Why, Why Me, Why Not Me? {Reflections Redeemed}
The Internal Questions of Humanity
There are internal questions all humans ask themselves—at least once in their lives. The reasons for raising these questions are numerous, depending on personal circumstances and individual experiences. Often, they are uttered with saturated emotion and a heaviness in the heart.
The First Question: Why?
With time, we learn that this question is asked from two major emotional states: curiosity or contempt.
As children, we ask out of exploration.
As adults, often, we ask out of exhaustion.
That’s why it’s often advised to nurture the inner child—the part of us that is curious, questioning, and open to wonder. Curiosity drives exploration and innovation. Contempt and anger, on the other hand, can fuel transformation—sometimes for better, sometimes not. The result depends on the individual's intentions and values.
The Second Question: Why Me?
Even those who do not believe in a higher power may find themselves asking, "Why me?" when faced with overwhelming pain or loss. It's not a question of reason alone—it’s a cry for meaning.
We live in a world with billions of people. Yet when hardship strikes, the question emerges from a place of isolation:
Out of all people, why am I the one afflicted?
The answers vary. Some may say there is divine wisdom, some may adopt a nihilistic view, and others may believe the truth lies beyond human understanding. For those who believe in surrender—to God's will, nature, or fate—this question becomes a spiritual turning point.
What is within our control?
What lies beyond it?
That discernment is, in many ways, the essence of living. And it varies from person to person—and from one culture or community to another.
These reflections are not meant to justify wrongdoing or promote passivity. On the contrary, they are calls to awareness, especially for those who pretend to be righteous while harming others to achieve what they selfishly desire.
The Final Question: Why Not Me?
Why did they get that job? Why is their life easier? Why are they loved, and not me?
It's a deeply human question, echoing a sense of implicit objection to the world, to luck, to divine will. Some whisper it in prayer, others shout it in despair. Yet it always reflects the pain of unmet longing.
We are wired to desire inclusion in whatever brings comfort, luxury, or opportunity. And we instinctively seek to distance ourselves from pain, suffering, or hardship. This duality of attraction and aversion is a universal truth of human nature.
Still, we don’t always get to choose what comes our way. At times, we are forced to seek refuge in something greater—be it meaning, faith, nature, or simply the mystery of existence itself.
Entitlement and the Human Condition
There is an innate sense of entitlement within us—rooted in our ego—especially when it comes to reward acquisitionand pain avoidance. While this sense may vary among individuals, it is part of the human condition.
Recognizing this is not about shame—it is about honesty. This humanitarian approach requires us to confess the subjective side of our nature, even when we try to hide behind objectivity. Whether we accept, deny, or ignore this truth, it exists within us.
Closing Thought
How we answer them, or choose not to, is part of what makes each human journey unique.
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