That’s probably one of the most difficult questions one can ask.

The social response is easy. It’s a ritual and the content hardly matters.

But what happens when the relationship goes beyond the social? When people care enough about one another to want to give and to want to have an answer?

Then it suddenly becomes an impactful question.

It becomes a question requiring to connect with oneself and sense oneself. How does life feel in that moment? Is there enough “good”? Is there too much “bad”? How to assess that bugging detail?

It often becomes a question leading to comparing oneself with others. Can I feel bad if I see so many having a really bad time? Or do I have to feel good in such a case?

It becomes an intimate question. Am I willing to share how things are for me with the person asking?

And it becomes a question of being true to the relationship. Can I not share my assessment? What to do when the answer isn’t as easy as the conventional “I’m fine”?

Maybe it’s worth it to see how taking it seriously is a path to being present with oneself as well as to being connected.