Beautiful Questions

A few years ago a friend of mine introduced me to the podcast (I love podcasts btw..) On being with Krista Tippett. Almost every week she releases a thoughtful look at things of a spiritual nature. She will interview poets, writers, spiritual leaders, etc.  I would not describe myself as a spiritual person but I really enjoy the hour or so I spend listening.  

 Her last podcast featured David Whyte who is a poet and an associate fellow at Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. He is an author and a poet.I highly recommend listening (and certainly subscribing) or reading the transcript.

There was a particular part that has caused me to really ponder – it is the following exchange:

Ms. Tippett: Also, one way I’ve come to think about questions, the power of questions, is that questions elicit answers in their likeness. You call forth something beautiful by asking a beautiful question.

Mr. Whyte: Yes, you do. And then the other part of it, too, is that there’s this kind of weighted silence behind each question. To live with that sense of trepidation — what I call beautiful trepidation — the sense of something about to happen that you’ve wanted but that you’re scared to death of actually happening. [laughs] None of us really feel we deserve our happiness.

David Whyte elaborates that no matter what circumstance we find ourselves in – that asking beautiful questions shapes a beautiful mind. The act of asking beautiful questions oftentimes in unbeautiful moments is one of the greatest disciplines of human life. Just keep asking before we know it you”ll find your life changing, a shifting of perspective and a new path in life.

There have been many times in life that I am afraid to ask questions.

1- I don’t want to look the part of a fool.

2- I’m afraid of an honest response.

3- I’m afraid that my worldview will be changed by new information or a different perspective.

4- The vulnerability of opening yourself to questions may cause pain.

There are so many questions in my life that I am afraid of the answers too.

1- What would happen if people were honest with me about the way they see me?

2- Why am I so afraid of failure?

3- Have I been the husband that has done a service to his children?

4- What if my health fails me?

So many questions…