Asking Questions

From a young age we are taught not to ask questions, but to have answers. In school we're taught to raise our hand WHILE a teacher is speaking so we can answer them. We're not listening to the teacher, we're waiting for them to call on us so we can ANSWER the question they asked / are asking.

And we're rewarded for it.

Communication is about listening. Not responding. It's about asking questions. Not having answers. Not always.

Asking questions helps us clarify what someone was thinking, helps us understand the other side of the story. Asking questions helps us form better opinions by knowing more information.

Sometimes people think it's annoying to ask questions. They think asking questions might be inappropriate. Why would we question someone who is smarter than us? Why would we try to understand something that we don't understand when someone who does understand it is telling us an answer?

Because part of understanding whether it is with politics, religion, medical opinions, feelings, relationships, projects, etc. is asking the questions you have.

People are afraid to ask questions because they don't want to look dumb. When I was younger someone told me once "there are no dumb questions".

Go out there.

Ask questions.
Ask others their opinion instead of being so quick to share yours.
Ask your Doctor questions.
Ask your family questions. Your friends, too.
Ask your church.
Ask your kids.

Ask people how they're doing? Why they're feeling the way they're feeling? What their experience is?

You can go back to the simple..

Who?
What?
Where?
When?
Why?

Forming relationships is all about understanding other people! Let's work to understand the people in our lives. Let's stop having answers and start having questions so we can form deeper, more intentional relationships with a better understanding of those around us!