Madison life - Ten questions you shouldn't be afraid to ask

There are the really tough questions in life (Does my bum look a bit large and in charge in this? Is this the right shade of lipstick for my complexion? Do I want the panna cotta or the creme brulee?), and then there are the actually tough questions (Is this helping my career? Should I relocate for work? Should my partner and I get married?).

When it comes to getting the most out of life and taking control, piping in a few questions might just save you some hassle, worry, stress or doubt down the road. Here’s our list of questions that you should never be afraid to ask...

...for help and/or advice - This is a tried and true, time old tested piece of advice. Don't be too proud to ask for help when you need it or advice if you are not an expert on the situation. No matter how talented and intelligent, we can't possibly know everything let alone begin to try and understand it all. If you are armed with the correct information, you can do anything better, faster and easier.

...for a better deal (car, gym membership, haggling at the markets) - Who doesn't like a good deal? With a bit of diplomacy, tact and a smile, some things in life can be negotiable. It's true, you never know until you ask.

...for a minute - To take a deep breath, to think, to quickly recharge or to clear your head, sometimes it only takes a minute. For the other party involved in your self-instigated time-out, well, patience is a virtue to be learned as well. Take some guilt-free "me time" and stop and smell the roses!

...anything regarding your health - It is your health after all, and there's nothing more important than being educated and understanding how to keep yourself healthy. Without health, not much else matters. Asking the preventative questions can keep you out of hot water later down the track. Healthy body and healthy mind all result from a healthy peppering of questions.

...is this job/relationship right for me? Introspective evaluation from time to time can keep us on the right path or shed some light onto which way we should be traveling. That's why a break-up or leaving a job might be tough, but it can lead us to better insight into what we want in the next relationship or career and how we can be better partners and workers. By asking, we continue to keep growing and evolving.

...for directions - Although technology is getting close, especially with Google's Project Glass technology facewear, we are not yet inbuilt with a GPS. Some of us even have trouble with our own homing device, especially after a few post work drinks. When iPhone maps fail, street directories become confusing and traffic detours render routes maze-like, save yourself some time, re-interact with humanity and get a local's knowledge to get you back on track.

...for a second piece of cake (or glass of bubbly for that matter - pick your poison!) - Life's too short to be a health saint all of the time. Sometimes the best medicines are a block of choc, wines with the girls or an indulgent second sliver of your bestie's fab wedding cake.

...what's that? Our natural curiousity can keep us young, enthusiastic and engaged with life. Remember how exciting the world always looked through naive childhood eyes?

...for your worth - Ask for that raise you deserve, garner the respect you are due, have your two cents heard out and pipe up when you are been stepped on. You'll feel a lot better for it when you learn to ask for the full value of what you can deliver.

...what's important in your life - Priorities will change but you can balance your external-internal equilibrium by acknowledging what deserves the most attention. Knowing what you value in your life will help you navigate a more fulfilled, happier journey.

In life, in love, in learning and in work there are some big questions to ask. Feel confident to ask these questions loud and proud.

Words by Nikki Fiedler