Friday, June 5, 2020

Quest For Reasons

From the day we know how to talk, we have this innate desire to know the reasons for everything.  We would begin all questions to our caretakers and parents with the word "why" and no single answer would satisfy our insatiable appetite for knowledge.  As we move into adulthood, that craving to know is not appeased by maturity.  There is a drive within us that arouses our curiosity and motivates us to find out the reasons for our experiences.  It is as if we would be swallowed by the implacable magnitude of the cosmos if we do not know how and why events happen.  This is particularly true when things are going south and we are dissatisfied with a situation.  In the absence of a legitimate explanation we may find ourselves helpless and angry, as if we are looking for some fairness to justify the happenings.  And when we know the reasons, it usually gives us a sense of security, albeit a false one.  It seems to suggest to us that if we were to remove whatever that has contributed to our losses or failure, we may have a chance of success if we were granted a second chance.

Acquiring knowledge or skills to improve ourselves is definitely commendable, but maybe we need to let go of the myth that everything happens for a reason.  This is not to discount its validity, but finding the reasons can only be part of the tale at best.  It is way more constructive to find meaning out of life's disappointments than rationalising failure and losses, or you will be falling into the trap of creating another story out of a story.

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