Want a short, simple way to squeeze exponentially more insights from your self-exploration efforts? The secret word o' the day is...
"Why?"
Just that one little word, vigorously applied, will give you incredible insights.
For example, take a look at a commonly recommended question for finding your career passion..."What do you love doing?"
A valuable question, but by itself it falls far short of the insights that could be gotten by following the answers up with, "why?"
Because "what" you love doing isn't the whole story. You can say, "I love doing _____," but whether you're conscious of it or not, what you really mean is "I love doing _____ because _____, _____, and _____." You and I could say we love the exact same thing, and the underlying reasons might be completely different.
Asking "Why? What is it about it that is so enjoyable?" lets you dig down and find the underlying characteristics of the things you love doing. Once you know those, you can start trying to incorporate them into your career, whether by making small changes where you are, or identifying a whole new direction.
I find Jack Zufelt's 'Core Desire' Questions very helpful:)
"To discover YOUR Core Desires you must pay very close attention to the TRUE feelings you experience as you ask yourself two basic questions.
The first question gets you started (but the first answer
people give is rarely accurate):
"What would I like to have that I don't currently have?"
The second question is the drill:
"If I had that what would that give me that I don't have?"
Keep asking yourself that after each answer until you
hit pay dirt."
http://www.superbeing.com/jackzufelt.htm
Posted by: Avi Solomon | October 30, 2003 at 08:50 AM
The Question "Why" is an illusion. There are many other illusions, but for this moment let's focus on "Why."
"Why" is just a word, and Don't Trust words. Words are just that--words.
The real question is no question at all. Theres only the experience of the world around you and within you. You have a choice on how you want to experience the world. The better able you are to let go of all things and just "Be", then you are better able to experience life. It is only through the realization that "Why" is an illusion, because it's only a word, that the true experience of life is realized.
P.S. There's only one answer to the question "Why", and that is to enjoy ourselves, help others enjoy themselves, and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.
Posted by: Michael Pokocky | November 02, 2003 at 10:25 PM