Time and time again I battle the question of why I’m writing, or taking pictures, or pushing my thoughts on happiness, hoping to start a discussion – wanting to see where it leads. “Why start something if you don’t know where you want to go with it?” “Why do you think that what you have to say is so special?” “Why not just stick to construction?” “Why aren’t you focused on dreams or goals that are actually achievable?” I don’t even need to be asked these questions by others, although I have recently begun receiving them. The inertia within me asks them every day. And yet every day, here I am, pecking away. Each day there’s a different reason to take on Newton’s First Law of Motion. I’m doing this to realize my childhood dream of being published. I’m doing this to show my children that I took it upon myself to find happiness and positivity, every day, in the world. I’m doing this to expand my understanding of happiness, and on the list will, and can, go. Today, I’m doing this because, “Why Not?”
Why can’t I be a happier version of me? What happiness, energy or grand plan am I stealing from others by pursuing my own? Why can’t I realize my dream of publishing the next great American novel? And why can’t that path to there start right here, every day, day-by-day forming habits that will lead to the my highest calling – no matter what that ultimately ends up being?
When I made the decision to attend trade school – before I ever knew where it would lead me – I expressed my concern over my long-standing pattern of abandoning my studies to the enrollment advisor at the school to which I ended attending. His response was that my fear of failing may have finally become a push towards success, if I could define my problem. During the first eight week section of courses at North American Trade School, we started every day with a one hour video-guided, called PX2, lead by the Pacific Institute, focusing on positive self-talk. I think I may have set the record for getting more out of that than anyone else ever had. I began to speak to myself in a manner that encouraged perseverance, positivity and persistence. The results, over the past seven years, have been the most consistently positive of any such period of time in my life.
Something broke free in me when I began to give myself permission to ask “Why Not?” As an assistant, I asked myself the same question in pursuit of establishing myself as a professional capable of managing a large-scale construction project on my own. Three-and-a-half years later, I have laid down a track-record of success and quality in my work. I have gained the experience I badly wanted to achieve, and here I am now, asking the same question again. I have so far to go to establish myself in the way I desire with regard to my stated dreams. I still notice myself caring more about the reception of my message than I know I ought to. I still need to refine that approach. In order to do my best work it needs to come from the most authentic place within me – and that place does not have room for external forces. It is locked up tightly enough without weighting those factors, and I’m not disciplined enough to unlock that space amidst competing reasons.
As I look back at the content I have created over the past few weeks, I am reminded that asking “Why Not” is an expression of happiness and self-love. It promotes my creative juices, provides me with a clearer sense of my goals, and pushes me to attain them. I am made more happy by recognizing this pattern of thought and self-motivation. I hope it continues to spur my courage and inspires growth exponentially along my journey. Here’s to hoping it creates the same drive and purpose within you, and hopefully bolsters the courage to reclaim your dreams and pursue them again.
Yours in the Pursuit of Happiness,
Will O’Connor
Project Edison Experiments 