The Power of Two Simple Questions: Why and What If

It’s easy to get distracted, to look at what everyone else is doing and think to yourself, “Maybe I should be doing that too.” Maybe. Maybe not.

Whatever everyone else is doing, they’re doing it for a reason. It might be the right reason. It might be the wrong one. The real question, however, is why you think you should be imitating them.

Why is a good question to ask from time to time. Why am I buying this five dollar Latte? Why am I checking my email for the seventh time today? Why am I avoiding starting on that painting I’ve been thinking about for the last five weeks?

If you can’t think of a really good reason for doing something, then here’s another good question to ask. What if?

What if you simply stopped doing it? What would happen if you skipped the Latte, left the email for tomorrow, and stopped avoiding that painting that’s been whispering in your ear?

If you don’t have an answer to what if, there’s only one way to find one. Try it.

Conduct a little experiment. Have a little fun with it.

This website came about because one day I asked, “What would happen in a year’s time if I stopped feeling sorry for myself and actually did something like post at least one sentence every day to a blog?” I won’t bore you with the details again, but just know this: good things happened and they’re still happening.

Notice I didn’t say, “I must post a sentence every day.” I simply asked, “What if?” I didn’t puff out my chest and grind my heels. I just got curious.

Curiosity is a powerful thing if you’ll tap into it. It can turn chores into puzzles, obstacles into intriguing mysteries, and fear into the need to know.

Some say please be serious. I say please be curious. It’s a lot more fun than simply doing what everyone else is doing.

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