Recently I heard a parent say something to their child that made me think about how important it is to know “Why” we do what we do.
“If so and so jumped off a bridge would you follow?”
My parents used the “bridge jump” analogy when I was growing up and the obvious point I was expected to get was I choose to do what I do. In the end I am the one who decides how I am going to live my life. Yes, it is always easier to blame circumstances, situations, events and people for our actions but, at the end of the day every action we take is our decision and we need to own up to it.
There are always outside influences in life. These influences always provide a choice. There is always a reason why we do what we do. Moreover, when we can get to the core of why we do what we do, we often move forward quickly to what we are really after.
So, a good follow up question to consider might be……“Why.”
Why would you follow so and so and jump off the bridge? Perhaps to satisfy a need to belong. Why is it important to satisfying a need to belong? Possibly to feel more secure. Why is feeling secure relevant? Perhaps because feeling secure will make me more confident, etc.
There is a world of difference between acting on impulse, doing something believing we have to do it and questioning our actions based on why something is important to do.
If you really want something different, something better, something more……
Ask yourself “Why” and “Why not,” why do what you do and why not do something else?
In the end you may well decide to follow and jump off the bridge, more importantly you will know why.
