What does the miracle question consist of?

“Imagine that tomorrow your alarm clock rings and when you wake up you notice that a miracle has happened and all your problem has disappeared.. How could you realize that the problem for which you came for consultation no longer exists?” This is the beginning of working with the miracle question technique.

This work methodology is found within solution-focused therapy, with its highest representative Steve de Shazer. The work is aimed at finding exceptions in the patient’s life, that is, finding situations in which the problem is not present and enhancing them. and maximize them as much as possible.

Solution-focused therapy would fall within the group of so-called brief therapies, lasting approximately ten sessions. Which What is sought with the “miracle question” is for the patient to quickly realize how their life would change if their problem were not there or disappeared. suddenly.

Sometimes we are so immersed in problems that we leave aside all the good that happens to us every day, we focus only on the bad and we are unable to get out of this spiral. With this question we have the opportunity to make a miracle happen, to realize What would happen if we were lucky enough to wake up again and not have the problem.

What prevents us from doing what we want?

“I could tell that my problem was gone if I stood up and didn’t feel the pain in my chest. If I could have breakfast quietly without looking at the clock every two minutes, if I could wake up my children without rushing and tell them how much I love them. I would realize it because I would kiss my partner as soon as he got up and I would be aware of how lucky I am to have a family and a job. I would forget my stress for a moment and enjoy the peace of having breakfast together.”

The miracle question must be carried out by a specialized therapist, who guides the patient’s narrative and allows them to see the details that they are missing by focusing on their problem. These types of questions help us realize what has changed and what is stopped being done because of the problem.

Looking inside ourselves and imagining what would happen if “it were good” gives us the factors of change and the objectives to achieve. Is there something external that prevents me from getting what I want or am I the one who is setting limits to move forward? Many times we ourselves are the ones who set the stumbling block. Imagining a better day to day also brings us closer to knowing what we want to achieve.

Work after the miracle question

After checking and realizing what the problem has changed in my life, actions come. Within this solution-focused therapy there is also the technique called “butterfly effect”. This exercise helps us see that after a small change, the others occur, almost in a chain.

We cannot stop at imagining what would happen or seeing how things are changing, it is time to take control of the day to day and start building. Realizing what the problem occupies in my life is perhaps the most difficult step, but once we are aware, it is easier for us to start acting.

The miracle question could be considered the starting signal, but afterward there is still a lot of work to do. We set the factors of change and the objectives to be achieved, after realizing everything that we like and our problem prevents us from doing. Let’s take control and start working on it.

And now I ask you, what would happen if tomorrow you woke up and everything that made you uncomfortable today had disappeared? Start asking yourself what you could change in your life. Imagine and create the possibilities of a better everyday life.

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