What is the meaning of inquiry?

Inquiry means to question. It is the process by which we find insight.

Inquiry is an investigation, a seeking after. It is a tool that drives knowledge.

As one person once said, the more you know, the more you grow.

 And in the words of another,

“Part of being successful is about asking questions and listening to the answers.” Anne Burrell

The Purpose of this Series

So, this series touches on some of the most important points of inquiry one will put forth in their life. With great hope, this series may guide you into asking better questions. Or, it may also help you determine which question you should be asking to move forward and live your best life. Whatever measure you might find this useful, hopefully, it serves to motivate you.

Six Major Investigative Questions

There are six major investigative questions, as most of us have learned from our grade school studies. Those questions are what, why, when, where, who, and how? And as an extra measure, I included the question, what if at the start of this series.

Exploring the question, what.

What is an inquiry of direction? It is the question one poses when definition or clarity is needed.

In life, one must remember that it is impossible to go anywhere or accomplish anything unless they have defined their what.

And, so it is, what becomes one of the most important guiding questions on the path to success.

Very Little Clarity at the Start

Starting is never as simple as it seems. You might not always have everything figured out when you start on a path. In fact, you may be very confused because acclimation is a process.

And confirmation often comes after the start.

That is why “what” is one of the best questions one can ask when setting on a path to better understanding?

The Role of Inquiry in Finding our Identity

In all our lives, we have a period of learning ourselves. This period starts when we become toddlers and start exploring our world.

We then seek to understand how and where we fit in.

Funny enough, before we can completely understand ourselves and how we relate to our environments, one of the first questions we are asked is, what do we want to be when we grow up?

At the time of such an inquisition, it is rare that we even have an inkling of who we desire to be. So we go by the things we observe, the things most prevalent in our environments. That is how we determine our choice.

Our initial selection rarely becomes our last!

Sometimes it takes a lifetime to discover what we want or are meant to become.

We look at our world, our separate environments for markers, for cues to help us determine what is possible and acceptable. And, if the things that fill our imagination neither seem possible nor acceptable, we reshape our aim.

This is sad, but that is how we come to choose our paths. Fortunately, there is a silver lining.

Things don’t have to remain the way they were.

Never too Late to Find Your What?

Yes, much of what you want is shaped by your environment and peers, which can be stifling.

But it’s never too late to make alterations.

Because fortunately, if you want something enough, you have the power to shape your reality to match your desires rather than bowing to what you have been taught to believe was an impossibility.

However, this requires a constant re-examination, asking oneself,

Is this what I really want? And then what can I do about what I have discovered?

Trust that If you want to live a fulfilled life, what is a question you cannot avoid asking?

Being Earnest About Going Forward

You must be earnest with yourself!

As Stephen Covey proclaimed

“Self-awareness involves deep personal honesty. It comes from asking and answering hard questions.

As you become more earnest with yourself and your desires and set your path, you will feel a sense of liberation.

Why? Because when you discover your what, you will also find your truth. And subsequently, everything else will flow.

• You will no longer need to find the motivation.
• The approval once sought from others, you will no longer need.
• You will live authentically in your calling.

So, I urge you to constantly check in with yourself.

If you are restless, ask yourself, am I doing what I desire to do?

If you find yourself coasting, ask yourself, is what I’m doing challenging me? What can I do to live a more fruitful existence?

If you find your life is mundane and repetitive. Ask yourself, what greater purpose could I be fulfilling?

Once you have discovered what that is, you will know it.

And at that moment, you will find fulfillment.

That is not to say that it will be easy, but it will be worth it!