49 Questions To Ask When Writing a Personal History

  1. What are your earliest memories?
  2. What were some of the biggest influences in your life growing up?
  3. How did you decide on a career path or what you wanted to do with your life?
  4. What was it like when you became a parent?
  5. What has been the most rewarding experience in your life so far?
  6. Is there something that you wish you had done differently over the years?
  7. What advice would you give to someone in their 20s starting out in life?
  8. Have any of your dreams come true or changed along the way?
  9. What values have helped shape who you are today?
  10. Are there any regrets that still haunt you or lessons learned from past experiences that remain with you today?
  11. What are the memories that you are most proud of?
  12. Who have been some of your mentors or people who have helped shape you in a meaningful way?
  13. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced throughout life and how did you overcome them?
  14. Are there any insights into life that you have gained over time that you would like to share with others?
  15. Is there a particular moment in time that stands out as potentially life-changing for you?
  16. How have your views on life, yourself and others changed over time?
  17. Have any beliefs of yours evolved or been challenged by events in your life?
  18. Are there any relationships that remain important to you today even if they changed over time?
  19. What techniques do you use to help cope with stress or difficult moments in your life?
  20. What words of advice would you give someone starting their personal history writing journey now?
  21. Are there any moments that you look back on and either cherish or regret?
  22. What aspects of life have been most important to you as your journey progressed?
  23. Have any of your life goals shifted over time or stayed the same?
  24. How have your values impacted the decisions you’ve made at different points in life?
  25. What has motivated you to pursue certain paths, hobbies or activities?
  26. Are there lessons can we learn from your experiences and if so, what are they?
  27. Did any places, people, things or ideas play a major role in who you are today?
  28. Has success come easy for you or have there been challenges along the way ?
  29. Do any spiritual beliefs have an impact on how you live and view life?
  30. Is there anything unique about your story that stands out compared to others ?
  31. Describe a turning point or defining moment from your past that shaped who you are today?
  32. Are there any lessons you have learned in the past that still resonate with you now?
  33. What were some of the biggest risks you have taken in life and what led to them?
  34. Is there an idea or motto that guides your life and how did it come to be?
  35. Who are some of the most influential people in your life and why?
  36. Are there any hobbies or interests you pursued along the way that made an impact?
  37. What events in life caused you to re-evaluate, refocus or change your course?
  38. What do moments of joy look like for you at different times throughout life?
  39. Can you recall any specific time when fear held you back from doing something important?
  40. What would you like young people to take away from your story about living a fulfilling life ?
  41. Have you ever faced a crisis that taught you valuable lessons?
  42. What are some difficult choices or consequences you have had to live with?
  43. How has your experience shaped the way you view the world today?
  44. Are there any specific moments in life where forgiveness has come into play?
  45. What were some of the most significant milestones or accomplishments along your journey?
  46. Can you think of any risks that have paid off for you in the long run?
  47. Have any lifechanging decisions resulted from unlikely or unlikely sources of inspiration?
  48. Has casting away past ambitions opened up new possibilities and potentials for growth?
  49. How have people’s opinions shaped your attitude towards certain things over time? 10.Are there stories or experiences that stand out as being quintessential to who you are now ?

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