[Neurons] 2018 Neurons #28 THINKING AS QUESTIONING

[Michael Hall]

From: L. Michael Hall

2018 Neurons #28

July 2, 2018

              

 THINKING AS QUESTIONING

 

What is thinking?  One answer is that it is representation.  That's because
you think by representing something in your mind by using the
sensory-systems so that you see, hear, sense, smell, taste, or give words to
your thoughts.  The representational systems comprise the human code of
"thought."  Do you want to change a thought?  Change how you represent
things.

 

Another answer is that it is questioning.  True enough, we mostly
conceptualize thinking and thoughts in terms of answers and yet where there
is an answer, there is a question. Now we know that ideas, concepts,
beliefs, understanding, etc. that you come up with, and think in your mind,
are representational statements.  Yet what is a statement but an "answer" to
a concern (a question) that you are thinking about?  So regarding these
propositional statements (ideas, beliefs, premises, etc.), how far fetched
would it be to consider that they imply answers?

 

Test it.  Take a definitive statement such as, "That's the way to the mall."
Could that actually imply a question like, "What is the way to the mall?"
Or consider this one, "Wow!  He really slugged that ball when he hit it."
Could that imply questions such as, "Did he hit the ball?"  "How well did he
hit it?"

 

Now while I don't know that we can say that all thinking involves
questioning, its obvious that a lot of thinking is actually questioning.
Maybe even most thinking is actually an internal questioning that seeks
answers.  Given this, then to think is to question.  What we call thinking
inherently asking and answering questions.  It's what we do in our minds.
Yet this facet of thinking is mostly outside of conscious awareness.
Focusing, as we do, on the answers- we hardly notice the questions that call
forth the answers.  Yet they are there and they are directing our focus, our
perceiving, our understanding, and our answers.

 

Let's now get personal.  What hidden questions are you asking-and-answering
in your mind as you "think?"  Do you know?  Do you know how to know?
Whatever it is- that meaning-making process is actually key to all of your
experiences and the very quality of your life.  In NLP we say that
"questions directionalize the brain," that is, questions give your brain a
direction in which to go.  "What model of car is that?"  "Are there more
women then men in that room?"  We also know that questions create your
focus- what you pay attention to.  They define the very meanings
(understandings, beliefs, values, etc.) that you are creating.

 

But all questions are not created equal.   Some questions are empowering and
bring out your best and some questions are dis-empowering and undermine your
effectiveness.  Questions can be terrible and toxic and they also can be
brilliant and enlightening.  What are yours?  Here are some examples of
dis-empowering questions that if you give these to your brain- you'll create
lots of misery and pain:

It never works out for me, so what's the use of trying?          

Why do these kinds of terrible things always happen to me?

How could he do that to me?

Why does life have to be so unfair and cruel?

 

Conversely, here are some examples of wonderful questions that you're brain
will love answering and in the process will mobilize your creativity:

What am I learning from this that will build up new resources?

What can I do today that will increase my effectiveness and productivity? 

What can I enjoy today and use to be happy about?

How can I add more value to what I'm doing?

Who do I love and how can I be a better lover?

              What changes would I like to make that will make me a more
grateful person?

 

It is precisely because questions are so powerful in creating meaning,
establishing a direction in life, accessing internal and external resources,
etc. that we put a lot of emphasis on the quality of questions in NLP and
Meta-Coaching trainings.  After all, what is the Meta-Model but a set of
questions?  Questions that are designed to enable a person to think
critically and creatively and thereby generate a mental model that is more
accurate, precise, and effective.

 

In the movie, The Matrix, Trinity said to Neo, "It's the question that
drives us."  That's what questions do- they establish a drive within us.
Because of that we use "the core question" (a NLP technique that arose in
the 1980s) in our Trainers' Training to provide trainers a powerful personal
direction when training Core Question.  This is a process for flushing out
the driving questions currently in the back of your mind.  Then you can run
a quality control on the question.

 

To elicit a core question, ask, "If your presentation was the answer to a
question, what's the question?"  Unuseful and even toxic questions are like
these: "How can I impress my audience with my brilliance?"  "How can I avoid
making a mistake and looking like a fool?"  More useful and empowering
questions are like these: "How can I present this so everyone learns easily
and has lots of fun?"  "How much more value can I add to this presentation?"

 

The bottom line?  To change your life, change your question.  Take on new
empowering questions that will establish a new orientation and give you more
joy and peace and love in life.  Questions are that powerful.  Or maybe I
should write, "Do you know how powerful questions can be?  Are you ready to
develop some truly brilliant questions that will orient you in new and
exciting ways?  What would be the most fascinating question that you could
plant in your mind today that would unleash you to be more authentic,
caring, and committed?"

 

For Meta-Model questions, get the book Communication Magic (2001) and for
Critical thinking, get Executive Thinking (2018).  See
<http://www.neurosemantics.c/> www.neurosemantics.com to order.

 

 

 

 




 

 

L. Michael Hall, Ph.D., Executive Director 

Neuro-Semantics 

P.O. Box 8

Clifton, CO. 81520 USA                             

               1 970-523-7877 

                    Dr. Hall's email:
<mailto:meta at acsol.net\hich\af31506\dbch\af31505\loch\f31506> meta at acsol.net


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Dr. L. Michael Hall writes a post on "Neurons" each Monday.  For a free
subscription, sign up on www.neurosemantics.com.   On that website you can
click on Meta-Coaching for detailed information and training schedule.   To
find a Meta-Coach see  <http://www.metacoachfoundation.org>
www.metacoachfoundation.org.   For Neuro-Semantic Publications --- click
"Products," there is also a catalog of books that you can download.   

 

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