The Importance of Questions in Communication and Identity

What if the most important thing you could do in moments of confusion, fear, or identity crisis… was to pause and sit with the question, rather than race toward an answer?

In a world that values certainty, performance, and instant solutions, Elizabeth Weingarten is offering something rare: a permission slip to not know. On this episode of the Passion Struck podcast, John R. Miles speaks with Elizabeth about her book, How to Fall in Love with Questions: A New Way to Thrive in Times of Uncertainty, and the profound shift that happens when we stop treating life’s hardest questions like problems to fix — and start treating them like partners in our growth.

Click here for the full show notes: 

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• Uncertainty Isn’t a Problem—It’s a Portal - Life’s hardest questions aren’t meant to be solved immediately. They’re invitations to grow, reflect, and connect with your truest self over time.
• Our Obsession With Certainty Can Be Harmful - Fast, tidy answers—especially from influencers or institutions—often suppress deeper truths and can lead us further from what we truly need.
• Questions Hold the Key to Meaningful Change -Embracing open-ended inquiry helps us better navigate identity shifts, career transitions, moral dilemmas, and emotional upheaval.
• Living in the Question Requires Emotional Stamina -Sitting with not-knowing is psychologically demanding but ultimately expansive. It asks for patience, vulnerability, and a tolerance for ambiguity.
• Behavioral Science Supports the Power of Inquiry - Research shows that reflective questioning enhances decision-making, strengthens relationships, and deepens personal resilience.
• You Don’t Need to Be an Expert to Explore Your Life -“Question literacy” is a skill we can all build. The most important answers often emerge not from authority, but from curiosity and self-trust.

For more information on Elizabeth Weingarten: https://www.elizabethweingarten.com/book

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Catch More of Passion Struck:

• My solo episode on The Mattering Mindset in Love – Choose the Love You Deserve
• Can't miss my episode with Jennifer B. Wallace on the Consequences of Prioritizing Achievements Over Mattering
• My episode with The Art of Listening: How to Make People Feel Like They Matter
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