Going Deeper

When working with educators, I like to ask them two questions:

Why do you teach?

Why do you teach the way you teach?

If we exchange the word “teach” with the appropriate verb for anyone’s work, these questions give us the opportunity to dive deeper into our purpose and reasons for what we do. Getting a clearer perspective on our intentions in our work can help us determine if our actions are congruent with our beliefs and values. When they are, we enable ourselves to perform within our integrity. If they are not, we create dysfunction, friction, and imbalance in our daily lives.

When we are incongruent with our actions and beliefs, it is important to determine what is not authentic with our true selves. What needs to be realigned? Are we acting in contrast to our values or are we relying on inaccurate or incomplete beliefs to guide our actions? If we continue to work in an unclear or disjointed manner, we minimize our ability to find meaning and fulfillment in our lives. Asking penetrating questions as to why we do things gives us space to assess our motives and adjust accordingly if necessary.

Ultimately, we want to invest in pursuits that engage us fully and provide pathways for us to maximize our contributions to the world around us. As such, it is necessary for us to take the time to truly delve into the whys of our work. Asking insightful questions can lead us to a deeper understanding of who we are. This process can be difficult and painful at times, but the dividends are life changing. So, have you checked your whys lately?