Deep Questions

One of the most memorable class openings I had in my Master's program was when the teacher opened the session by asking us all to take a few minutes and reflect on the question: "what would you do today if you were BRAVE?"

We all sat in silence and thought about this seemingly simple question. But this question led to so many other questions. How much do I share? I real do I want to be? Why do I care about what the others think about me? Why am I not doing this thing that I would do if I were brave? Am I brave?

We then went around the room, "popcorn style" and shared our answers. Some were incredibly heavy and brought tears to the respondent's eyes. Others were lighthearted. At least one person said they'd stand up and leave class!

But ultimately, this question, its subsequent reflection, and the sharing of our answers was vulnerable and real. It brought us together and gave each of us a glimpse into our classmates' lives. We stepped away knowing a little more about each other, where we were coming from, and our deepest desires for the future.

Here is a list of other questions that might spark similar introspection and group cohesion:

If this meeting/class was cancelled, what would you do with this time?

If you won the lottery today, what is the first thing you'd do?

If you were awarded two around the world tickets, where would you go and with whom?

Who are you most grateful for in your life today, and why? (maybe you should tell them)

How would you describe yourself in 10 words, without mentioning your career?

What is your dream for your future?