Workaholics: Your Focus for the Week - From Why Me to What Now
This week’s Workaholics explores the mental shift from “Why me?” to “What is this teaching me?” Drawing from Zen, Stoicism, and sports, it shows how reframing obstacles transforms frustration into growth — and challenges you to practice it daily.
Focus for the Week: From Why Me to What Now
Most of our stress doesn’t come from the event itself but from the story we attach to it. In Buddhism, this is called taṇhā— craving.
We crave comfort, control, escape. When life throws us something different, we suffer because it doesn’t match our craving. The antidote is not to escape or resist, but to observe. Asking “what is this teaching me?” transforms the moment from an enemy into a teacher.
Inspiration from Zen/Stoicism:
You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” – Maya Angelou (echoing Stoic thought)
The Stoics knew: pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional. Zen adds: don’t cling to how you wish things were, meet them as they are. The lesson is hidden inside the difficulty — but only if you’re willing to look.
Sport Figure Insight:
Think of Michael Phelps at the 2008 Olympics. In the 200-meter butterfly final, his goggles filled with water. Most swimmers would have panicked, asking, “Why now?” But Phelps had trained for it — swimming blind, counting his strokes. Instead of “why,” he asked, “what do I do right now?”
The result: gold medal, world record.
Weekly Challenge:
This week, when something frustrating pops up — a meeting that drags, a workout that feels off, a conversation that stings — pause. Instead of spiraling into “why me?” ask yourself this: ➡️ “What is this here to teach me?”
Write it down once a day. Small re-frames add up.
Practical Story:
When Steve Kerr was punched by Michael Jordan during a Bulls practice, he could have sulked, asked “why me,” or checked out. Instead, Kerr reframed it. He later said that moment — standing up to Jordan, then reconciling — built trust and shifted his entire career.
The lesson? Every hard moment carries a teaching, if you’re willing to look for it.
This week, do the inner work. Shift the question. You’ll find strength where others only see setbacks.
Until next Sunday,
– Adam
