A Tony Robbins Moment

Tony Robbins speaking at TED in 2006.

Why Questions Matter

I enjoy Tony Robbins - even if he does have a bit of a potty mouth in the above video. I like his approach to problem solving - and I respect his intimate understanding of people’s behavior. Afterall - my background is in Psychology. But I think I like Tony most because he reminds us that we’re in control of our own destiny - and not the other way around.

One of his most popular techniques involves asking questions. The premise goes something like this: Our brain will come up with an answer to any question we ask. So if we ask things like, “Why Do I Always Fail?” or “Why am I such a Loser?” our brain gives us an answer. “You always fail because you’re such a loser.”

But here’s the thing. This whole question and answer bit can work in our favor - if we know the right questions to ask. So instead of asking for answers to questions that leave us feeling depressed and overwhelmed - why not change our focus and ask questions that will leave us with empowering answers. Questions like: “How can I use my skills to turn this situation around?” or “What can I do to add value to my life and the life of those around me?” See the difference? Different questions - Better results.

Here are 7 Morning Power Questions that Tony Recommends:

1. What am I happy about in my life now?
2. What am I excited about in my life now?
3. What am I proud about in my life now?
4. What am I grateful about in my life now?
5. What am I enjoying most in my life right now?
6. What am I committed to in my life right now?
7. Who do I love? Who loves me?

BONUS: Here are 5 Problem Solving Questions to help you turn any situation around

1. What is great about this problem?
2. What is not perfect yet?
3. What am I willing to do to make it the way I want it?
4. What am I willing to no longer do in order to make it the way I want it?
5. How can I enjoy the process while I do what is necessary to make it the way I want it?

Transformational Vocabulary

Another popular technique that Tony uses in his programs is something called: Transformational Vocabulary.

“Simply by changing your habitual vocabulary - the words you consistently use to describe the emotions of your life - you can instantaneously change how you think, how you feel, and how you live.” ~Tony Robbins

Chances are that you only have a limited vocabulary when it comes to describing what your feeling. Words like Angry, Happy, Excited, Nervous, Guilty, Scared, Furious, Depressed, Exhausted or Bored. What if you could expand your feelings vocabulary - and instead of being Angry you could be “Disenchanted” - and instead of Depressed you could be “On the road to a turn around” - or maybe instead of Scared you could be “Excited” or “Curious”. See the difference? Your words have meaning - so choose them wisely.

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