“Fear is a question. What are you afraid of and why? Our fears are a treasure house of self-knowledge if we explore them.” – Marilyn French, author and feminist activist
Fear of the unknown can be powerful, painful and plentiful, especially in a pandemic.
Not knowing what lies ahead may seem like it’s a new problem in the covid era. But in truth, we often are caught by surprise by events and changes we don’t anticipate, whether it’s being fired unexpectedly or a distant relative dying and leaving us a sizable inheritance or the popularity of an exhibit like Heroes: Now and Then.
With New Year’s just around the corner, it’s a good time to ask and answer some questions to light our paths and make our creative journeys easier to travel. Increase your curiosity and you will unearth something valuable about yourself. Here are three we especially like – building on the beautiful questions we posed in the fall:
What did you learn about yourself and your dreams and aspirations in the last year? Take time to understand how this pandemic year affected your goals and aspirations. Perhaps you’ll do this through looking back at a vision board made a year ago and creating a new one. 
Or maybe you will talk to a trusted mentor or friend about this or pull out a journal and draw or write some new dreams.
What one big audacious thing do you wish to complete by Dec. 31, 2021? This question will help you think bigger and bolder about your plans. Chase away caution and triple or quadruple your goals. Then narrow it down to one wonderful huge, meaningful remarkable goal.
“You’d corner me in your conformity but even in dormancy i’m sleeping with enormity, stretching the belly of the earth & everything i was born to be.”
– Curtis Tyrone Jones, author and coach
Who do you need in your tribe to grow and thrive? Everyone needs a tribe or a “kitchen cabinet” of advisors and close allies. Who is in yours? And who do you wish to invite in? And how are you engaging one or two new people for this near year ahead? These questions invite you to create a circle of supporters, and to connect with teachers, former bosses or family friends who may be able to help your career or your education in the year ahead. Perhaps you want one of Mint’s leaders to join your tribe. Ask us or join us.
If you want to reflect further on 2020 with timeless questions, turn to these 20 inquires from the Art of Simple, a blog about embracing a slower, less complicated life. Or if you long for still more questions to answer as you look ahead, read the list of 19 from Brands for the Heart or head to LifeHack for questions to consider the kind of life you want to build.
“The greatest gift is not being afraid to question,” said actress, playwright and civil rights activist Ruby Dee. So we end with another question that drives us: How will we collaborate to develop more creative opportunities for children and youth and make a bigger difference in Detroit?
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