I recently completed a self-reflection exercise that caused me to dig deeper into my “why” than ever before. It came from a book that was gifted to me by my father. It challenged my internal conventional thinking around why I do what I do. I thought I knew. I thought I was clear. What I discovered surprised me and brought new meaning. It took work, time, reflection, and genuine honesty around who I am and how my past experiences have shaped and molded my thinking, fears, and insecurities.
Being clear on our customized, personal “why” is what drives us to push forward when things don’t go our way and we want to give up. Having a surface “why” will not generate enough momentum to overcome discomfort, fear, and pain. It can help for a period but for us to sustain energy to change and make our lives great we need to dig deeper.
I call this “Why to the 7th Power” based on my own personal experience but it is technically called the “Seven Levels Deep Exercise”. For me, it seemed the deeper I got the power of the “why” got exponentially more powerful, real, and accurate.
This is how it works:
- Find a Partner or Notebook: It is preferable that you find a partner with whom you can do the exercise (needs to be someone who will take it seriously). You can do it on your own but just be sure to write out your answers and be free to expound and ask yourself questions throughout.
- Ask yourself “why”: Start exercise by answering the question why you are doing this exercise. Record your answer. For example: “I am doing this exercise because I want to progress and be happier in my life as I am unfulfilled today”.
- Summarize previous “why” and ask “why” again: Continuing the example: “Why do you believe progress and happiness will bring fulfillment to your life?”. Answer this question.
- Repeat until you have completed your seventh “why”: Continue until you have answered each of the seven “why’s”. The book states that any “why” before or after the seventh “why” will not get you to your true “why”. Stick to the seventh.
Give it a try. Have faith that you can answer each question with confidence and authority. No one knows you better than you know yourself. Be free with exploring reasons and rationale behind each of your answers. Inspiration, insight, and power will come as we genuinely work each “why” of the seven levels.
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