When is the best time to do things?
Who is the most important one?
What is the right thing to do?
These powerful questions come from a wonderful children’s book, The Three Questions. It’s a re-telling of a Tolstoy story of a boy’s quest for what is right, illustrated with beautiful watercolor pictures.
While I’d certainly recommend the book to anyone (a great gift for graduates, or any of us pondering a new phase of life) for the simple pleasure of the story and the illustrations, these three questions also help shed light on choices we have on how we want to spend our time and energy.
I don’t think I’ll ruin the book for you to tell you that the ‘answers’ that the story offers are:
the best time? — now
the most important one? — the one you are with
the right thing to do? — to do good for the one standing at your side
I love the simplicity and clarity of this story, the questions, and
the responses. They remind me of what’s available to us in staying
present in our lives, the difference seemingly simple acts can make,
and the importance of working to do good.
What do you make of these questions, and the ‘answers’ offered? Where do they take you?
What questions guide you in your journey to make a difference?
Before specializing as a professional coach in 2004, I spent more than a decade in leadership, management and program development for state and local government and non-profit organizations. Now I get to help leaders and teams have more clarity and ability to stand up for what's important in their work and in their organizations. Working with me, leaders and teams find more meaning and purpose, feel happier and more confident, navigate change and conflict, and work together better.
Hanna, this has the potential to be a fabulous blog. I’m excited to see where it takes you.
Keep up the great posts, and keep it frequent!
Curt, thanks for visiting, and for your comments! Your blog and your work is a great inspiration – I look forward to more opportunities to connect!
Hi Hanna,
Thank you for these three questions. I was faced with a difficult situation over the last couple of days and wasn’t clear on how to respond. After reading the three questions and the “answers,” I realized not only what was important, but what would give me peace. One of the things I value is clarity, so to see my way through to the other side, with these three questions, was like a breath of fresh air.
Carol,
Thanks for sharing the impact of these questions for you. Peace, clarity, and a breath of fresh air… aah!