31 Questions That Will Change Your Life

(from Lifehack.com) Answered by Robin Pittman 09-Aug-2013 1. Are you doing what you truly want to do? Answer: Close to what Im doing. My job stagnates here and there, and there are too many duties that dont fit with my long term plan, but it lets me develop the skills I seek. I wonder if its reaching the limit of rapid growth at this point. 2. Do you have a dream to follow? I have numerous dreams to follow a). I want to be able to make some great videos that entertain and inform many. I dont want to do it alone I want a team that I can trust to fulfill this vision, A team where we all bring out the best in each other. b) I want to keep learning I am obsessed with learning, and I love equally to share that knowledge c) I want to fix the things about the past that I am unhappy with in myself. Since I cant I want to be satisfied with what I can do about them. d)I want to sail around the world 3. Are you proud of what youre doing or what youve done? I am proud of what Im doing, and proud of what Ive done to a certain point in time. There is a point where I cant seem to be happy about any decision I made. 4. How many promises you have made and how many of them you have fulfilled? I try to keep all my promises. I dont, but I rarely make promises either. 5. Whats the one thing you really want to do but have never have done so, and why? a) Spend a week sailing b) Censored 6. Have you ever failed anyone who you loved or loved you? Yes. Definately. Its not easy to love or be loved. If you care you are constantly aware of the hurt youve caused and it is excruciating. 7. Will you take a shot if the chance of failure and success is 50-50? In the past (years ago) No I wouldnt. I weighed the risks and realized it was rarely worth it. Thats one of the big regrets. These day, Im much more inclined to take a shot. Sometimes it comes very easy, but often there are still devils/angels whispering in my ear that I have to fight.

8. If you could travel to the past in a time machine, what advice would you give to the 6-year-old you? Its okay to screw up and be silly. People will make fun of you because they are insecure and eventually you will surpass them. Stop procrastinating, but dont feel bad about lack of focus but at the same time learn to work hard, but doing things in smaller chunks rather than seeing the big picture and being overwhelmed. I believe a 6 year old me would understand this, but I doubt I would listen. Most of all it does get better, and do talk to the girls, do learn to dance, take risks and experiment to build your confidence. Ignore the caution that you were raised with (to a point). 9. Would you break the rules because of something/someone you care about? Yes. Ive always tried to understand WHY the rules exist. Sometimes they make no sense but there is a good reason from them, but just as often they exist out of laziness, control of status quo and just control of population. I follow unjust rules out of fear, not because I agree with them. I know thats weak but its who I am. I always try to understand the reasoning behind a rule, and if it is to prop up an existing power, I fight it usually through trying to education and communicate with others rather than overtly protesting. 10. Have you ever abandoned a creative idea that you believed because others thought you were a fool? Yes, but more often I have because I realized someone else was doing it first, or I grew bored and went onto something else. Usually as a result of it being overwhelmingly complex for my level of skill and my insistence that I do it alone instead of seeking a team or help. 11. What would you prefer? Stable but boring works or interesting works with lots of workload? I prefer the interesting work. I can work very hard, and very obsessively for a long time, but I really need downtime in between, particularly at a point where the work starts to show signs of repetition and stability. 12. Are you afraid of making mistakes even though theres no punishments at all? Not so much anymore. I often do things expecting to. In the past I was moreso because I punished myself mentally. 13. If you would clone yourself, which of your characteristics you wouldnt want to be cloned? I would not clone the part that has to struggle to be confident. Nor that part of me that over evaluates and too easily chooses the pessimistic choise. 14. Whats the difference between you and most of the other people? I analyze things. I love analyzing things. It makes me the least human to others. I derive great fun with always wanting to understand things thinking about and talking about it. It seems most people just want to come home, watch the game and drink a beer passively,

and whether that is true or not. I cant do that unless I am exhausted both physically and mentally. 15. Are you making some influences on the world or constantly being influenced by the world? Both though I want to feel as if I am influencing the world in some way, it is only on a small scale at best (Id love it to be bigger). I am easily influenced by ideas, and creative characters and stories, but my analytical nature puts a harsh limit on how much that influence affects my behavior or opinions. 16. The thing you cried for last time, does it matter to you now or will it matter to you 5 years later? Yes. It does matter. Some of the things Ive cried about dont but most of them still do on some level. It doesnt mean I let it hold me back. 17. Is there anything you cant let go of but you know you should? Yes. My inaction in my youth I should have stopped being the nice guy. I should have been more aggressive. I let slide many opportunities. This isnt just about girls it pertains to many things. I have a hard time letting go, but at least now I use that experience to guide me into making better decisions so I am less likely to regret what I didnt do further down the road. 18. Do you remember anyone you hated 10 years ago? Does it matter now? Yes. To the name in most cases. 10, 20, 30 years. I forgive, but I dont forget those things. Its more often worth a laugh now, but Ive learned that sometimes those hunches I have about people that I choose to ignore because they are irrational, end up being correct in the long run. So I remember. 19. What makes you happier, forgive someone or hate someone forever? Forgiving someone, but wrong me more than once or twice, and my trust is unlikely to every quite return fully in that area. Trust is something I dont give easily. 20. What are you worrying about and whats the difference if you stop worrying about it? Money, Job, dreams, sex, health, my kids long term future, the health of my marriage, my extended family. These worries are what drives me in a positive way. They aren t the worries that have me pacing and stressing out. I need them. Occasionally one or two become overwhelming thats when theres a problem. 21. If youd die now, do you have any regrets? Not seeing my kids grow up. I could regret not having achieved many other goals that feel more significant at the moment but this would exceed exponentially any of them. 22. Which one would you prefer, having a luxurious trip alone or having a picnic with people you love? Tough one.

23. Who do you admire and why? My wife Shes taught me many things. I dont know what Ive taught her. My kids, they teach me every day and they are an inspiration. My father for fallowing through on things even though I believe he chose the wrong path in life at times. People who arent afraid to follow their passions no matter what, but at the same time stop to help others. I dislike those who follow dreams at all costs or without realizing who they may be hurting.

24. Is there anyone who inspired you and made you who you are today? My father. I grew up hating him half the time, but hes the only person I know who thinks like I do. I believe even having the same stunted mental growth as myself. My wife has been a strong influence in my later years. 25. Whats the thing youre most satisfied with? I am most satisfied with my desire to learn and teach things. Somewhat satisfied with my increasing willingness to take moderate risks to improve who I am. 26. When was the last time you laughed and what did you laugh at? I laugh all the time. I laugh quite easily. For such an intense mind, I laugh at the stupidest things. Its really helpful. 27. Are you doing anything which makes you and people around you happy? Sometimes. I dont know right now. 28. Is there anyone who you love or loves you? I love my wife and kids. I think my wife loves me. Im sure my kids do. 29. When was the last time you really talked with your parents/family? Recently. A lot. Too much. Its half the sorce of the stress in my life (or maybe more). 30. If happiness is a currency, how rich do you think you are? Today Im broke. Overall I think Im doing pretty well but the last couple of years have been a test and its directly related to real currency. Money doesnt by happiness but when you have to work too much and cant be with the ones you love, happiness definitely declines.
31. If todays the end of the world, whatd you do?

I would spend it close to my kids and wife. I would be sad for them, but on some level Id be happy that it was all over, but not for them. Id be most upset about them no longer having a chance to follow their dreams. Id definitely be upset I have many dreams I want to follow, but Im almost feeling like its time to pass the torch to them thats a feeling Im hoping goes away soon, because I really want to keep on dreaming.