I had the honor of addressing the South High School graduates last week at their commencement. Since all three of my own kids graduated from South High and I have been back several times to speak to different classes, this was a very special occasion for me. I thought I would pass on my thoughts.

For the last twelve years graduates have had to come up with answers. They’ve had to multiply, divide, use theorems, search for reasons in history classes, search for meaning in English classes, spell the words right, create the projects.  

Now at graduation, it’s time to turn to asking questions. For questions are more important than answers. The reason is, is that our brains are built to search for answers to questions. Have you ever had the experience of trying to think of someone’s name, can’t remember it, but hours later the name just pops into your mind?  All that time, without your conscious attention, your brain was searching for the answer to that question. This happens all the time and we can use this brain power to make a profound change in how we engage with life each day.

If I get up in the morning and my first question is: “What lousy things are going to happen today?” Then I’ll spend the entire day looking for lousy things. Whereas if my question is: “What good thing will happen today?” I will constantly search for and notice the good things that happen to me. Unexpected things, sometimes little, sometimes big, but good things that will work to set my feelings about myself and the world I live in. Having our brains looking for the good things also gives us some resiliency when the inevitable bad things happen – we can cope better.

May your question will be: “Who’s the most interesting person I will meet today? If it is then your brain will spend the entire day constantly looking for the best in other people. So, life can be much richer if only we ask the right questions.

What’s your question for your brain each morning?

Dr. Dave