W.H.Y?
These 3 simple letters can stir up a host of things that don’t serve us well.
- We Race to Answer…Often, we Google a question looking for the quick answer…staying disconnected from relating, learning or recalling a more in-depth answer.
- Blasé or Uninterested…“It is what it is…does it really matter?” We’ve given up trusting our intuition and common sense and are too afraid to hear bad news for fear we may have to “change everything”. Information is power and sometimes listening to our gut, and making modifications or small changes goes a long way.
- We Get Defensive…No one loves to have to justify actions or be held accountable. WHY can trigger a defensive or annoyed attitude.
“I don’t know why. I’ve always done that…”
“I did it because a doctor/social media/magazine/friend told me to do it…”
“Because it’s supposed to be good/bad for you…”
My defensive reaction happened 20 years ago and changed my trajectory into figuring things out with my health rather than relying on yet another “quick fix” that “worked” for others. I turned to a holistic doctor for 2 years of chronic sinus infections, a scheduled sinus surgery and other seemingly unrelated symptoms that weren’t life threatening, but certainly life altering. He asked me WHY multiple times to help dig for root causes.
“Why did you take so many antibiotics?
…don’t you sleep?
…do you multitask?
…do you think you have to put up with this?”
To me, I felt shamed & judged…until I suddenly felt stupid that I didn’t ask myself that question. This turned me on to digging deeper and not just trying the next thing in “the kitchen sink” of what worked for others (short term albeit). Life became easier and healthier.
W.H.Y also holds a great deal of POSITIVE POWER
Getting curious helps us connect to ourselves & others.
Digging deeper teaches lessons to alter next choice rather than repeat mistakes.
Questioning stimulates our brain educationally.
Compassion arises when we connect to someone else’s why.
Taking time to notice why calms the nervous system. We respond not react.
When we seek the mystery and the subtleness of things, we are temporarily suspended in the present moment.
WHAT’S YOUR WHY? … OR YOUR WHY NOT…
It doesn’t have to make you freeze or feel bad. Are you making intentions that fit your path or because others are, or are you not to spite them. When we start with the little why’s for each action and pay attention we start to see the theme of things that light us up, give us energy, and bring us joy. Why not can give us boundaries and keep us in alignment with our goals.
WHEN WE ARE WILLING TO GET CURIOUS, VIEW INFORMATION AS POWER & EVIDENCE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE CHANGES RATHER THAN BEAT OURSELVES UP FOR WHAT WE “DID WRONG” WE WILL FIND THE QUEST TO DIG DEEPER
MY WHY. I aim to spark energy and confidence in people to realize that everyone benefits from learning about yourself especially as it relates to wellness. Your body awareness offers valuable information that we need to learn to listen to. My ambition is to inspire others to embrace their wellness and not seek excuses. I’d love for people to change their perception of their body and their ability to nurture it to run as designed. Aging is not a sentence and just because others have similar “symptoms” doesn’t mean it’s normal. The sooner you become open to paying attention to how you feel, without judgment or fear, the sooner healing, growing and living really happen.
WELLBEING ISN’T PART OF THE JOURNEY…IT IS THE JOURNEY
Healing is a daily part of life, we don’t always have to be sick or injured, cells repair, muscles rebuild, neurons find different pathways on a daily basis. When we avoid listening to our bodies we often end up on the IR for a much longer and more expensive time than if we just made some subtle changes as the information popped up.
Not only is it ok to ask WHY, it’s imperative. When viewed from a curious lens, it is filled with information that has a powerful way of leading a path whether its to big things, major healing or simply what you are doing in the present moment that keeps you flourishing.
When we use less time to “fix” the ailments and play mind games, we have more time for our Bucket Lists rather than To Do Lists.