What is Different?: Understanding the Miracle Question

What is the Miracle Question?

It's all too easy when facing a problem to get stuck in the "problem".

We go round and round asking the same questions and often coming up with the same answers. The problem seems impossible to solve, overwhelming in size and the goal very far away.

What if there was a different approach, one that ignores the problem itself and instead aims to look towards the solution, to help understand the wanted state and find some first steps in the direction there?

For this you need a little time to yourself so try to find a quiet place where you can think without distractions.

You want to set aside the issue you are facing for a while and instead look to the future, to a day some point in the future where you have woken up, a miracle has happened and everything is exactly as you want it to be, your problem has gone away.

It's not important right now to know how you got there, you have woken up and it's all good, but you don't have any memory or knowledge of how this miracle happened, the key is to really imagine this day and the new experience in as much detail as you can.

Visualize what your life looks like in this wanted future and ask yourself the very simple question...

What is different?

It's a simple question but one you need to repeat, over and over.

What's different for you in every way?

• What's different around you?
• What's different about where you are?
• What do others around you experience as different?
• What's different about what you are doing?
• What's different in how you feel?
• What's different in who you are with?

When you think you have exhausted this, dont stop, the next question to ask yourself is...

What else is different? And keep going. You really want to understand every aspect.

This is not easy, by yourself you need to really push deep for all levels of "what else".

Talking it through with someone, a friend or even a coach can help you keep going until you really find all the clues. It's perfectly possible alone though if you persist.

So what do you do next 

You've got a picture now of something new, without the problem in it. Aside from encouraging some positive thinking (which is very helpful in itself) this gives you insight as to how to move forward.

Choose an aspect that is different in this picture and you can begin to ask yourself, very specifically, what could I change to move to that.

Have I any experiences in the past that are similar and where I have done something that has worked to make a change?

What do I know already that seems like new thinking here?

What small step can get the ball rolling in that new direction?

That's it, the first small step. You don't need the whole plan, you develop that in stages. The first step is enough for now.

No longer are you looking directly at the problem and trying to figure it out, you are looking at a bright new idea and working backwards to today for the small steps to get a new path there, new insights into how to get "to" the desired outcome rather than a focus on getting "away" from the problem.

The problem itself becomes less relevant. 

A very simple example:

A Solution-Focused Approach to Running

Problem “You can’t run very far. You’ve tried again and again, but nothing sticks. Your knees hurt, you get bored, and it feels like you always end up quitting. Every time you start you stop a few days later and feel frustrated. But you want to run because you know you'll feel better for it and you had hoped to enter a local race later this year."

In your miracle future you are running the 10km race, feeling strong and fit, with your partner cheering you on. Its a sunny day, you are running with a good friend and having a great time. You're wearing some new running kit, some new shoes and a running shirt you really like. You're running slow but steady and really enjoying every moment. You finish the race with no knee pain, a smile on your face, and the excitement to run again soon.

How do you get from here to there? Look for clues in the vision.

In the “miracle future,” there’s a friend running alongside. Have you ever asked a friend to train with you? Running with someone could solve boredom and help build consistency.

No knee pain? Great, perhaps it’s those new shoes or that feeling of strength, is it time to explore better footwear or add strength exercises to your week? You could ask the sports shop for help. Or you could find a simple 5 minute strength routine to add to your training plan. 

In the vision, you're not out of breath. This suggests you've built cardio fitness well, slowly perhaps by following a beginner-friendly running plan. It’s not about sprinting from the start—it’s about steady, sustainable progress. You might realize you've always tried to go too fast too quickly.

Find small wins and a first step

The idea of training hard for a race might feel overwhelming now, but what’s one thing you can do this week?

Maybe it’s buying those new shoes, asking a friend to join you in training, or doing a short, slow run to get started. Maybe it's spending some time to research a new running plan, or looking for a local club for some community.

Each step gets you closer to the vision. You'll begin to build consistency and find next steps as you go.

All you now have to do is take the first small step forward. 

By shifting the focus from obstacles to solutions, the path becomes clearer. You don’t need to figure it all out today—just start with the first small step.

One small, purposeful action can lead to the next, and soon, you’ll find yourself closer to that finish line, smiling, strong, and ready for more.

Conclusion

This idea of a miracle happening and the powerful questioning to understand what is different is a great tool for exploring change. It can help you visualize a better future and take steps to make it a reality. 

By deeply exploring this wanted state with the question "What is different?" you give yourself threads to work with and ideas of the small steps needed to move forwards. 

Change is a process. Be patient with yourself and stay committed to your goals. You may slide back as you try to take steps forward but you can always revisit the process, return to when the miracle has happened and ask again...

What is different?

With time and effort, you can achieve the future you desire.

And of course if you'd like to explore this more deeply or talk about how this process can help with your "problem" I'll be happy to help. 

All the best /Scott