A colleague once told me the story of her college boyfriend who was enrolled in a Philosophy class.
Settling into his seat on the day of an exam, he and his fellow students were instructed to write a paper on the question Why.
He wrote Why not? as his comment, then got up and left the room.
The professor gave him an A+ for his work.
Do you remember your Wonder Years as a child, when you questioned all that was new and different with a resounding, "Why?" You were curious about the unknown and yearned to learn more.
Why does rain fall down, and not up? Why is purple purple? Why do I have to eat lima beans? What you really wanted to know was why purple could not be yellow and why you couldn't have corn instead of lima beans.
Why not?A simple question to a simple question.
Or is it an answer? Fast forward.
You're an adult now, with even more profound curiosities and life challenges, and you seek solace in logical, rational explanations.
Fortunately, you have a network of family and friends ready to support your curiosity with sound advice and their own inquisitive, "Why?" Their support has enabled you to manage many of life's situations that have come your way, easing the stress of making it through another day.
Remember when you were unjustly fired from a job, and you questionedyour spouse as to why anyone would do that to such a loyal employee?The response you received was probably along the lines of, "I wish I knewYou don't deserve to be treated like this.
" But what of your childhood wonder? The "Why not?" of your youth is an honest answer disguised as a question.
It's an answer that comes from the sacredness of your soul and is as pure as the intent of your thought or feeling.
It is driven solely by your curiosity, your uniqueness, and your desire to express yourself without question or justification.
In the scenario above, consider instead if you had asked yourself, "Why not start my own business now?" Or "Why not sell that antique clock and spend the money on a cruise?"Good answers.
Answering Why with Why Not broadens your capacity for genuine, unpolluted thought, as you rely less on the opinions and assumptions of others and more on your intuitive guidance.
Why is someone else's reality.
Why Not is your reality.
Why Not seeks no apology, excuse or approval, because the true and honest answer lies within you.
When you bypass Why and go straight to Why Not, you lay yourself open to the vast realm of possibility, void of mind clutter and judgment.
Stand back as you are engulfed with heightened curiosity and a willingness to go where you used to avoid.
Dare to be bold to stand firmly in your Why Not.
Because I want to.
Because I never have before.
Because it intrigues me.
Because I feel it in my gut.
Because it's there to do.
Imagine the euphoria of your curiosity as you venture into the arena of many Why Nots.
Why run a marathon? Why Not.
Why take your old painting from the attic and submit it to a gallery? Why Not.
Why quit your job to do what you really want to do? Why Not.
At the next opportunity to ask Why, answer instead with Why Not, and listen to what follows.
Really, really pay attention.
Why do something differently than it has always been done? Why Not.
Settling into his seat on the day of an exam, he and his fellow students were instructed to write a paper on the question Why.
He wrote Why not? as his comment, then got up and left the room.
The professor gave him an A+ for his work.
Do you remember your Wonder Years as a child, when you questioned all that was new and different with a resounding, "Why?" You were curious about the unknown and yearned to learn more.
Why does rain fall down, and not up? Why is purple purple? Why do I have to eat lima beans? What you really wanted to know was why purple could not be yellow and why you couldn't have corn instead of lima beans.
Why not?A simple question to a simple question.
Or is it an answer? Fast forward.
You're an adult now, with even more profound curiosities and life challenges, and you seek solace in logical, rational explanations.
Fortunately, you have a network of family and friends ready to support your curiosity with sound advice and their own inquisitive, "Why?" Their support has enabled you to manage many of life's situations that have come your way, easing the stress of making it through another day.
Remember when you were unjustly fired from a job, and you questionedyour spouse as to why anyone would do that to such a loyal employee?The response you received was probably along the lines of, "I wish I knewYou don't deserve to be treated like this.
" But what of your childhood wonder? The "Why not?" of your youth is an honest answer disguised as a question.
It's an answer that comes from the sacredness of your soul and is as pure as the intent of your thought or feeling.
It is driven solely by your curiosity, your uniqueness, and your desire to express yourself without question or justification.
In the scenario above, consider instead if you had asked yourself, "Why not start my own business now?" Or "Why not sell that antique clock and spend the money on a cruise?"Good answers.
Answering Why with Why Not broadens your capacity for genuine, unpolluted thought, as you rely less on the opinions and assumptions of others and more on your intuitive guidance.
Why is someone else's reality.
Why Not is your reality.
Why Not seeks no apology, excuse or approval, because the true and honest answer lies within you.
When you bypass Why and go straight to Why Not, you lay yourself open to the vast realm of possibility, void of mind clutter and judgment.
Stand back as you are engulfed with heightened curiosity and a willingness to go where you used to avoid.
Dare to be bold to stand firmly in your Why Not.
Because I want to.
Because I never have before.
Because it intrigues me.
Because I feel it in my gut.
Because it's there to do.
Imagine the euphoria of your curiosity as you venture into the arena of many Why Nots.
Why run a marathon? Why Not.
Why take your old painting from the attic and submit it to a gallery? Why Not.
Why quit your job to do what you really want to do? Why Not.
At the next opportunity to ask Why, answer instead with Why Not, and listen to what follows.
Really, really pay attention.
Why do something differently than it has always been done? Why Not.