’s the thing: growth often happens outside of our comfort zones.
These questions aren’t meant to be tackled in one sitting. So, take your time. Sit with them, let them marinate. When you’re ready, peel back the layers and uncover the truths hiding beneath. If you feel you’re having a hard time with some of them, maybe you might like to consider some form of counseling or therapy.
We recommend BetterHelp for online therapy, since they offer unlimited messaging and a weekly session, and are cheaper than going to a therapist's office.
Their plans start at $64 per week. If you use this link, you get 20% off your first month at BetterHelp + a $50 coupon valid for any SocialSelf course: Click here to learn more about BetterHelp.
(To receive your $50 SocialSelf coupon, sign up with our link. Then, email BetterHelp’s order confirmation to us to receive your personal code. You can use this code for any of our courses.)
1. What am I pretending not to know?
2. Am I living true to myself, or am I living to meet others’ expectations?
3. If I died today, would I be happy with the legacy I’ve left?
4. What’s the one thing I’ve always wanted to do, but am too scared to?
5. Who am I really when no one’s watching?
6. Am I holding onto something I need to let go of?
7. If I could change one thing about myself, what would it be, and why?
8. What am I settling for?
9. Where in my life am I not taking responsibility?
10. If my life had absolutely no limits and I could have it all, what would I choose?
11. Am I using my time wisely?
12. What fear holds me back the most?
13. What’s the one thing I’d change about my past if I could?
14. Do I express my love to those who matter to me often enough?
15. Am I truly happy, or just comfortable?
16. How much am I influenced by other people’s opinions?
17. Do I care more about doing things right, or doing the right things?
18. What’s my biggest regret in life?
19. Is there someone who has hurt me that I need to forgive?
20. What am I most afraid of losing and why?
21. What am I doing that I’ll wish I hadn’t in ten years?
22. Am I too attached to my possessions?
23. What does success look like to me?
24. What’s the worst thing someone has said about me and was it true?
25. What does my heart yearn for that I’ve been ignoring?
26. To what parts of my life I’ve been really committing the best part of my energy?
Deep spiritual questions to ask yourself
Regardless of whether you follow a specific religion or just feel the pull of something bigger than us all, these questions are meant to explore the spiritual aspects of your existence.
Remember, spirituality is deeply personal. There’s no right or wrong here. It’s all about understanding your inner self better and seeking out the ethereal threads that connect us all.
1. What do I believe is the purpose of my life?
2. How do my actions align with my spiritual beliefs?
3. What does spirituality mean to me?
4. How do I connect with my spiritual self?
5. What spiritual practices or rituals do I find most fulfilling?
6. Am I more spiritual, religious, both, or neither? Why?
7. What are my beliefs about the afterlife?
8. Do I see a connection between the universe and myself?
9. What role does faith play in my life?
10. What spiritual lessons am I learning right now?
11. How do I seek solace during tough times?
12. Do I believe in fate or free will? Or a mix of both?
13. How would I describe my ‘soul’ or ‘spirit’?
14. What are my beliefs about the nature of good and evil?
15. Do I believe in a higher power? If so, how do I perceive it?
16. How do I interpret the concept of ‘karma’?
17. What are my beliefs about the connection between mind, body, and spirit?
18. What gives me a sense of peace and serenity?
19. How can I cultivate more spiritual growth?
20. What role does gratitude play in my spiritual practice?
21. What spiritual values are most important to me?
22. What does ‘enlightenment’ or ‘awakening’ mean to me?
23. Do I believe in miracles or divine intervention?
24. How does nature influence my spirituality?
Deep questions to ask yourself at the end of the year
The end of the year is the perfect pause button – a chance to look back, tally up your victories and lessons, and plan for the adventure ahead. So, grab a comfy blanket, a hot drink, and let’s stroll down memory lane together.
1. What were my top three accomplishments this year?
2. What’s one thing I learned about myself this year?
3. Did I make progress toward my long-term goals? How?
4. What’s the most important lesson I’ve learned this year?
5. Who were the most influential people in my life this year?
6. How have my relationships grown or changed over the year?
7. What are some things I’ve let go of this year?
8. What was the biggest risk I took this year?
9. In what ways did I step out of my comfort zone?
10. Did I live my values this year? How so?
11. How did I invest in my mental health this year?
12. What’s one thing I’ve changed my mind about this year?
13. How did I handle setbacks or failures?
14. What was the most challenging part of this year for me?
15. How have I grown as a person over this year?
16. What was the happiest moment of the year for me?
17. What’s something new I tried or explored this year?
18. What was my biggest time-waster this year?
19. How have I contributed to my community or the world this year?
20. Did I maintain a work-life balance?
21. What was the biggest surprise of the year?
22. What am I most grateful for this year?
23. How did I practice self-care and self-love this year?
24. What’s one thing I would do differently if I could redo this year?
25. What was my biggest mistake this year and what I learned from it?
26. What are my goals and plans for the next year?
At this point, this guide on how to set goals and make them happen might be quite helpful!
