Most people are distracted by the hustle and bustle of daily life to the point that they forget their dreams and desires.

If you’re looking for ways to stay motivated and focused on your goals, you have to work on becoming more self-aware. If you’re unsure how to go about that, here are 12 life-changing questions to ask yourself.

1.  What Do You Want Most in Life?

There are countless ways to determine what your life goal is, and they all start with questioning your day-to-day routine. Recent studies suggest that only 13% of people around the world enjoy what they do for a living, which is the number-one cause of unproductive and sedentary lifestyles.

Remember to give yourself the time to reflect on where you stand in life at the moment, and how you can take a step toward your goals.

2.  Are Your Actions Driven by Compassion?

Your strive to realize your dreams, life is sometimes hard, and people could be unfair. Staying kind and generous under such circumstances occasionally feels challenging.

No matter how competitive it may be in the workplace, or anywhere else where you want to rise to the top, being considerate of your peers should always remain one of your top priorities.

If you’re ever caught in a moral dilemma, ask yourself what the more compassionate decision is.

3.  What’s Draining You?

It’s not unusual for you to experience an exhausting day every now and again. But if every day is draining you, you need to determine and avoid what’s wearing you out.

If you are constantly overworked, perhaps it’s time to take it up with your boss. If you’re too busy to get enough sleep, work on organizing your time more efficiently.

Finding ways to refuel when you’re emotionally exhausted is key to a more productive life.

4.  Are You Working on Self-development?

No matter where you are in life, you’re never too old or too successful to hone your skills or develop new ones from the ground up.

Working on self-development can boost your confidence, while setting attainable goals and rewarding your efforts can help you battle depression.

Self-development is practically self-care, as long as you have realistic goals.

5.  Are You Making Memories?

A life-long dream or purpose does not have to revolve around your career!

Your goals could simply be ways that you can find long-term happiness and make joyful memories. If it’s been a long time since you’ve had a memorable day, you might want to add that to your bucket list.

No matter how busy you are, you should always find the time to make your days worth remembering.

6.  What Are You Grateful For?

It’s natural for you to want to make more money and achieve more goals. However, focusing on what you don’t have should never be your motivation. In fact, lack of gratitude is what makes most of us feel down.

Although it’s easier said than done, counting your blessings can go a long way in helping you lead a happier life.

7.  How Do You Want Others to Perceive You?

A personality is simply an amalgamation of traits that you cultivate as you grow older. As such, self-reflecting on how you want others to perceive you can be a constructive tool for healthy self-criticism.

If you’re ever compelled to take any drastic, life-changing action, you should always think about whether this aligns with who you are or who you want to be.

It’s always wise to think twice before you make a life-changing decision.

8.  Are You Allowing Yourself to Fail?

Many people refuse to take risks because they’re scared of failure. What they don’t realize is that failure is an inevitable step toward success and that what they should avoid is futility.

If your plans don’t go the way you expected them to, there’s always a lesson learned, and thus there’s always something positive that you gain from the experience.

Fear of failure is the most common reason why many people never self-develop.

9.  Are You ‘Good,’ or Are You Law-abiding?

The vilest crimes against humanity were once permitted by law. Some individuals spend a lifetime thinking they’re leading morally-acceptable lives when they simply comply with what is socially acceptable.

If any societal norms compel you to shun or praise an act or a person, never hesitate to ask yourself if such thought patterns are morally justifiable or if they are simply the way you’re brought up to think.

10.  Are You Holding on to Something You Need to Let Go Of?

We’re always taught to follow our dreams, but we’re seldom taught to let go of what no longer serves us.

Painful losses can be heavy burdens to carry. If you’re constantly thinking about what you’ve lost, and not focused on the rewards you could gain in the future, you’re missing out.

Remind yourself that there’s nothing you can do to change your past, but that you have the power to create the future you want.

11.  Do You Have a Bedtime Ritual?

No matter how busy your days are, you have to give yourself a break before you head to bed. Recent studies suggest that a bedtime routine can help your body anticipate going to sleep, and thus rests better.

You can read a book in bed or simply lie down and reflect on your day, just make sure to limit your screen time.

12.  Do You Worry Too Much About What Others Think of You?

While holding yourself responsible is always encouraged, your actions should never be dictated by what others may think of you.

There’s nothing more unhappy than living an inauthentic life. As long as your actions and words do not harm yourself or others, you should never stop yourself from doing or saying anything that others may perceive negatively.

Societal expectations should never stop you from living your life to the fullest.

Conclusion

Because self-awareness is crucial for personal growth, it’s safe to say that making a habit out of questioning your life can be a great tool for self-criticism and life improvement.

So there you have it! These are our 12 life-changing questions to ask yourself to work on your self-development and to always keep your life progress in check.