Why do you do the things you do?

Have you ever paused to ponder the reasons behind your seemingly mundane actions? Why do you extend a helping hand, choose a particular outfit, indulge in a specific book, reside in a certain place, pursue a particular career, articulate certain words, or make specific purchases? 

Living consciously and intentionally is the key to understanding the ‘why’ behind our actions, and it can give our lives a more profound sense of purpose. 

For example:

Why do you buy the laundry detergent that you buy?

Is it because it’s on sale?

Is it the kind your mom uses?

Is it because you love how it smells?

Is it because you think it’s the only one to clean your clothes?

Is it because of the brand name? 

When we get honest, we can understand ourselves better and know our intentions deeper. Living someone else’s life is not fulfilling for us. And allowing the actions of others to control us steals our joy.

If I do something nice for someone else, my joy should be in the doing. If my happiness comes from their reaction, then my intentions for doing so are not pure. Instead of being kind and giving, it feels like a business interaction with give and take. 

When we give, if they don’t react according to our expectations, we feel unloved, unappreciated, and disappointed. We think, why should I do anything for them when they don’t appreciate me anyway? Unmet expectations are why lots of relationships end. 

But if we do something because we love the person and genuinely want to help them, our blessing is getting to help them. Therefore, there are no expectations. We don’t need them to give us anything. 

So, any time I get upset by an unmet expectation, I try to pause and explore the feelings and intentions behind it. It reminds me to love others and be kind instead of trying to please them to earn praise. 

It’s the same way with my writing. If I only write for likes and praise, I will be tempted to quit when those things stop. But if I write because God places the words on my heart, and I want to help others, I will continue to write if no one reads it, likes it or praises me. 

Colossians 3:23 KJV

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

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