Chapter 1 - Ask questions
Questions ignite rational thinking, conscious self-reflection, and sustainable personal growth. Without them, the mind simply replays familiar thoughts, routines, and habits. What is already known may be completely correct, partially correct, wrong, or only partially wrong. For this reason, questioning beliefs, assumptions, and automatic reactions becomes essential for clear thinking, emotional awareness, and authentic inner development.
Questions speak directly to the rational part of the mind and awaken critical thinking. There is always an answer, yet its quality depends on the knowledge, information, and experiences gathered up to the moment the question arises. The richer the inner library of ideas, books, and lived experiences, the more nuanced, accurate, and useful the answer becomes. Step by step, asking better questions leads to better decisions, clearer insight, and more conscious behavior in everyday life.
The first stage of rational inquiry is a close, honest look at what is happening in the present moment. A simple situation: a site is being read. Why is a site being read? This guiding question reveals the role of interest and motivation. Interest acts as a powerful catalyst; most actions are driven by it. A site is usually read to obtain information, learn something new, or solve a problem. From here, a natural chain of questions unfolds: Is information being sought? If so, what kind of information? Is this source reliable and trustworthy? Should the information be written down, organized, and compared with other sources in order to reach a conclusion that is as correct, complete, and objective as possible?
Another possible answer to the question “Why is this site being read?” is: out of boredom. Why does boredom appear? Perhaps because there seems to be nothing meaningful or engaging to do. Yet the world is full of activities, hobbies, and interests that can be chosen. One branch of reasoning is: “I no longer know what I enjoy.” Here, laziness, avoidance, and subtle self-deception often appear. No matter how little life experience there is, some preferences and dislikes have already been discovered, so there is already a personal set of possible activities and directions to explore, deepen, or rediscover.
There is also the option: “I am bored with what I used to enjoy.” This answer reveals a desire for something new, beautiful, and captivating, a search for fresh experiences and inspiration. When hesitation appears and the same activities are repeated endlessly, a fear of novelty and change may have developed. The surrounding world may no longer be perceived as a mysterious space full of wonders to be discovered, but as a threatening place full of dangers and risks. This is a separate line of reasoning and a topic for meditation and self-knowledge, yet the focus returns to questions as tools for understanding these inner states, patterns, and emotional reactions.
What lies behind an action such as reading a website? What other questions can be asked to clarify intention and behavior? Why is the current body position adopted? Is it consciously chosen, or is it merely an automatic adaptation to the surrounding environment? Why do toes move while the text is being read? Why does the mouse cursor wander across the screen during reading? Is this a matter of divided bodily attention, an inability to focus fully on reading, a difficulty in maintaining steady concentration, or perhaps a subtle sign of impatience and restlessness?
Why are only the beginnings of words read, with the eyes jumping between lines? Is it possible to read more slowly and clearly pronounce the words inwardly, in the mind, to deepen comprehension? Through such simple, persistent questions, attention is trained, self-awareness increases, and focus gradually develops into a stable, conscious way of reading, learning, and thinking.
Attention is the conscious decision of the rational self. It is a deliberate choice to be one hundred percent attentive to something, so that focus appears when it is needed, not only when circumstances force it. If a wild animal appeared nearby, the mind would instantly focus one hundred percent, without hesitation or distraction.
Focus is one of the most powerful mental tools. Like any tool or weapon, if it is not sharpened and trained regularly, it dulls and rusts over time.
Questions shape the way reality is perceived. Why is something read? Why is something done? How is it read? How is it done? The world is in constant motion, and the question “why” helps identify personal interests and the interests of the beings and systems that intersect and interact.
The question also arises: why was this site written? Out of kindness, out of humanity, out of hidden hatred, out of a desire to influence or manipulate? The honest answer contains a little of each of these motives, because human intentions are rarely simple or pure in a single direction.
Questions can be about place, time, manner, cause or purpose. Every time a question is asked, the rational self is activated and another step is taken on the path of becoming a rational being, a conscious human being capable of critical thinking.
The practice of asking questions can be taken to the highest level. It can explore:
This is the first stage: asking questions and actively seeking answers. The stage is not complete without examining the answers. When a question is asked, the rational mind offers an answer. That answer must then be checked to see whether it is correct or not. The knowledge set of the rational self has to be examined carefully in order to reach a sound conclusion, especially because it is about a personal knowledge base where self-deception is not an option and every piece of information must be verified.
In childhood, learning comes from the surrounding people: parents, brothers, sisters. Later, information from friends, acquaintances and lived events is added. After a certain time, the rational structure develops and begins to analyze information through its own internal filters. This personal structure includes data imported from all previous sources. As a result, it incorporates information from other analysis systems that may be correct or may be wrong.
Many fears and phobias are inherited in this way. They are copied by children from their parents, often without any rational analysis or objection. These fears are practically inherited voluntarily, when parents try to scare the child to control behavior, or involuntarily, when a parent is afraid of something and the child simply imitates and absorbs that fear.
If questions are asked consistently, answers are found to many things in life. Through questions, the mechanism of thinking and critical reflection is activated, so it is essential to learn to ask questions about everything, every day. It may seem that this already happens and that it is simple, but this is rarely the case and it is not simple in any way. When this practice is tried consciously, it becomes clear how much energy, attention and mental discipline it consumes.
It is important to emphasize the value of the continuous cycle: asking questions – getting answers – asking new questions about those answers – maintaining constant movement until reaching a state in which an answer is accepted as correct and complete. Although this questioning mechanism is primary and natural, for it to develop fully it is necessary to cultivate focus, patience and honesty with oneself, elements that are explored in the following chapters.
The first chapter on asking questions is completed with the next stage: understanding what the correct questions are. Asking questions is beneficial, but the quality of the questions determines the quality of the answers. In this way, it becomes clear what is being sought when questions are formulated and how interest is established. Interest leads to a specific set of questions in order to obtain a specific set of answers, but at the same time it limits the search to the narrow perspective of that interest and casts a shadow over answers that are not directly related, even if they may be important. For this reason, it is necessary to examine constantly which questions are correct and which are truly the right questions.
The last stage, after learning to ask questions and to search for the correct questions, is the stage in which reflection turns to why questions are asked and why correct answers are being sought. The answer is not offered here. Discovering it remains a personal duty and an inner obligation.
Hyperglycemia, i.e. increased glucose concentration in the blood and urine (glycosuria) above normal limits. Daily insulin doses can be reduced after long-term treatment with medicinal plants or teas only after medical laboratory tests have been performed.
Plants with weakly alkaline, anti-inflammatory, healing and soothing active principles are recommended. Infusions and decoctions are usually drunk unsweetened and preferably between meals.
Headaches with digestive and sensory disturbances
Mistletoe (Viscum album): a sacred plant in ancient cultures
Among many ancient peoples, and especially among the Druids, mistletoe (Viscum album) was revered as a sacred plant. The presence of this evergreen shrub on trees was interpreted as a sign from the gods, and the bird that circled around it was considered a messenger from heaven. Ceremonies...
The most important step in critical thinking is to build a clear mental structure for searching, analyzing, and verifying information. A structured approach helps avoid cognitive biases and supports better decision-making in everyday life and at work.
It is essential not to jump to conclusions based on insufficient data or circumstantial evidence. When searching for information, the first one or two sources may appear to confirm an assumption, but this often leads to confirmation bias and premature judgments.
Even if the information seems correct and is in the process of being verified, the search and analysis process must be completed. Reliable conclusions require multiple sources, context, and time.
Imagine meeting a new colleague who speaks very little, appears cold and unfriendly, and keeps a noticeable distance from others. Various facial expressions are observed and interpreted as reactions to the presence of other people. After following this behavior for the first week, the conclusion is that this person is cold, mean, taciturn, introverted, and probably cannot stand others.
However, this colleague may have recently undergone neck surgery, is in recovery, and is experiencing pain during this period. Being new to the team, there is no comfort in sharing this personal situation, which explains the reserved attitude and distance. In this context, the initial interpretation is based on real observations, but the conclusion is incomplete and potentially wrong.
Although the observed information is factually correct, it is valid only within a specific time frame and under particular circumstances that strongly influence behavior. It is impossible to know whether, after recovery, this person will remain distant and unfriendly or will become open, warm, and communicative.
A solid mental structure for evaluating information involves:
By applying this structured approach, interpretations become more accurate, relationships improve, and decisions are based on deeper understanding rather than quick assumptions.
The answers and conclusions that shape thinking and decision-making can fall into several categories: personal or copied, received from others, suggested, or even improper. It is essential to be very careful when formulating any conclusion and to verify how that conclusion was reached. An impartial, logical framework is mandatory, together with a deliberate depersonalization of the situation. Analysis needs to be carried out from an objective perspective, as if observing from the outside. By knowing personal patterns, it becomes possible to examine the justification of actions, the real motivations, and the reasoning behind every decision.
This type of conscious analysis helps clarify how a conclusion was reached and how it can become a guiding principle in life. Critical thinking is especially useful for conclusions related to health and long-term well-being. For example, a group of friends may support a mentor who promotes lack of movement, laziness, and idleness. Indirectly, as a member of that group, it becomes easy to absorb the conclusion that physical activity is harmful and idleness is acceptable. If there is already a solid mental structure in place, with a previously formed conclusion that physical activity supports better health, this misleading information will be rejected. Furthermore, there may be an attempt to show friends the errors they copy and apply without reflection. This example can be extended to many groups and organizations where people follow others like sheep, in an orderly and obedient way, searching for answers in other people instead of in their own minds and critical judgment.
The comfort of receiving a ready-made answer is one of the most frequently used tools in manipulation. People who lack a personal structure of conclusions based on questions, reflection, and analysis tend to accept almost anything they receive as truth. A recommendation, solution, or proposal coming from a trusted person quickly becomes something accepted and internalized. However, the person offering advice may not truly understand what is best in that specific situation. That person may not know real needs, desires, priorities, or whether the proposed solution is actually necessary or affordable. Trust can be gained for many reasons, not all of them conscious or justified, and often it is maintained without deeper examination. In such cases, the absence of personal analysis leaves space for external influence to replace independent thinking and authentic conclusions.
If you analyze the advertisements displayed everywhere, the marketing strategies behind them become obvious and sometimes even amusing. Analyze the form, the symbols and the method of presentation. Analyze the text: what words are chosen, why they are chosen, how often they are repeated and what emotions or reactions they try to trigger. Look at the symbolism of the images, whether it is direct or subtle, and the way they are combined or superimposed to influence perception.
Then analyze the sound: what the tone suggests, what it prepares for, the type of voice chosen, its timbre and especially its purpose. Identify what feelings it seeks to activate and what kind of consumer behavior it encourages. Only after this comes the product itself: what it is made of, where it is produced, what its real utility is and what similar products exist on the market. After asking these questions and looking for answers, move on to the personal perspective: is it needed? is it truly useful? does it meet a real need or only increase comfort? is it affordable?
All these are analyses, first objective and then subjective. And they can be applied to almost everything, not only to advertising or consumer products. Sometimes it is easier to receive a ready-made solution and lose the training that comes from asking questions. Yet training in asking questions increases both speed and accuracy of thinking. Every time this process is repeated, it becomes faster and more comprehensive. At some point it will be almost instantaneous and those around will say that something superhuman has been done, as if by magic.
Build a personal structure for asking questions, from near to far. Self-analysis is the first step. Waking up and drinking coffee: why coffee? Going to work: why that job, that schedule, that routine? Planning vacations: why that destination, that period, that budget? Even simple gestures such as blinking can become starting points for curiosity: why this reflex, why this frequency?
The structure of the questions is important. Ask the question, then notice the way it is formulated. Notice the interest hidden in the question. Analyze whether the question is correct, complete and relevant to that interest or only partially covers it. Look for improvement, then look for solutions and alternative answers. Evaluate the sources of information: are they good? are they sufficient? is a time frame needed? and if so, what time frame? does changing the time frame change the correctness or relevance of the answers?
Through this continuous exercise of analysis and questioning, a mental construct is formed. Once this construct exists, a hunger for knowledge appears and the search for wisdom begins. This search is in itself a form of evolution, regardless of the level reached at any given moment. The search for wisdom may initially seem sensational, unusual or reserved for a few, but over time it becomes natural. Those who do not apply this way of thinking will continue to see it as something extraordinary, while for the one who practices it, it becomes a normal way of understanding the world.