The Miracle Question

An interesting "What if?" to ponder on.

Sometimes we get really caught up in our problems, over-identifying with the feelings that accompany them to an extent where it may feel like it's become a part of us. The miracle question is a thought experiment which tries to see things from a different angle (usually a future we would like).

Try it here:

Imagine that you have had a long hard day. After you go to bed and fall asleep, a miracle occurs. When you wake up the next morning, you find to your delight that all your problems have disappeared.

What specific things do you notice have changed that gives you a sign that things have gotten better?

Also known as the "problem-is-gone" question, the miracle question was invented by Solution-Focused Brief Therapy practitioners, but is an exercise used in therapy by practicing therapists of various orientations.

Tips:

Try to experience it in your mind's eye. You can help this along by asking yourself questions like these:

• What would be the first thing you do now that your problems have been solved?

• Who do you feel like sharing the news with first?

• How do you see yourself in this new setting - do you look and act the same or differently?

• How has the quality of your life improved since that fateful day?

Do: this exercise when you would like to get some distance from a problem. It would be like stepping out of your situation for a moment so you can see it better.

Don't: keep it vague. An answer resembling "Life would be sweeter if my problems went away" doesn't tell you anything new about yourself. How would life be sweeter, now that can be very illuminating.

You probably won't lose the problem just by imagining it isn't there, but you sure might gain some perspective on what you hope to move towards.