Why We Must Never Stop Asking The Question Why

There have been lots of skits and sitcoms about young children and their quest to know why.

They ask:

• Why is the sky blue?
• Why is the grass green?

Then if they make a request and it’s denied then it’s, “Why can’t I have ice cream” or “Why can’t I have a cookie?”

The list of whys go on seemingly forever and some can be very philosophical.

• Why do I have to go to bed now?
• Why do people die?
• Why can’t we go to grandma’s?
• Why did daddy leave?
• Why are kids mean?
• Why don’t they like me?

[tweet_box]If you’re a parent of child who is in the throws of asking why, it can be a daunting task to keep yourself from uttering those words, “Because I said so!”[/tweet_box]

After awhile, children stop asking why and turn into adults who don’t ask why.

But let me share why you should rekindle your sense of discovery and start asking why.

A Not So Funny Thing Happened in the ER One Day

I’d been under a doctor’s care ever sense I had a bad reaction to a drug that was supposed to help with my wheezing. I had a bad cold that wouldn’t go away. In the emergency room, they put a nitro glycerin patch on me and treated me like a cardiac patient. No one really explained what was going on. I was given meds for my blood pressure and my cholesterol.

I never asked why.

Fast forward five years and I find out my cholesterol was barely over normal and the drugs they had me on weren’t even necessary. I’d been on them for years and I was livid when I found out I didn’t need them! Missing out on good sleep due to stupid side effects that went undiagnosed by my doctor. They wanted me to take a very costly and very painful neurological test to determine the source of my symptoms. It was the da-gum meds they had me on! Even the reflux meds they had me on had side effects.

A friend of mine said she consults with her pharmacist first for that very reason.

After all I’ve been through, I thought that was a good idea.

[tweet_box]I learned that there is power in asking why and I had every right to do so. And so do you.[/tweet_box]

Why Is Powerful

When you ask why and require an answer, people have to take the time to respond. They can’t just hurry you out the door and get on to their next thing. If they do, you might want to make some changes.

Confident, mature, emotionally stable people don’t mind answering reasonable why questions.

You should ask:

• Why is that?
• Is there a reason for…?
• What is this for?
• Are there any other options?
• What happens if?

I’m not suggesting you become a nuisance but I am encouraging you to take charge of your life and not just accept everything at face value. Become the inquisitive five-year-old and ask why.

You have a right to know things…especially when it comes to your health, your money, your spirituality and your relationships.

You have every right to ask why. Even if you think you know the answer you might be surprised. It’s better to not make assumptions and ask for clarity’s sake.

Ask Why For Someone Else

There’s a lot of craziness going on in our world. Lots of things on the 5 o’clock news to make you ask why. Like:

• Why do #BlackLivesMatter?
• What’s going on with our environment?
• Why is Alzheimer’s such a cruel disease?
• Why is getting help for mental illness so difficult?
• Why is there a stigma attached to mental illness?
• How close are we to finding a cure for breast cancer?
• Are we giving the best care to our vets?
• Why do hatred, racism and ignorance continue?

These why questions demand an answer but not everyone is willing to tackle them. Asking these kind of whys require research and action. When it becomes obvious that there is no easy answer, it becomes much easier to let someone else do it or hide behind the obligatory “I’ll keep you in my prayers.” For some, they’d prefer not to ask the question at all. They’ll talk around it but never dig deeper by seriously and sincerely asking why and then be willing to do something.

It doesn’t even have to be big.

It can be something in your own community.

In your kids’ school.

Sometimes after asking why and doing research, you may feel led to move completely outside of your comfort zone and do something big. I know a family who adopted four beautiful children from the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa. That was a big thing.

That’s what asking why will do.

In this New Year, condition yourself to ask why more often and change yourself and the world around you….even if it’s a little bit.

#thiswomanknows