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Adam Smith | June 20, 2016 | Leave a Comment

When You Ask Questions, Expect the Truth

I learned a very valuable lesson in a counseling session one time: Don’t ask a question without expecting to hear the truth. There have been times where I asked questions without first being aware of the truth, so when the truth was given, I was taken aback by the answer. It wasn’t that I wanted people to agree with me all the time — that’s not how anyone can become better — but there have been times where I was clueless to the perception that others had of me and my work. This is one reason that I am now adamant with pushing the importance of communication, but it is only from my own blunders that I realize just how important communication is. This being said, here are five tips to ask better questions and to become better at receiving the truth from others: 

  1. Become fully aware by examining your own intentions and by creating deeper, more meaningful relationships with others.
  2. Take the time to truly listen to others.
  3. Realize that all respectable feedback can only make you better. When you realize this, the road to success becomes much easier to withstand.
  4. Seek out the intent of the person giving you their version of ‘truth’ to know if it is being communicated with love.
  5. Please understand that to do anything meaningful in this world you will have to grow thick skin. Some people just like to criticize, but remember that much of life is fighting the urge of saying or doing what one wants to say or do versus saying or doing what one should say or do. Within our relationships, we must learn to retaliate with love.

Yes, the truth can hurt, but it hurts more when one continues hurting other people, hurting themselves, or hindering the outcome due to one’s own ego. The process of asking questions includes one who can deliver truth and one who can genuinely receive the truth when they ask. 

The process of asking questions includes one who can deliver truth & one who can receive truth. Share on X

Filed Under: Communication, Relationships

Adam Smith

I teach people how to have a greater impact through their work and their time. You can read more about me on my about page.

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Hi, my name is Adam Smith and welcome to asmithblog.com. I am the author of the book, The Bravest You. Because of my work as an entrepreneur, consultant, writer, and speaker, I have been named a top industry influencer by American Genius. I live with my wife, Jasmine, and three children in Shenandoah, IA.

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