Ask “What?” instead of “Why?”
When people assess their current state, emotions, and environment, they all too often ask, “Why?” Like, “Why am I feeling so sad? Why did my boss give me that feedback? Why isn’t my project going the way I’d hoped?”
Here’s why asking “Why?” is ineffective: research has shown you don’t have access to a lot of your unconscious thoughts, feelings, and motives
Odds are, you’re wrong about why you act, do, or think certain things.
Research has also found people who are introspective are more likely to ruminate on negative thoughts when evaluating the self. Self-evaluation through “Why” questions could leave you feeling depressed and anxious, while being entirely unproductive.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-introverts-corner/201302/introspection-versus-rumination
Rather than asking “Why,” highly self-aware people ask, “What?” “What” questions are more productive, and focuses on objectives and future goals, rather than past mistakes
Self-awareness seems like a good thing—after all, it allows you to know yourself, understand your motivations, and ultimately make better decisions. But it can also lead you to second guess yourself and spin out into an excruciating state of self-consciousness, micro-analyzing every nuance of your thoughts and actions. Let’s take a closer look at the two components of self-awareness and see how they work
How to manage self-awareness for your benefit
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-clarity/201909/can-you-be-too-self-aware