Have you ever found yourself caught in the mundane routine of life, wondering about the deeper meaning behind it all? These musings have haunted me since that one random lazy summer afternoon in 2006 (why summer? - weirdly, it was always during the summer break when I had the time to indulge in such thinking. Rest of the year? My mind used to be on autopilot, stuck in the routine grind), questions that resurface way too often and evolve with each passing year - the fundamental “why.”

In the rhythm of our daily lives, it’s easy to get stuck in the loop of routine, performing tasks almost like rituals without questioning the why behind them. Whether it’s the rituals embedded in our faith or the societal norms we follow, the “why” often takes a backseat to the “what” and the “how.” It’s as if we’ve accepted a prescribed life, participating in a cult of the recommended, without fully understanding when or how we fell into this rhythm.

The privilege of leisure allows us the space to ponder these existential questions, to break free from the cult-like routine, and to ask why. Yet, it’s also a daunting task, challenging the very fabric of our ingrained habits and norms. There’s a certain privilege in having the time and energy to contemplate the deeper meaning of our existence.

Motivational and philosophical texts may offer guidance, but the path we choose is influenced by our unique experiences, nature, and nurture. No book can lay out a predefined path for us, and that’s the beauty of it. What we can do, however, is remain open to experiences, constantly reevaluate our perceptions, and incorporate newfound knowledge into our decision-making processes.

The fear of basing our lives on “what we truly want” stems from the uncertainty and vagueness of the question itself. However, our wants and emotions are not as random as we might believe. They are intricately woven into our nature, shaped by evolution to protect and guide us. Our instincts, while not foolproof, have the capacity to help us make better decisions, provided we are willing to recognize and refine them. The challenge lies in reorienting ourselves, not getting distracted by the existing norms, and having the courage to question the fundamental “why” even if it challenges our instincts. It’s about digging deep into the habits we’ve cultivated and asking why we do what we do.

Consider one of the first things we learn in formal education - the alphabet. When we learned “A for Apple,” we took it at face value. We learned the what and the how without questioning the why, why “apple” and not “paple.” Imagine if we did ask why - it would lead us down a fascinating rabbit hole of linguistics, etymology, phonetics, and the evolution of language and humankind itself.

The power of asking “why” is overwhelming, and I refer to it as the “why paralysis.” The multitude of “whys” flooding our minds may seem daunting, but overcoming this paralysis is what propels us into deeper realms of understanding - both of the world around us and, most importantly, of ourselves. It’s the courage to untangle these “whys” that unveils the true power of questioning and unlocks the doors to profound insights.