Why?
Each of us was born with a powerful one-word question embedded deep within us: “Why?”
As children, it flowed from our mouths with ease.
At some point, others stopped finding our questions interesting and started finding them irritating.
Curiosity was curbed with answers like:
“Because.”
“Don’t question authority.”
“You shouldn’t ask that.”
No one taught us how to wonder. Someone did teach us how to stop.
Perhaps it’s time we rekindle what used to come naturally.
Let’s start by directing our questions toward someone who will embrace them: Ourselves.
Invite yourself to pause.
Encourage yourself to ponder.
Why?
Why am I here?
Why do I do this work?
Why did I make that decision?
Why do I have that opinion?
Why do I feel this way?
As you sit in the silence, give your questions space.
Space to roam.
Space to reveal.
Space to revive.
Resist the urge to shut them down with the familiar phrases from your past.
Even when your questions knock on the door of hard truths…
Let them in…listen…and learn.