Plenty of topics and things could be used as good conversation starters. Take, for instance, basic get-to-know-you questions. These babies are as universal as they can get!
Then, of course, a conversation might start with your cowboy boots worn to a UN assembly or something. And although the last one seems like a fun idea, we know an even better one - thought-provoking questions! Not to be confused with provocative questions, though. So, if you’re looking for some interesting questions to ask your S.O., your friends, your granny, or anyone, really, you’ve come to the exact right place. Yup, this is our list of thought-provoking questions, and with them, you’ll never run out of things to discuss!
Yeah, we know that it is sometimes hard to keep a conversation going, especially if you find yourself digging through your cranium, which suddenly seems as empty as a decorative vase placed in your granny’s cupboard for god knows how long. And since we know the situation painfully well, we’ve gathered these smart questions to ask in one place, so neither of us will have to endure the embarrassment, not once again.
Also, if a more dreaded situation occurs, one where it is expected from you to provide some comedic relief, there are also some pretty funny thought-provoking questions here, too. This way, you can provide those lusted-for ha-ha’s and start a conversation. Win-win!
So, ready to check out our list of meaningful questions suitable for any occasion? Let’s get going, then! The questions are just a bit further down, and once you read them all, give your vote to the ones you’d like to answer the most. After that’s all done, share this article with your friends!
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Thought-Provoking Questions About Life, Purpose, And Meaning
Do you have a voice inside your head?
To the people that dont: Pls bestow me with your talent, or atleast some of it. I want to not have a constant voice
Of course. I think everyone does, its just that some of us actually have a conversation with it.
I hope we ALL have a voice inside our heads- our own. It's called thinking.
Not everyone does though actually. I don't recall what its called, but, it is related to what some folks have: people who cannot visualize anything have what is called "aphantasia". There are also people who cannot understand music (i.e.; cannot follow the pitch, tone, rhythm, or any other aspects of music), and they have "amusia".
Load More Replies...What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
Nothing. I never really gave much credence to those needing to judge others.
Id be the same... i didnt care for their judgment before so now i just continue my life :3
I really don't care what other people think of me and my life is far better that way.
Which is worse, failing or never trying?
Both really suck, but never trying. The anxiety before the point finally passed, then you just feel like more of a failure because you never took the shot. It's...it just sucks.
Would you rather have more time for yourself or have more money?
It does. Think about it - you either spend your time cleaning, cooking, etc, or if you pay someone to do it (more money) then you don't have to and therefore have more time for yourself.
Load More Replies...Money. Otherwise all my time to myself would be spent worrying about how I need more money.
Time... i dont care for money plus id like to hang out with peeps
Actually, I have a sufficient amount of both that allows me to be quite content with my Life.
Money. I never have time for myself, but that wouldn't get me money to keep the time for myself.
I think the response depends on who you ask. Someone could choose money because it can solve many problems even if then you have no time to truly enjoy it. But if you have already enough money but you are too busy to enjoy it, time will be always the best choice.
I think these are positively correlated. If I had more money, I would also have more time. As it is right now, I have no money and no income so all my time is taken up by searching for a means to get more money (and on BP when I take a break from career hunting 😉). More money = more time for myself. But then it also depends a bit on HOW MUCH MORE money we are talking about. $100 more is not worth it, but $10,000 more, IS.
If you could travel back in time, what would you change?
The paradox is that right now, you are aware of the actions of someone like Hitler. So if you go back in time and murder him before he commits his atrocities, so far so good, Hitler is dead and therefore no Holocaust. Great, right? Wrong. In order to go back in time and kill him, you first had to know about him. If you prevent the atrocities by killing him, there is no way that future-you would know or care about one A. Hitler, murdered in the 1930s. So you would pick something else to change in the past. But that can't happen, because you MUST kill Hitler so he DOESN'T commit the atrocities that YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT. Simple.
Get rid of religion. It's kept women in the dark for centuries, given GUYS a massive head and ego, made the world a terrible place. Yeah, get rid of it.
Religions set limits anything out of limits will cost
Load More Replies...I would take us back to a fair barter system for goods and services, and prevent money from ever becoming a thing.
Yeah , why having a tender that have a prestablished value that can be exchanged for anything, when you barter in arbitrary values, Why having the efficiency of universal exchange tender when you can a complex system where each person have to look for the people that only have what you want but also want wherever you have..
Load More Replies...Is intentionally harming one for the good of the majority ethical?
Yes if there's no option or if necessary. If that is me I would definitely give sacrifice
That's how all of our beauty products are. Sure they can claim they don't test on animals anymore, but what people volunteer? Almost no one, and then they need to pay them too.
If the average human lifespan was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?
Lol, I'm way over 40, I guess my ashes would be fine whererever they were ☠️
Load More Replies...Since my life is so tied to how everyone else sees me, guess I'd just die like how I said earlier.
Does fate exist?
According to you, what are the three main disadvantages of the modern world we live in?
Stupidity, entitlement and access to internet without psychological approval.
enjoying each other's company and doing stuff without stupid cell phones in our hands and face all the time
Cut throat competition, stupidity and closed mindedness about others, and too many people which means not enough interconnectedness.
1. Everything is on social media, including some business websites. This requires someone to actually have said social media to access information about the business (BP is all I use for social media). EXTREMELY annoying! 2. Convenience has made people less intelligent and lazy. 3. You need at least a master's degree to be taken seriously anymore, which I think is b******t, because there are so many folks with degrees that the job market is saturated with knowledgeable people that job competition is ridiculously high. We are heading for an economic crash because our current state of affairs is not sustainable for us now and for future generations. AND we are burning our planet to ash at the same time. Simply put, we're f***ed.
Your 3rd point is a good one, but that's exactly the idea. If there's more competition, salaries go down
Load More Replies...What job would you never accept (regardless of the salary)?
Modeling, stripping. I have nothing against modeling itself but the path is dirty
Anything in the hospital. Helping people is fine, but I wouldn't wanna deal with what they do. Majority of them are absolute angels, everyone from the highly respected surgeons to the little thought of janitors.
But then u can help animals by finding them new homes...Not Saying Animal Control Is Good
Load More Replies...Social Worker. Trying to assess and find the best possible outcome for a child must be so hard. Sometimes, taking a vulnerable child out of an abusive family only to see them dumped in the care system, must be heartbreaking. Whatever they decide is often the lesser of two evils and it's usually the social worker that gets thrown under the bus when things go wrong. Shout out to all the social workers doing a great, but hard, job. I couldn't do it, I'd be too emotional. I'm just glad that some very special people can find the strength to help these kids.
Would you break the law to save a loved one?
Depending on circumstances. Sometimes if you break the law to save a life, you haven't broken the law. It's an extension of self-defence.
It depends on the law I would be breaking. I like to think that I would, but I can't really know for sure. I have called the cops on my step dad for driving drunk. He lost his licence for a full year and had to go to court and a whole bunch of other s**t. I don't regret it one bit.
When do you feel most alive?
On a fall day, feeling the cold gentle wind blowing while the sun delicately warms my skin and thinking about all the normal autumn colors, hearing the birds chirp, listening to the crackling of the wind blowing the dead leaves off trees. Maybe bring a little sprinkle of rain in there and me holding a warm cup of coffee.
Does social media have a positive or negative impact on you?
In general I use SoMe to find fun stuff and be inspired to read about topics or ppl I didn't know about before (I am looking at you BP, tumblr and pinterest). Also inspiration for my bullet journals. So that makes a positive impact on me. What makes a bad impact is seeing updates on people's fake lives (those that suit their insta-persona) and ppl commenting about how they think they are better than other people. Debates that go out of hand, ppl that are over-sensitive to soooo many topics, trolling etc. I don't like that part of SoMe. It makes me frustrated and sad.
Bored Panda - I would like to think POSITIVE. That's why I'm here, hello :)
Both. Facebook made me more depressed, but without some conversational websites, I would be utterly mentally alone.
I got rid of all the socials that were negatively impacting my mental health so I'd say positive
If used correctly, it's absolutely positive. The problem is 1- absurd and ideologized moderators; 2- lack of empathy, permanent confrontation; 3- General stupidity; 4- Excess of advertising.
Both but it really depends on the day. I only have BP for social media, but I do find myself using it to detract from what I need to be doing (i.e.; reading articles in preparation of my upcoming midterm) sometimes. Other times I learn something new or see pictures of a place I've never been and feel awe at our home planet.
Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?
Alone, in a ditch, during winter, cold and slowly losing consciousness.
When I was a kid, I became convinced I'd die in a fire.. I used to practice getting out if my house in case I couldn't see because of smoke (I mean daily). Now I'm pretty sure I'll die of a stroke . It's the cause of death for most chronic migraine sufferers. I just hope it's one massive stroke and not a disabling one first.
Thought-Provoking Questions To Spark Deep Conversations
Is there something that you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you done it?
Because people don't trust that I'd be a hard worker and do my best, with my best not needing too many tweaks.
Do you think in pictures?
depends. if I'm just thinking usually not. If I'm trying to remember something then yes, I think in pictures
Some people think in written words, some in an internal monologue. Some people can't visualise pictures at all; this is called aphantasia.
Load More Replies...If a doctor gave you five years to live, what would you try to accomplish?
Nothing. I'm not in a position to be able to accomplish anything in 5 years. Besides, I'm more likely to be smacked by a person turning the corner of the intersection I'm crossing than to die by a disease.
When you close your eyes what do you see?
Blackness except when I have a migraine then it's black with a kaleidoscope of colors
The question is: what do BLIND people see when they close their eyes? Is their perception any different?
Closed-eye hallucinations are patterns, shapes, and colors you may witness when you shut your eyes. In most cases, these are harmless and aren’t a cause for concern. Some cases are related to medical conditions that require treatment, though. For instance when they are accompanied by other unexplained symptoms, or if a patient is experiencing significant cognitive, vision, or mood changes.
Load More Replies...Would you ever choose immortality if you could?
Noooooooooooooooooooot unless everuone could be immortal with me... or atleast my dog
Nope. I don't want to see the sun destroy a world I would have gotten comfy to
No, I would not. Having to watch everything I know and love age and die while I endured through eternity would be the worst kind of hell imaginable.
Immortality in the same body, no. I'll keep to immortality of the soul. This way, I will experience life from different perspectives and though I don't remember those perspectives from previous lives, I remember them after my body dies, so I can choose a new life to experience in my next life, if I have one. Right now I'm an ethereal being living a human experience, and I'm enjoying its struggles and accomplishments.
Where do you find peace?
One of the nearby lakes is my favorite peaceful place. The water is shallow and warm and a blast to swim or float in. It closes right after Labor Day though. Otherwise I have this amazing view of a little valley surrounded by rolling hills and tree covered mountains. In the morning there are often deer bedded down right outside my window and the most delicious fog rolls through. In the evening the sunsets are glorious. Im sure in 15 or 20 years the area will be filled with housing but I feel super blessed to have this view right now.
Peace is not a thing you find somewhere or with someone, is a state of mind you reach. After that, you will be at peace no matter what. And that's the true peace, because it comes from yourself.
What is the one thing that you do today but you couldn’t do two years ago?
Do you think conflict is a bad thing?
Conflict is inevitable to, and ubiquitous in the human condition. It is the tension which allows us to exist, to persevere, to survive. Humans thrive on conflict whether it is human against themself, human against other humans, or human against nature. Conflict is necessary. There would be no heroes without conflict. Without conflict we would be blobs of indecisive goo in a lukewarm ocean of mediocrity.
Yes and no... if its a disagreement about fav food or somethin than no .....anything doing with violence 1milion yeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssseeeeeeeesssssssssss
Without conflict, we can't enjoy times of peace. That being said, not being taught how to deal with conflict is a bad thing.
In the wrong hands, yes. In the right hands, no. We need conflict to stop bad people from doing bad things. It would be nice to see more people shrug their shoulders and just agree to disagree, rather than starting a war though. We're currently experiencing some Muslim vs. Hindu trouble in Leicester, UK right now. I don't know what they hope to achieve. When the dust settles, the Muslims will still be Muslims and the Hindus will still be Hindus. Nobody is going to change their religion because you hit them with a piece of concrete. Why we can't all just get along baffles me.
Would you rather choose to be in an asylum or prison?
There are nicer “club fed” prisons, but some rehab centers are like luxury resorts
Prison. At least I wouldn't be medicated out of my gourd. And, maybe I could get a degree.
What hard truths do you prefer to ignore?
I think an issue I have is that I don't ignore enough of them. It makes me anxious and just collapse with guilt and shame.
None. It's the hardest truths that lead to the most growth. Too often we have to water down the truth so people don't get 'offended'. Too many hard truths are being ignored because of that.
Have you ever regretted something you did not say or do?
Why must you love someone enough to let them go?
For me, it was a "gotta be cruel to be kind" thing. Ed wasn't telling his family about his orientation, even though they'd made it clear they all loved his uncle who's gay, he wasn't telling them about his suicidal ideations, and he was constantly lying to himself about not needing a therapist. I was supposed to be the girlfriend, not the therapist, and until he didn't have me, he would never understand. I think there's still some resentment there, but he's on meds now, open entirely with his family, and is working under his dad, who understands what he needs and will give him that, but also encourage him to be his best person. If I'd stuck it out, we would both still be miserable.
Do you exist before you were born?
Really, the answer to that is dependant on ones own belief system. It can differ, too, if one is asking about biological existence, or if referring to ones soul/spirit/what-have-you. Even the same person can answer differently if they have a religious/spiritual believe and they choose to answer based on that belief, or their scientific knowledge.
Biologically, perhaps our existence is the latest incarnation of our DNA which stretches back to the very first Homo Sapiens and beyond. Existentially, perhaps the body is merely a vessel which carries the soul (or whatever you choose to call it). If that is the case, then we are led towards the mysteries of reincarnation or how to define the essence of a person. When we die, that essence seemingly leaves us, as a driver leaves a car. But where does it go?
It goes to heaven and/or hell till judgement day. Till then you'll be given some taste of your own medicine. You will have to spend time in grave(or where was your resting place) paying for your bad deeds(everyone has done something wrong we are not perfect) so after that you will be waiting for judgement day. On Judgement Day you will be given final decision and sent to either hell or heaven. You might still have to spend sometime in hell if the bad deeds still haven't been repayed
Load More Replies...If actions speak louder than words, is speaking an action?
Yes. Since 'speak' is a verb, and a verb is an action word it follows that speaking is an action. On the other hand 'action' is a noun rather than a verb although the definition of this noun is 'doing something' and 'do' is a verb. Theoretically the phrase might be flipped to "Words speak louder than actions" but what fun would that be?
Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?
If you had a friend who spoke to you in the same way that you sometimes speak to yourself, how long would you allow this person to be your friend?
I don't talk to myself. Once that dam breaks...I don't think I'm coming back.
Personal Growth Through Thought-Provoking Questions
When you are 80-years-old, what will matter to you the most?
I'm not making it that long. That being said, who's gonna take care of my cats then
How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
Is it ever OK to hurt someone?
By the words of Johnny Cash "I hurt myself today / To see if I still feel" 🎶
Original by Nine inch nails.. That is THE BEST cover I've ever heard, out of all the covers that exist. Cash OBLITERATED the original version. I cry every time I hear it
Load More Replies...Nooooooooooooooooot unless theres no other sane way to help others
If someone's about to send nukes all over the planet and someone else shoots them dead, I think I'd be celebrating the death of the nuke maniac and celebrating the shooter.
What small act of kindness were you once shown that you will never forget?
This one makes me cry every time. I was hanging out with my friend, asked if I could spend the night, was told no for no reason, then was given five minutes to get back to the house before I'd get in trouble. I was trying to hold back the resentment and anger, and my friend's mom just put her hand on my shoulder. Around 13 years old, and that was the first sign I'd ever gotten of motherly affection. I cried right at that point. It was the first time someone had ever looked past my immediately emotions to the pain I was in and acted upon it. And it'll probably be the only time it ever happens...
I was moving into a flat in a really rough part of town - the roughest, by reputation, in the city, but it was all I could afford. As I'm moving my stuff into the first floor flat, a door opens and a head pops out. I expect the worst. Instead, this lovely chap asks if I'm his new neighbour and do I need a hand with anything. After everything is in, he breaks out a four-pack and we seal our new friendship with a nice, cold beer. The guy was broke, living in a sh!tty flat, on benefits and he happily handed his new neighbour two of his last four beers. I swear, the people with the least, give the most. He also gave me a door once, but that's another story.
Would you rather lose all of your old memories or never be able to make new ones?
This is hard... my personality comes from my old ones sooooo uhhhmmmm... aaaaaaaaa
I have pictures of my cats from before, so I'd still appreciate them. I'd understand they were important or why would I have them framed, but I just wouldn't exactly understand. And I think they wouldn't be upset with me choosing to lose my old memories.
No new ones. The old memories are important and help inform who I am and how I behave in the world. I don't know anything about tomorrow, and I know now, because of my memories and how I've reacted to situations, that I'm mostly a good person. I don't want to change or lose that. I COULD become a better person, but I could also become really cold and shitty.
What does love feel like?
Like the damn butterflies would better calm the f down or I'll throw up.
Honestly...about 10 pounds and super soft, with a cry that's sweet and squeaky.
The most wonderful, exhilarating, exasperating, and devastating experience. It's like being hit by a Mack truck but you only feel the collision for a femtosecond and then suddenly everything makes sense and you feel lighter than air but still solid. Suddenly the flow of the universe feels real and you can physical feel the entire universe of energy -the rushing, the stillness, all of it that surrounds us all the time. It is crazy, and you think you're crazy because how can this be real? But it is. And your mind is blown. Just like like your entire frame of reference, on everything, has changed.
When was the last time you had a brilliant idea that you couldn’t stop thinking about?
When I was ca 20 years old I began developing an idea in my head for a novel. Am still working on the idea in my head. Will write that book before I die!
That Rexy from Jurassic Park wasn't actually blind to everything but motion and was just playing with her food.
If you had an opportunity to make one thing illegal, what would it be?
Misrepresenting facts in media. Close second is religion in government or healthcare.
I'd join your religion if that puppy is the figure head. I agree with everything you say.
Load More Replies...Lying... among other things stopping the lies is a big leap towards a better world
Keeping people who have obviously lost all of the functions of their brain (or were never born with that) from staying on life support. The overwhelming majority of those cases die. Your child or grandparent or parent are not that special. Just like your child is in the overwhelming majority to not be anyone famous for any reason.
What is your opinion on cheating?
You should not have sexual relations of any kind with any other person, if your partner doesn't know about, and consent to it.
What about kissing? Emotional affairs? Is it only sex that's cheating?
Load More Replies...But a lot of partners announce “I don’t want sex anymore, but I forbid you to go find it elsewhere.” Bear in mind that most relationships are not clean and easy to leave.
Cheating in school is a bunch of bs. You're screwing so many people over if you can't do your job right. Cheating in relationships isn't as big of an issue for me. Sex means next to nothing for me, and I have a feeling I've been cheated on before. It's just you either work through it, or you drop it. None of this "on again off again" horseshit. You either are, or you aren't.
Cheating means we have a problem and the cheater would rather run away and hide than actually deal with it by having an open honest conversation. It's disrespectful, hurtful, and I would cut you from my life permanently, no matter how much I love you. Cheaters are liars and cowards. Physical, emotional, mental, and/or spiritual intimacy with a person who is not your partner is cheating.
Humankind is not made for monogamy. I mean, culturally we are used to it, but it's just wrong.
If you could receive a million dollars under the condition that one stranger becomes poor, would you accept it?
Only if you can pick the person. I don't care that it would only be for less than a percent of what you idiots have, I'd be coming after one of you a*****e billionaires.
What would be the best remedy for healing the entire world?
Whenever someone is being stupid, destructive and harming others, they would be thrown to space and replaced by a dog.
Let the dumbasses who gravely harm themselves to deal with it. No help from hospitals. And I don't mean someone attempting suicide, as that's a failure on their community. I mean the jackasses that hop off rooftops to try to dive into a pool. Also, getting everyone involved in the parenting of children, like small tribes do, and MAKE SURE everyone is helping. Or those without children are the only ones who don't.
Nuclear apocalypse. (It could destroy all humankind! you think. That's the point.)
Don't really think so. Can't do the first one because new things can't be made/invented without risk. If there is no one to risk anything, then progression of technology and whatnot would slow down significantly. As for mandatory education, it depends on to what level of education you are talking about.
Load More Replies...Pool all of our resources and share them out equally. 'Level up' infrastructure in places that need it and put everyone on the same footing. Abolish money and then I'll give you a turnip if you give me a pitchfork. Make kittens and puppies readily available for free to those who might like that sort of thing. #vote$cagsyforworldchief
When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?
it means once everything has been said and everything has been done , what did you do more of? did you say things and not act on it, did you act on your words etc etc
Likely yes because it's much easier to talk about doing things than it is to actually do some things. For example, I doubt I'll ever actually get to fly a helicopter, I'm not a pilot and have no drive to try, but that doesn't mean that I don't WANT to fly a real helicopter.
Would you want to remember every detail of your life? Why or why not?
Yes, just because I feel like I'd be able to understand the world and myself better.
Well, I'd be great to know where all my communion money is (Polish inside joke, sorry couldn't resist)
No. The worst thing I can remember is my molestation, and let's keep it that way.
What are your top five personal values?
If you could ask one person, alive or dead, only one question, who would you ask and what would you ask?
It would be a random person and the question would be whazaaaaa?. I'll see myself out.
Why do you matter?
All the comments r so negative... WE ALL MATTER EVERYONE WE R ALL HERE FOR A DIFFERENT PURPOSE AND IN THE END WE ALL MATTER💙💙
What makes a person beautiful?
What are your top three priorities?
What are your favorite simple pleasures?
Food, cooking, milk. Sunsets and the colors. Color in general. Those very few moments I have peace of mind
Do you think you can cry underwater?
What are the three most important things on your bucket list?
Make sure my cats have loving homes to go to once I die, go cage diving with great whites and feed them already processed chickens, and act as a dead person in something.
Emotionally Charged Thought-Provoking Questions That Dig Deeper
What is your most improved character trait?
Not being clingy. Doesn't mean I'm independent, but being able to be alone and not be lonely is valuable.
What activity makes you feel happiest?
If you had a chance to change the world, how would you do it?
It would be nice to have Australia much closer to Europe 🐨
Be able to set up a honest government and system that absolutely minimizes corruption, selfishness, and greed.
What’s the most sensible thing you’ve ever heard someone say?
Do you ask enough questions or do you settle for what you know?
I had to get out of the whole "they don't want to hear your questions" thing cuz not everyone are my parents. So I do ask questions.
How would your life change if the internet ceased to exist?
Internet makes life easier, but that doesn't mean it's truly necessary. I could just adjust to the new reality and go on.
Would you ever sacrifice yourself to the greater good?
If it's to help animal kind, sure. Help children, yeah. Help adults........ehhhhhhhh
If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?
Do all people deserve respect, no matter what they have done?
What is the difference between falling in love and being in love?
What do you love most about yourself?
Funny to see no one else has answered this. For me, it's my moments when I enjoy tiny details of life.
How long would you survive in a zombie apocalypse? What’s your plan?
You mean, to cross The Wall? Bad idea if you want to avoid zombies.
Load More Replies...Machete, and just stay put. It's too hot here to try to run right away.
If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
Volunteering at SPCA. Or going after the monsters who put animals in those positions.
What does it mean to allow another person to truly love you?
To allow them? Then that means to let them help me and me not instantly get anxious about what they say.
When you think of ‘home,’ what, specifically, do you think of?
What are the primary components of a happy life?
How do you think evolution will impact humans in the future?
Imagine that your pet could talk. What do you think it would say to you?
That too! Marysia, Misia, Mania, Marianna, Miśka, Misia-Marysia... the list goes on for my cat.
Load More Replies...If you were arrested, what would your family and friends think you had done?
Stolen someone's cats after finding them in a bad place and battery for pinching the person in the face when I found them abusing the animals
What is the meaning of life?
Whatever your personal meaning is. It's not a As Seen On TV product, there is more than one meaning.
Thought-Provoking Questions That Go Beyond Small Talk
What is the most life-changing decision you’ve ever made?
Not making them. Mistake or success, at least I would have done something.
I was offered three jobs all at once. I'm fairly sure that I chose badly. Had I taken one of the other two, I reckon I might have been rather rich, rather young. But that's hindsight for you. No point dwelling on it. Even though it sometimes feels like I won the lottery and lost the ticket. But I'm not dwelling on it. *DWELLS*
Is suffering an inevitable part of our personal development and growth?
No. It doesn't need to be. Trying to avoid all possible areas of suffering doesn't help, btw.
When you meet someone for the first time, what is the first thing you notice about them?
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
What are the things you’re most grateful for?
If you could do anything you wanted right now, what would you do?
When was the last time you tried something new?
Would you like to be famous? In what way?
Nope, not for all the money in the world. I would spin out from always being in the spotlight. No thanks
If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30 year old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?
Body. What you're describing is basically ALS and that is absolutely horrid.
What is your most terrible memory?
“ 187 Thought-Provoking Questions For Any Conversation” or 186 plus one you keep to yourself until they feel safe enough to share.
The last time I tried telling either of my parents I was being bullied. It's one thing to have others not believe you, but your own parents...and I was only in preschool. Never have and never will get over it. Maybe if I got an apology...but they're that generation where they only ever receive apologies, they never give them.
Have you done anything lately worth remembering?
Rescued a kitten and his little sister. His sister ran away but she visits.
Which activities make you lose track of time?
When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards and just do what you know is right?
What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
My breakfast prep. I p**s someone I know off every time she sees me prep my regular pancakes with sunnyside up eggs and hash browns/grits
Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?
Is there such a thing as evil people? What makes them evil?
Evil people say Ukraine needs to be rescued from nazism. That enough?
There are evil people. Children who kill are the start of it. Not those that go hunting with their parents during an appropriate time of year though. Those who kill other people, small animals, and so on.
"Evil" is a cultural concept. Many things we do today will be considered evil in the future, just like we consider slavery or war now.
If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?
What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?
Why do we think of others the most when they’re gone?
Who do you think stands between you and happiness?
Can there be happiness without sadness? Pleasure without pain? Peace without war?
Without a way to judge what one is compared to another, how can you tell which is which?
Is there such a thing as perfect?
Do you believe in reincarnation?
I believe in the possibility. I have met people who could describe their former life and house location and details with no way of knowing those. When the parents took them it was as they said. However the people who are convinced they were Cleopatra or who run around telling everyone they feel a slight connection with that they were priestesses in the temple together are a little sus. I think that's more like the subconcious interpreting things in an archetypal way than actual memories.
In a sense. Your consciousness comes back, and you know you're alive, but that's it
What are three moral rules you will never break?
Do not kill on purpose without reason, do not steal from those unable to afford it, and past that, I'm not sure
When you help someone do you ever think, “What’s in it for me?”
Sometimes. But then my mind just goes "oh right, I feel good when someone else does"
How do you define success?
Is there ever a time when giving up makes sense?
When you've wasted more than you've gotten and you know it'll only get worse.
If you could take a single photograph of your life, what would it look like?
Black, but you'd hear lots of giggling and screaming when you look at it.
Creative And Unusual Thought-Provoking Questions To Inspire New Ideas
Is honesty always the best policy?
Does the person just trying to eke by deserve to be fired because they can't lie about how much they hate their boss? Honesty is good, but isn't the imperative needed all the time.
What is the easiest way to catch your attention?
Do you see crying as a sign of weakness or strength?
Are you grateful for everything you have?
What are two life lessons you learned the hard way?
Don't pay to be in a job, and no one will ever tell you what's bugging them about you until they just blow up in your face about it.
What are the three main ingredients that make a perfect relationship?
What has been the most challenging period of your life?
Adolescence. Trust me kids, after highschool is so much better. You will never be forced to stay in a place you don't want to be, or around people you don't want to be around, ever again.
Being with family. I'm still in it. I'm stuck and can't really get out.
Do you think emotional affairs and texting are more harmful than physical affairs?
Depends who it is. For me, it would hurt more than physical affairs. I actually encourage my SO to sleep with someone else because I'm very much not interested
What makes your life worth living?
What is your vision of utopia (in this instance, a perfect society)?
What are the things that you do for the sake of becoming your best self?
Have you ever been a victim of stereotyping?
Do you listen to your gut?
Do you think your high school friends influenced your behavior?
What are the things you like to daydream about?
What makes you feel appreciated and loved?
When someone asks how I'm doing and understands when I say "I'm tired" knows it's so much more than that and actually wants to hear what's going on.
What gets you excited about life?
If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?
What people have said about me behind my back. Not if they do, everyone does. But what has been said.
What is the difference between living and existing?
What do you value most in a friendship?
If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?
I'd just go volunteer at SPCA all the time. If I only had a year, everyone would quit trying to use me for things they wanna do
What does your joy look like today?
Cats not throwing up and I get the house to myself for at least an hour
Would you rather have less work or more work you actually enjoy doing?
Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
Introspective And Reflective Thought-Provoking Questions
Does someone’s name influence who they become?
Do you believe in aliens?
How many of your friends would you trust with your life?
If today was the last day of your life, who would you call and what would you tell them?
How would the world be different if you were never born?
Do you feel respected and appreciated by me?
According to you, what is the most important event in the history of the human race?
What do you think is keeping you from experiencing complete happiness?
Do we judge and gossip about other people for the sake of feeling better about ourself?
What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?
When was the last time you listened to the sound of your own breathing?
What is your most beloved childhood memory?
To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?
What is your favorite song and why?
Does your zodiac sign have any real influence in your life?
What is something trending now but will probably be considered stupid a few years from now?
When you’re feeling ill, do you have a tendency to go online and diagnose your symptoms?
What is the worst name you could give your son or daughter?
Have you ever sent a text message to the wrong recipient?
What are the top three things you like about me?
Where do you tend to spend most of your time during the day?
How do you imagine your life in the future?
If you could invite anyone in the world to dinner, who would it be?
When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?
What do you wish you spent more time doing five years ago?
Timeless Thought-Provoking Questions With No Easy Answers
What roles do love and affection play in your life?
Are you holding onto something that you need to let go of?
How close and warm is your family? Do you feel your childhood was happier than most other people’s?
Can you describe your life in a six word sentence?
Are people born good, or do we learn moral virtue?
If it all came back around to you, would it help you or hurt you?
What do you have that you cannot live without?
How would you describe ‘freedom’ in your own words?
Why do religions that advocate unity divide the human race?
Do you feel uncomfortable talking to me about anything?
What three words best describe you?
Who is your favorite cartoon character and why?
If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?
What do we all have in common besides our genes that makes us human?
Do you believe in fifth-dimensional beings and reality?
If you could live the next 24 hours and then erase it and start over just once, what would you do?
What’s the difference between settling for things and accepting the way things are?
Is war ever ethical?
If you're battling a zombie hoard. Or those who would harm others for their own greeds or bigotries
