---

What Is 'Self-Elicitation'?

Self-Elicitation is the process of asking yourself questions, and then answering them.

By recording your answers in a journal, logging when specific behaviors occur and noting the frequency of these behaviors, you'll discover patterns. If you know the pattern, it's easier to change the behavior.

Make it a Habit to consistently ask yourself good questions, and you'll overcome your challenges easier.

Josh Kaufman Explains 'Self-Elicitation'

Externalization is most useful if you use it as a tool to examine your plans, goals, and actions. Jotting down the events of the day in a diary format is useful for later review, but using a journal or confidant as a problem-solving tool is even more useful.

Self-Elicitation is the practice of asking yourself questions, then answering them.

By asking yourself good questions (or working with someone who asks good questions), you can grasp important insights or generate new ideas very quickly.

The Five-Fold How and Five-Fold Why are specific examples of self-elicitation. Simply by asking yourself questions, you're exploring options you previously didn't consider and Priming your brain to notice related information.

In Self-Directed Behavior, Drs. David Watson and Roland Tharp explain a very useful self- questioning technique you can use to discover the reasons behind behaviors that don't serve you.

The ABC Method (Antecedent, Behavior, Consequences) is a set of questions you ask yourself whenever you behave in a certain way you want to change. By recording answering to the following questions in a journal, logging when specific behaviors occur, and noting the frequency or duration of those behaviors, it's possible to discover patterns in your behavior or thought processes.

Once you know the pattern, it's easier to change the behavior:

Antecedent

• When did it happen?
• Whom where you with?
• What were you doing?
• Where were you?
• What were you saying to yourself?
• What thoughts were you having?
• What feelings were you having?

Behavior

• What were you saying to yourself?
• What thoughts did you have?
• What feelings were you having?
• What actions were you performing?

Consequences

• What happened as a result?
• Was it pleasant or unpleasant?

If you ever have trouble thinking of a good question to ask yourself, the solution is simple: ask yourself “What are the best questions I could ask myself about this situation?”

This meta-question is very useful when you don’t know where to start, and applies in every situation. Once you have a working list of questions, you can follow up with related questions, like “Who can I ask?”, “What could I read?”, and “What could I try?”

Asking yourself good questions helps you discover good answers. Make it a Habit to consistently ask yourself good questions, and you'll be surprised how easy it is to overcome the challenges you face.

Questions About 'Self-Elicitation'

• Do you consistently ask yourself good questions?
• What questions can you ask yourself on a regular basis to ensure you're on track?

---

"How do I know what I think until I hear what I say?"

E. M. Forster, novelist and social activist

---

---

Share this concept:

https://personalmba.com/self-elicitation/

---

---

---

---