We are all looking for insight from the time we starting asking (incessantly) “Why?” as toddlers.
Sometimes “why” is the proper question to ask, but, as an adult, there are times when it isn’t helpful. I find it particularly unhelpful when people ask why God/nature/fate allowed such-and-such to happen.
I think a better question is “How?” How do I help? How do I move forward? How do I learn more about this situation, circumstance, idea, or person?
Why often isn’t relevant or isn’t mine to know.
Please join us for Linda’s Stream of Consciousness Saturdays. FInd this week’s prompt and more here: http://lindaghill.com/2014/11/21/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-november-2214/
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Can’t agree more. And only insightful people get this…that it’s more productive to ask how or what, as in what can we do or learn from the experience.
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Yes. The answer to why is only helpful if it gives you an actionable course, as you say, leading to a “what to do.”
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Liked the insight here.
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Thanks!
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Excellent better questions! Why is a sticky question. How, what and when generally move us forward more than why.
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Ture. Sometimes people get so paralyzed asking why that they get stuck rather than move forward.
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This makes me remember journalism class where we learned to ask “who, what, where, when and why.) This post has made me think, you’re right, sometimes we should be asking how instead of why. I must confess, I haven’t done this often enough. Thanks for reminding that it is so much better to offer to help rather than simply asking why. We all can help, even if only in a small way, each according to their ability.
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This is new, why did I have to fill out that form? I don’t really want to give out my email address, sorry.
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OMG! Sorry about that, I guess I clicked on the WP button down there and it changed my comment to be one from a non-WP blogger… Those comments above are from me, again, sorry…
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Wait a minute, this means that I probably could comment on people’s blogs “incogneto” and flame their comments! Oh, if I was evil I would so do that! 😉 But I’m not, no really I’m not… 😉
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LOL – bloggers, beware! It may be Mary on the loose! 😉
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Helping is great, with each doing a part!
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Very good points. It’s true that “why” doesn’t really change anything.
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Thanks!
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Indeed. You have to wonder what people expect of us sometimes.
By the way, thanks for the chuckle with the “Mary on the loose” comment. 🙂
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I know it’s rare, but I manage humor every once in a while. 😉
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Strikingly observant! Thanks so much for sharing with us.
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Thanks for visiting and commenting, Beth.
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