As you think about writing your story, here are some questions you can ask yourself. You can also use these ideas to create discussions.
- What keeps you up at night?
- Talk about the one person who has been kindest to you in your life?
- Who has had a big influence on your life? What lessons did that person teach you?
- What do you feel most grateful for in your life?
- What are some of the most important lessons you’ve learned so far?
- What encouraging things do you remember about your very first job?
- What are you proudest of in your life?
- Was there ever a time when you felt most alone? Describe it and talk about how you came out the other side of that loneliness.
- How has your life been different than what you’d imagined?
- How would you like to be remembered long after you’re gone?
- Do you have any regrets?
- What are your hopes for the future? For your children?
- For future generations of your family reading this years from now: Is there any wisdom you’d want to pass on to them? What would you want them to know?
- Is there anything you want people to know about you that they likely don’t know?
- What does a typical evening at home look like?
- What traits do you admire in other people?
- Talk about the hardest thing you’ve ever done.
- What invention would you like to see in your lifetime?
- Besides your mom, who knows you best and why?
- Who is the nicest person at work and why do you think so?
- Talk about your very favorite senior citizen.
- What does a typical Monday morning look like in your house?
- What was your worst vacation?
- What made you laugh today?
- What’s something you changed your mind about recently?
- What are you spending too much money on right now? And what do you plan to do about that?
- What do you have in your bag or pocket or your car that describes your personality?
- What is the scariest thing you’ve ever done for fun?
- If you could re-live just one year of your life, which one would it be and what would you do differently?
- What are you pretending not to know?
- If I really knew you, what would I know?
- How do you make a positive impact in your community?
- What under-$100 item has most improved your life?
- What would you put on a billboard?
- What is the scariest thing you’ve ever done just for fun?
- Talk about the best project you ever worked on.
- If you’re working outside the home, why do you work? And don’t just say because you need the money.
- What is one of your happiest memories?
- What do you know now that you wish you’d known before you got married?
- What do you know now that you wish you’d known before you had kids?
- If someone were to guess your personality based on your handwriting, what would they say?
- If you could invent anything to make your life easier, what would it be?
- Do you prefer to donate time or money to those in need? Why?
- What is the best day of the year for you?
- What does your dream house look like?
- What is the greatest gift you have ever gotten, and what made it so great?
- What is the greatest mistake you’ve ever made?
- When did you first know what it was you wanted to do with your life?
- What is your greatest fear and why?
- What is your most deeply held belief?
- If someone could answer one question for you, what would that question be and why?
- What small bit of advice would you give to someone?
- What are you interested in that probably no one else is?
- What did you Google last?
- What do you look for in a friend?
- What are you absolutely determined to accomplish before you die?
- Who has impressed you most with what they’ve accomplished?
- How do you relax after a hard day?
- Where do you usually go when you have time off?
- What risks have you taken that were worth it?
- Who inspires you to be better?
- What do you have doubts about?
- What’s the hardest lesson you’ve learned?
- What do you like most about your family?
- What’s the best thing about getting older? The worst?
- What challenging thing are you working through these days?
- Which of your scars has the best story behind it?
- What were some of the turning points in your life?
- What are some personal rules you never break?
- What’s the worst advice you’ve ever received?
- When was the last time you changed your opinion or belief about something major?
- What are some events in your life that made you who you are today?
- Tell us a story of someone who has impacted your life.
- Tell us about your hometown.
- Why is it important for people to be good listeners?
- In what ways have you grown as a person this year? What/who has influenced you? And what have you learned?
- What can you do or change in your life to focus more on your health and wellbeing? Be honest.
- What do you think is the most unique thing about you? Do you keep it hidden or let it show?
- What do you think is your biggest personal success? What about your biggest professional success?
- What does an ideal friend look like?
- Where do you usually go when you have time off?
- What risks have you taken that were worth it?
- What’s the best thing about getting older? The worst?
- What small gesture from a stranger had the biggest impact on you?