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A
much sought after international author, educator,
and motivational speaker, Norm Bouchard is a
lifestyle humorist. He is entertaining and
informative, using the human condition as the
focus of his message. His teaching style enables
people to closely examine their assumptions about
what they think they know about themselves. His
unique blend of humor, story telling and music
brings an intensity of feeling to the audience
that implants a clear message that changes lives
and thinking patterns. Norm has a talent for
revealing essential truths common to each us and
integrating the values we have with the values and
dreams we hope to encompass in our lives. A
supreme storyteller, singer, speaker and
visionary, Norm has the ability to reach within
his audience to touch their hearts and change
their lives.
Norm
Bouchard was Vice President for the Society of
Certified Senior Advisors and served as part of
their International Faculty. Norm currently serves
as Director of Marketing and Communications for
Mile Hi Church in Lakewood, Colorado.
29
Questions for the Ordinary Life:
Revealing the Profound Amidst the Ordinary
By Norm Bouchard
Frequently Asked Questions
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1. |
Why did you
write this book? |
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I have always
been a seeker and believe in asking
questions and doing personal work in one’s
life. This past year I had a recurring dream
three nights in a row. In my dream I was
sitting before a council of people all
dressed in white. I could not make out any
faces but knew somehow that they were wise.
The figure in the middle of the group stood
up and said, “You must answer the 29
questions.” I spoke up and asked “What are
they?” and then I woke up. This same dream
happened in the exact same manner three
nights in a row. So I decided that it was
important. I have a spiritual guide that I
work with and we spoke about the dream.
After speaking about it I decided I should
write down 29 questions I may have. I could
only come up with ten. So I sent an email
out to all of my friends and colleagues and
asked, “What are the three most important
questions you should be asking in life?” The
responses were amazing. We notice that there
were Life questions, Personal growth
questions and Spiritual questions. Once we
divided them up and placed them in the
appropriate categories, we counted them.
There were 29 in each category. Not only did
I get chills, but I realized how important
writing this book is. So from these three
categories I chose 29 to write on. |
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2. |
Why is it
important to ask questions? |
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Socrates
wrote, “The unexamined life isn’t worth
living.” I heard that powerful quote when I
was studying philosophy back in college and
never forgot it. In fact I chose that quote
to open my book. There is more going on than
meets the eye in what seems to be our
ordinary lives. When you ask questions it
causes you to move beyond the surface of
life to look at what is really going on and
what is being asked of you. When you ask
questions you dig deeper into what life is
all about. Your life is not ordinary at all.
Your life is extraordinary and what seems
mundane really is an invitation to
greatness. Each and every experience we have
in life, whether we name it good or
interesting, is a life lesson waiting to
happen if we would ask what it is about.
This not only works for individuals, but
also for groups, companies, and
corporations. We all need to be asking
questions. |
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3. |
You say that
what you see on the surface in your life is
not really what is going on. How does asking
questions get you to see the truth about
what is going on? |
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I have learned
that the truth of who we really are called
to be often times does not show up in our
ordinary life until we asked deeper
questions. Each life experience is given to
us to learn and grow. We have enormous
potential to be fully who we are but often
times settle for less. I once was in an
unhealthy relationship and a good friend of
mine asked me why I was settling for less
than who I was? Great question! That
relationship was inviting me to something
greater. Thank God I was asked that question
and it changed my life forever in the world
of relationships. |
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4. |
How do I know
if I am asking the right questions?
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If you are
asking the right questions you will feel an
invitation to become more than whom you
presently are. The right questions always
call us to question our limitations and look
at our possibilities. The right questions
are about growth, not settling for less. The
right questions are always moving us toward
self expansion, service and reaching out to
others. |
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5. |
Who influenced
you most in life? |
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I have met
incredible people in my life but probably my
grandmother was the woman in my life that
always seemed to be herself. Not only was
she powerfully who she wanted to be but also
was opinionated, and asked me powerful
questions. I always felt loved, challenged
and encouraged by my grandmother. She just
stated things bluntly, honestly and with
passion. I believe everyone needs my
grandmother in their life. |
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6. |
How has your
life experiences uniquely prepared you for
this book? |
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I have had the
most incredible life path thus far. Spending
ten years in the catholic priesthood
certainly influenced my life. It gave me
great insights into one’s heart and
spirituality and how those values affect
everything one does. In the world of
Catholicism one is not encouraged to ask
questions which made me even hungrier to ask
them. Another great influence in my life was
working for a company that educated
professionals about the aging process. The
more you age the more you are invited to ask
questions. Lastly, my spiritual work with
Mile Hi Church has had the most powerful
influence in my life. The teachings of
Ernest Holmes has not only invited me to
grow but also encouraged me to ask many
questions about who I think I am verses who
I am called to be. Every single step in my
path has prepared me for this book and I
bring that rich experience to the pages.
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7. |
What are the
habitual practices we need to bring into our
lives to transform them? |
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First and
foremost is to make time to ask questions in
your life. Set time apart each day to go to
the quiet place in your heart where you can
hear what is important to you. Practices
like meditation, yoga and spiritual reading
can be a perfect place to start. Secondly,
do your personal work with a life coach,
spiritual director or a group of caring
people. Thirdly, discuss these 29 questions
with a group of close friends. Lastly, hang
out with vision people who see your
potential or who you feel awesome when your
with them. Get rid of folks in your life who
don’t see your potential, or your greatness. |
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8. |
How do you use
your humor and stories? |
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I have been
told on many occasions that I am funny and
have great stories. Life is a riot and you
do not have to look too far for humor. Start
with yourself and the rest is easy. In my
presentations I use tons of humor because
those who laugh, last. Humor allows us to
examine tough things with a light heart. I
spend a whole chapter in my book on the
importance of laughter. In reference to
stories, I have collected many through the
years. The power of story is that it allows
us to wander around in the story, related to
the characters and discover truth for
ourselves. We are only as good as our
stories. Storytellers allow us to see a
truth amidst falsity, laughter amidst tears
and meaning beyond the mere facts. I am that
storyteller. |
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9. |
What is the
single question you wish everyone would ask?
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There are
many, but one I think that is important is
Why are you here? |
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10. |
What is the
question that would transform my life?
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Tell me about
your life and I will ask you a question! |
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