It’s A Miracle

My graduate students are in the final stretch of completing their Social Work Skills course. I’m always impressed with the students’ ability to begin the class with no previous social work experience and finish the quarter capable and confident. I also caution them that some unlucky student will probably be my social worker in the nursing home, so they need to be armed with mad skills!

As we near the end of the quarter, students learn Solution-Focused Therapies (SFT). SFT encourages a shift from discussing problems to identifying solutions. Those of us in the helping professions are known to want to “fix” things. SFT assists clients in recognizing their innate ability to solve their problems. After all, does anyone really know what’s “best” for someone else? SFT provides various techniques clients can ‘try on’ for appropriateness, one such method being the Miracle Question. The Miracle Question asks clients to imagine going to bed with a problem and waking up to find the problem has gotten better…not disappeared or resolved, just better. What does life look like after the miracle has occurred?

I’m a fan of the Miracle Question for several reasons. First, it doesn’t “fix” things. Instead, it gives the client an opportunity to reflect on what would make things better, baby steps if you will. Rather than adopting an ‘all or nothing approach,’ clients draw upon remedies that have benefitted them in the past. It’s very empowering for clients to recognize their ability to navigate challenges effectively.

I use the Miracle Question in my personal life whenever I feel stuck. I retrace my steps to make sure I am doing the things I know are effective in ameliorating my stuckness. (Yes, it’s a word.) Have I gotten enough sleep? Have I been exercising regularly? Am I eating healthy meals? Am I spending time in prayer and meditation? Am I journaling? Have I spent time in nature? Simply put, remember what’s made things better in the past, and do more of that.

Since I’ve yet to find a magic wand to solve all my problems, I rely on the Magic Question to keep me from succumbing to the slippery slope called hopelessness. If you decide to try the Miracle Question, please let me know how it worked. If you find a magic wand, by all means please buy one for each of us. I’ll Venmo you.