You know, how they will drive round in circles, hopelessly lost, yet are maddeningly confident about where they're going - "Don't worry dear, I know it's just after the next turn".
How they will sooner eat their foot than admit they're lost and consult a passer-by?
Well, I don't know how true this is - but I do know that in being afraid of asking questions, one loses out on the opportunity to learn something, to improve oneself, to make things better.
Asking questions is an essential way we all learn - after all, a Chinese proverb goes, "He who asks is a fool for a minute. He who doesn't ask is a fool forever".
But the power of asking questions goes beyond simply asking other people questions. Asking ourselves the right questions can also have dramatic impact on our self improvement, success and happiness.
There are times when we find ourselves in difficult or uncomfortable situations or even in a position where we feel completely overwhelmed.
It can be very easy to say 'what have I done to deserve this?' or 'why does this always happen to me?'
However, these questions are destructive and only serve to prepare us for future disappointments. In fact, they can actually guarantee it! The questions we ask ourselves reflect our state of mind, reinforce our beliefs and have a huge impact on our results.
We all experience events that seem too overwhelming to deal with and there is a great deal of valuable information available to help in these situations.
But in almost any situation, no matter how bad it may seem, there is usually something positive that can be found.
Actually asking the question 'what can I learn from this situation?' is a great starting point, even if you only learn what not to do in the future.
But you can go much further. It has often been said that when one door closes, another opens and that in every setback lies opportunity.
Don't just stare at the closed door - why not try asking yourself what opportunities are now available or what doors have just opened for you?
It will improve your state of mind and may just change your life.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
