“Why?” is usually the most pertinent or efficient method of getting to the truth of a matter. Everything real can be accurately described as an expression of physics. Breaking down why things happen as they happen, or even why we think the things we think to their fundamental expressions of physics helps to exclude falsity from the issue considered. This can be illustrated in problem solving techniques, where pursuing a chain of “Why?” questions helps to demystify the problem by reaching the fundamental aspect of it, the circumstances that led to the problem, which is where the solution usually lays.
In early childhood we each went through a stage of insatiable desire to learn the “Why?” of everything to which we’re exposed. This might be the most honest phase of our lives and it is a shame we cause it to be so fleeting. I guess it’s just too easy for children still self-honest by default to negotiate their way beyond their parents comfort level, which amounts to the denial and other self dishonesty they’ve individually normalized. This was certainly true of my childhood.
Our endogenous addictions are so strong we stunt our children’s conscientious development so as not to challenge our own worldviews, and we usually tell them (and ourselves) we’re doing them a favour in the process because reality is so upsetting and difficult to accept.
When pursuing self honesty, self worth, and self trust it can be advantageous to burrow through the “Why?” questions of our emotions. For each emotion you challenge and each answer you provide yourself in response, ask yourself “Why?” until you get to the fundamentals of the problem. “Why am I feeling what I’m feeling?”, “Why do I value this feeling?”, “Why would I choose to react in this way?”, and “Why is an emotional response to this situation appropriate?” are all examples of starting points we can use to begin the process.