5 Whys to Self-Understanding: A powerful tool for personal growth

I am revisiting the topic of The 5 Whys due to the positive feed back I have received.

The 5 Whys is a well-known problem-solving tool that can be used to understand yourself better. It was initially developed in the 1970s by Sakichi Toyoda to help improve the Toyota production system. It is now taught in business schools across the country and can be applied to your psychology and self-help practice to help you explore the issue under the issue.

How to Use the 5 Whys To use the 5 Whys, simply ask yourself "why" five times in response to a problem or concern. Each time you ask "why," try to answer it with a more specific and detailed explanation. Keep asking "why" until you reach the root cause of the problem.

Example Here is an example of how to use the 5 Whys to understand why you are feeling stressed:

I am feeling stressed!!!

• Why am I feeling stressed?

  • Because I have too much work to do.

• Why do I have too much work to do?

  • Because I'm not delegating tasks effectively.

• Why am I not delegating tasks effectively?

  • Because I'm afraid that people will think I'm not capable of doing my job.

• Why am I afraid that people will think I'm not capable of doing my job?

  • Because I had a bad experience in the past where I was criticized for not delegating tasks.

By asking yourself "why" five times, you can get to the root cause of your stress. In this example, the root cause is the fear of being criticized for not delegating tasks. Once you know the root cause of your problem, you can take steps to address it.

Lets Try Another:

I wish my partner would just stop nagging!!!

• Why is your partners nagging bothering you?

  • Because I don't need to be reminded like a child.

• Why does your partner's "reminding you" bring up feelings of being a child?

  • Because it feels like how my mom/dad talked to me all the time.

• Why is your partner reminding you to do (X)- thing?

  • Because I have forgotten to do (X) in the past, and I was angry with myself.

At this point you may come to the Ah-Ha moment that your partner is trying to prevent you from the self-anger outburst experienced in the past. This is why it is a simple, but not easy, exercise because it can lead places that hurt. It is very important to lead yourself into this exploration with curiosity and compassion leading the way like flashlights in the dark.

Benefits of Using the 5 Whys The 5 Whys is a powerful tool for self-understanding because it can help you to:

• Identify the root cause of your problems.

• Understand your motivations and fears.

• Develop a plan to address your problems.

• Increase your self-awareness.

Tips for Using the 5 Whys

• Be patient. It may take some time to get to the root cause of your problem.

• Be honest with yourself. Don't be afraid to answer the "why" questions honestly, even if the answers are uncomfortable.

• Be open to new insights. The 5 Whys can help you to see things in a new light.

• Don't stop at five. Keep asking "why" until you feel that you have reached the root cause of your problem. This could be reached in 3 whys and sometimes more than 5. Also be willing to explore trailheads because when one issue resolves sometimes others get a little light shined down on them.

The 5 Whys is a simple (not always easy) and powerful tool that can help you to understand yourself better. If you are looking to improve your self-awareness and personal growth, I encourage you to give it a try.