Learning How to Learn (III): Probing Questions

First Associate Pastor: Can I chew gum while praying?

Senior Pastor: Definitely NOT! Why even consider it?

Second Associate Pastor: Can I pray while chewing gum?

Senior Pastor: Why not? The Bible says to, "Pray without ceasing!" 

Have you noticed that all kids are curious. Sometimes they are annoyingly curious. They want to see it, they want to touch it, they want to smell it, they want to hear it and they certainly want to taste it. This is one reason all drugs carry the caution: "Keep out of reach of children.” This inherent curiosity in kids is taken to be foolishness by many adults but the contrary is the case. It goes to show us that children are curious, which is a good thing because curiosity is the beginning stage of searching and it is, “the glory of God is to hide a thing; but the honor of kings is to search out a matter,” (Proverbs 25:2). Kids are curious because they are creative. Their curiosity stems from their creativity.                                
You can use your curiosity, which is actually easier to form, to develop creativity. That’s the lifeline: use curiosity to develop creativity. The easiest way to do this by the way is by ensuring you do not see things in a single dimension. Do not look at things the way they come, rather look at them from a several-dimensional point of view and ask yourself probing questions. 

Questions open up doors that ordinarily will remain closed but it is noteworthy that not all questions will bring about the desired result. There are questions you can ask that will immediately shut the doors of further creativity while there are those that will make the creative genius flood your mind. Here are two tips on right questioning.

Tip no. 1: Ask yourself about changes. One form of questioning that will help you think more creatively is to ask yourself to change things and make them the way you would like them to be. This gives you room to innovate. For example:

● What would taste better if it were less sweet? How can I make it sweeter?

● What would be nicer if it were bigger? How can I make it bigger?

Tip no. 2: Ask yourself questions with lots of answers. You strengthen your creative thinking skill anytime you ask yourself questions that permit many correct answers. Here are some examples using the concept of air:

● What are some of the uses of air? 

● What floats in air? 

● How does air help us? 

● Why is cold air cold? 

Probing questions are some of the fastest ways to learn. Don't sit back and accept things only because they were told to you by a reputable source. Ask questions and take a quantum learning leap!

                                      [MAINLY CULLED FROM MY BOOK, "DO IT LIKE KIDS"]