Written by Dean Cothill
Article orginally published in the September issue of JOY! Magazine
The Five Questions is written for men who carry responsibility, yet may feel tired, distracted, or disconnected within. Dean Cothill speaks to the man who keeps working, providing, solving problems, and holding everything together, while quietly wondering whether he is becoming the person he was meant to be. The tone is honest and compassionate. It does not shame men for struggling, nor does it offer another rigid formula for self-improvement.
Five questions that reach beneath the surface
The book is shaped around five searching questions: What am I giving my life to? What kind of man am I becoming through my habits? Who gets the best of me? What am I avoiding? If my children became exactly like me, would I be proud? Through these questions, Cothill explores purpose, discipline, work, marriage, fatherhood, hidden wounds, distraction, and legacy. He also challenges the idea that being dependable is the same as being whole. Each section encourages men to examine what their daily choices are forming in them, and what those closest to them may be receiving.
A call to live with greater intention
This is a thoughtful book for men who do not need another demand placed upon them, but who may need permission to pause, reflect, and be honest. Cothill encourages readers to become more present, more deliberate, and more aware of the life they are building. The central message is simple but important: survival is not the same as wholeness, and meaningful change often begins with the courage to ask better questions.
This article appears in the September 2026 issue of JOY! Magazine. Read the digital version of this magazine here: joygifts.co.za
Click here to KEEP UPDATED on the latest news by subscribing to our FREE weekly newsletter.
> Please support Christian media and journalism in South Africa. Help us to spread the Word of God and take a stand for the truth by making a donation to our ministry. We appreciate your support. Click here to take hands with JOY! Magazine.
Date published: 02/09/2026
Feature image: Sourced from original article published in the September issue of JOY! Magazine
DISCLAIMER
JOY! News is a Christian news portal that shares pre-published articles by writers around the world. Each article is sourced and linked to the origin, and each article is credited with the author’s name. Although we do publish many articles that have been written in-house by JOY! journalists, we do not exclusively create our own content. Any views or opinions presented on this website are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company.
