We are beings that like to ask questions because the answers shape the world around us. As children we asked “why” all the time, much to our parents annoyance. The answer we received helped us make sense of things. As adults, we abruptly stop asking “why” and turn to “how” and “what” instead. It stops being about the reasons behind something and starts being about “what do I have to do and how” to get in control of it.
And yet, “how” and “what” do not work without first understanding “why” we are doing that thing. If we don’t ask why, we are robbed of connecting with our desires. Not asking why breaks the link to our heart and thus to our sense of orientation. We must rebuild that bridge and teach our kids not to lose sight of it.
A “why” can be a simple thing like, “because it feels right” or, “because that’s what I need to be doing right now.” It has an emotional quality to it. If your answers to “why” are materialistic in nature, you have to dig deeper to understand where that answer comes from. You will find that materialistic answers come from an emotional place.
For example, if you say making $250,000 would make life better for you, ask yourself why that is. What emotion is it tied to? Could it be the happiness it would bring you to be able to contribute to your kid’s dream of becoming a doctor?
Under our material desires lies a reason – the WHY of what we do. See what it is that you are really aiming for. Once you understand that, you’ll find that the HOW and WHAT fall into place.
