Last time I introduced three sets of important foundation questions designed to help you build Your Best Life. Let me say it again – I hope these questions and these articles help you identify/recognise and systematically build towards Your Best Life.

These three sets of questions, nine questions in total, give you a formula for your life journey Circumstances + Action = Results.

We will start today by examining the first three questions, and their most basic meaning.

Your Current Circumstances

Today we are looking at the first set of questions which we represented by the single word Circumstances – meaning Your Current Circumstances. Here they are again:

• Where are you right now?
• What situation are you in right now?
• What are your circumstances right now?

These first three questions differ from the second and third sets of questions in nature, because rather than be progressive, where one question leads to another and the earlier question provides a foundation for the next, these three questions all are asking the same thing. These are three different ways of seeking the same information.

Before you attempt to answer these questions, let us spend a few moments to understand what they mean and what we are trying to achieve by answering them. We will examine the meaning, definition and sub parts of some key words, see what they mean separately and then what they mean together.

The first question – “Where are you right now?” is really a question about place, both physically and mentally / emotionally, and inviting you to become consciously aware of the things that you know are there but often only at a subconscious level. Bells and whistles get your attention, but you may need to really look to see the important things – both around you and inside you.

The second question is “What situation are you in right now?” Here the key word is “situation”. Let’s define it and divide it.

SITUATION: a set of circumstances in which one finds oneself

SITU- or IN SITU: on site, in position, in place

-ATION: State, condition, or quality of. 

So “Situation” means the state, condition or quality of the place where you are. Most obviously this refers to your surroundings but it is critical to know the state, condition or quality of you, too.

The third and final question is “What are your circumstances right now?” Here the most important word is “Circumstances”. Let’s define and divide again. 

CIRCUMSTANCES: the existing conditions or state of affairs surrounding and affecting a person or object

CIRCUM-: about; round; to encompass or surround

-STANCE: the way in which someone stands, especially when deliberately adopted (as in cricket, and other sports); a person’s posture. So “Circumstances” refers to the state of affairs or conditions surrounding where a person is standing, but interestingly a person can by in the same location with two different “stances” or perspectives.

Combining, expanding and extending these meanings we get these most basic questions: 

• What exists (1) around you (your surroundings) and (2) within you (your person)?
• How do (3) your surroundings work?
• How does (4) your person (you) work?

Points to Ponder

• What things are important to notice?
• What things are important to control? 
• How do you decide?

Copyright © 2021 John Harris