How might we … do something we really love?

Encore.org members Howard and Marika Stone have a provocative post on their 2Young2Retire blog, describing the power of asking questions that begin, “How might I (or we)...” And they suggest it might be a useful exercise for people contemplating the next stage in their life journey.

“These three little words suggest that there is always an answer even if it is not immediately apparent,” the Stones write. “It’s a radical, mind-opening approach that costs nothing and can lead to big breakthroughs.”

The Stones, who are Purpose Prize fellows, report that they first learned the “How might I/we?” approach at a daylong session at IDEO, a Palo Alto design and innovation firm, during last year’s Purpose Prize Summit. IDEO emphasizes the power of community:

We believe that the power of community is stronger than that of a single individual, organization or brand… We foremost consider the social factors, asking questions and evaluating answers: How might the user’s relationships influence or motivate behaviors? How might an experience be shared with others? What is the meaning of belonging, and of identity? What drives the feeling of membership or loyalty to a bigger cause or group?

For people contemplating how they will spend the years between midlife and true old age, the Stones suggest: “Set yourself free from preconceived notions of what you ‘should’ be doing, and be guided by the possibilities of discovering something you really love, whether for a paycheck or the fulfillment of giving back in some way.”

Encore Question: How might I/we do something I/we really love? To share your thoughts, click on “Comment” below.