13 Questions To Answer Before You Die

This is for the readers out there that believe that the quality of your life is determined by the quality of the questions you ask. The leaders who believe a company can transform their future with a single question. The deep thinkers that live by the power of inquiry. The ones who Start With Why.

A few years back the NYT put out an article called 36 Questions That Lead To Love. Of course, we’re all searching for love in some form or another, so it’s not surprising that the questions went viral. I wasn’t surprised for a different reason – because questions are so incredibly powerful that when asked with intention and care, they’re transformational. Life-changing. Unbelievably powerful in shaping how we view our past, how we experience our present, and what we build into our futures.

A few months ago, I wrote an article called 36 Questions To Live Longer, where my friend and founder of Big Talk, Kalina Silverman, and I put our heads together around the science of how meaningful conversations, connections, and relationships lead to longer and healthier lives. We’ve received incredible feedback from readers trying these questions with their loved ones, friends, and colleagues – another testament to the power of well-constructed questions.

Of late, I have been thinking about What Is A Life Worth Living? I wrote my answer to this question here. It sparked a lot of responses where readers messaged me saying that they turned this question into a writing exercise for themselves, and how thinking through their own responses has actually impacted how they live their lives.

So in that vein, I have been pondering, what are the questions I want to answer before I die? The ones worth truly contemplating deeply, the ones worth writing down. The ones worth revisiting.

I came up with 13. 13 Questions To Answer Before We Die. For you to explore, on a date night with your loved one. With a friend. With parents. With a colleague. In deep contemplation on your own, with your internal self. As a writing exercise. Please use these questions however you wish. My small ask: if these questions create transformation and impact in your life, please share your story with me.

1. What is a life worth living?
2. What is the world I want to create?
3. In what capacity / role can I best leverage my gifts to create a better future for humanity?
4. What do I really care about?
5. What are my core values?
6. What do I do daily that is in alignment w my values? What is not in my alignment w my values?
7. What am I becoming?
8. Do I want children? Why or why not?
9. What must I learn before I die?
10. What mental prisons constrain my possibilities?
11. What do I believe in?
12. What future state for humanity am I creating with my actions?
13. How do I create value for those I love and care for?

If you have more questions you think should be on this list, please reach out – I’d love to add.

“we make our world significant by the courage of our questions and the depth of our answers.” ― Carl Sagan, Cosmos