I love processes and habits. 

They help me keep moving forward even when I’m not motivated, save my energy and brain power for challenges that need solutions, and create consistency. 

I also like to try things I learn about, so I’m constantly improving myself, my processes, and my habits. 

When I try something new, and it works better than what I had before, I like to turn it into a process and then a habit, so it just happens.  

That is how these two questions became an important part of my day.  

The first question I ask at the start of each workday, and the second is the one I finish each workday with. 

What do I need to let go of?

After my morning routine (focusing on my Mind, Body, and Soul) and getting ready for the day, I grab tea and water and sit down at my desk. 

My very first task is my day open process.   The first thing I do in the day open process is answer this important question:  “What do I need to let go of?”  

Have you ever found yourself ruminating over something you said (or didn’t say) or something you did (or didn’t do)?   Have you ever realized that you have repeatedly replayed an event in your mind? Or maybe you catch your inner critic being critical over something you didn’t do?  

Whatever it is, that is the thing that I have to let go of. If I don’t let it go, it will ruin my day.  

There is a quote that floats around social media “Don’t ruin a good today by thinking about a bad yesterday. Let it go.” 

This question is all about that quote. 

Once I document what is hanging on to me, it just releases. Maybe writing it down helps, or perhaps it is because that question permits me to let it go and release it. Regardless of how it works, it works, and I use it daily.  

I like to start the day with a clean slate, and anything still lingering from the day before or the morning is released before I start my new work day.  

Where was I uncomfortable?

The second question I ask myself daily happens at the end of my work day.  

Just like I have a day open process, I have a day close process. 

The day open and close processes signal me that my day has begun and is a sign it has started. (It replaces driving to the office and driving home).  

In my day-close process, I ask myself three questions. All three are great questions (or I wouldn’t spend time on them), but only one is what I would classify as an important question. 

I ask myself, where was I uncomfortable today? 

I like this question for two reasons. First, it helps identify areas where I may need help or support. 

It may be an area I need to do additional training in or outsource. Regardless, it’s an area that needs attention. 

The second reason I love this question is that it often uncovers areas I’m procrastinating or self-sabotaging. It means that I may have a belief about myself that is not true or an inner conflict.   These are things that I need to work on with my coach.  

Because I am living it, I often can’t figure it out on my own, but by bringing it to my coach, they usually ask me questions that bring things to the surface, and then I can address them. 

Either way, this question has guided me in many ways.  

Do you have questions that you ask yourself regularly? What do you think of these two questions? Will you adopt them as part of your process?  

If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first 55 minutes detmining the proper question to ask, for once I know the proper question, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes.

Albert Einstein

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