What Matters Most: Moving Beyond "How" to "Yes"

I am currently reading Peter Block's thought-provoking book "The Answer to How is Yes," which explores what it takes to live a life in pursuit of what truly matters. Block's central insight focuses on the questions we ask ourselves, encouraging a shift from "How" questions to "Yes" questions. While "How" questions direct us toward the external world, seeking evidence and instructions, "Yes" questions invite us to explore what matters most deeply to us.

As we approach the end of the year, many of us naturally gravitate toward planning, goal-setting, and envisioning our future. Block challenges this conventional approach by suggesting we focus instead on finding a balance between a life that works and a life that counts.

"What matters most to you?" It's a profound question that resists easy answers yet remains essential to explore. Block guides us through this exploration with six fundamental questions:

1. What refusal have I been postponing?
2. What commitment am I willing to make?
3. What is the price I am willing to pay?
4. What is my contribution to the problem I am concerned with?
5. What crossroads do I find myself at in my life and work?
6. What do we want to create together?

He offers one final "bonus" question that is a powerful tool for ongoing reflection: "What is the question that, if answered, would set you free?"

As we look toward 2025, perhaps instead of setting traditional goals, consider defining what truly matters to you. Let that understanding guide your path forward.