Why we don't know why?

If you are anything like me, whether it’s in your personal or professional life, you have a list of goals you seek to achieve.

And if you are anything like me, you don’t always achieve them. Which begs the question: why?

Sometimes the answer is painfully obvious. Other times it takes more work. Yet, I am struck by how often, whether it’s my own stuff, interactions with friends and colleagues or issues my clients are struggling with, the answer is “I don’t know.”

Why are we losing share to the competition? I don’t know.

Why isn’t our social media strategy working? I don’t know.

Why am I working harder and harder and getting less accomplished? I don’t know.

Why does an innocuous statement by my partner, make me instantly defensive? I don’t know.

It seems to me there are a few reasons why we don’t why.

Sometimes, no matter how hard we dig, it’s simply unknowable. I’d put the “God” type questions in this bucket.

Sometimes, we haven’t dug deeply enough. If it’s important, if we make it a priority, more work–or perhaps a radically different approach–stands a pretty good chance of unlocking the root cause.

Sometimes, if we’re brutally honest with ourselves, we don’t want to know the answer. We’re afraid of being confronted with the harsh reality of our situation. We fear being seen for who we really are or having to acknowledge that we aren’t a victim. Accepting accountability and seeing that the only road is difficult and scary is often to great a burden to bear, much less wake up to and own.

Of course it’s pretty easy to go through life blissfully ignorant, to avoid an honest look in the mirror.

Until it isn’t.

Learn more at www.stevenpdennis.com