
When did you last see a sign that read, ‘happiness for sale?’
I’m going to go out on a limb and guess never.
But lurking behind almost everything for sale that is not necessary for safety, security, and survival is the unsaid implication that it will make you happier.
But will it?
There’s a business technique called the 5 Whys. The 5 Whys is an iterative interrogative technique used to explore the cause-and-effect relationships underlying a particular problem. Essentially, in non-business speak, it means that the 5 Whys can help you find what issues caused a problem. The great thing about the 5 Whys process is that it can also be used in your personal life.
The next time you consider making a significant decision or purchase, use the 5 Whys as a filter. I’m going to bet you rarely get to the third or fourth why before you land on something like, ‘because it will make me happy.’
The 5 Whys is an excellent tool for uncovering the deepest reasons for almost anything you do. Although the tool can be very powerful, the downside is that you have to be open to taking time to work on yourself. You’ll have to dig a little deeper into yourself to get to the root of what is motivating you to act.
And if you’re not ready, willing, or open to working on yourself, then maybe that would be the ideal place to use the 5 Whys to ask- why not?
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