why does why matter?

consider some simple questions:

if you drank coffee this the morning, why?

if you didn't, why?

if you went to work today, why?

if you didn't, why?

if you read newspapers, why?

if you don't, why?

these are very, very basic questions.  

but what's the common denominator among them?  

obviously, it's why.  

why does why matter?

it helps us uncover the reasons behind things.  

for example, i drink coffee every morning.  why?  habit.  i love the taste.  i love the ritual.  i find it comforting.  it helps me wake up.      

why sheds light on your rationale.

for example, i went to work this morning.  why?  habit.  i get paid to be there.  people expect me to show up and do my job.  it provides structure.  i like the people i work with.

why tells us about your behavior.

for example, i don't read newspapers.  instead, i read my news online.  why?  it's free.  it's more accessible.  i can read it anywhere.  it's quicker.  there's more news out there.

obviously, these are basic answers to basic questions.  

the point is to get acquainted with asking why.  

why gives us insight into your motives.    

why do your motives matter so much?

as cells are the building block of your body, motives are the building block of your behavior.

the more you know about your motives, the more you know about yourself and why you think, say, and do things.  

and the more you know about other people's motives, the more you know about their behavior.

everything from a personal level to a global level involves motives.  

next time you have coffee, go to work, or read the news, ask yourself:  why?

for that matter, the next time anything interesting happens in your life, ask yourself:  why?

try increasing your awareness of motives.  

start paying attention to the reasons behind things. 

start asking why.  

ask if often.  

use it as a tool to keep going deeper into an understanding of something.

after you listen to the president talk, take a piece of what he says out and ask yourself:  why did he say that?  

after you listen to a news anchor say something, ask yourself:  why did she say that?

when a new congressional bill is being proposed:  ask yourself, why? 

it doesn't matter whether, in the end, you agree or disagree with the answers you get.  the most important thing is to at least dig deeper.  many of us just hover around the surface of an issue.  it's infinitely more enriching to go deeper.

you'll be surprised what you find.