I often hear people ask, “Why is this coming up?”
Usually, they’re referring to something uncomfortable — a physical symptom, a sudden wave of emotion, an unexpected reaction. What follows is a scramble for answers: “Maybe it’s something I ate,” or “I didn’t sleep well,” or “This reminds me of something from my past.”
If the trigger is emotional, the search often moves inward — “This must be connected to my trauma,” or “It’s from that old wound I thought I’d healed.”
This kind of self-inquiry can be useful. But there’s often something hidden behind the question — something unspoken:
This is uncomfortable. This is disruptive. This shouldn’t be happening.
And that’s the real message of the question: not curiosity, but resistance. A subtle push against the experience itself. We ask why with the hope that understanding will make it stop.
But what if we asked the same question differently?
What if instead of demanding a fix, we paused with genuine curiosity?
Not “Why is this happening to me?” but “What’s showing up here, and what might it need?”
When we bring an open, sincere presence to what’s arising, we invite the body to participate in the conversation. We give space for our inner experience to speak — not to be silenced or solved, but to be heard.
Because not everything that comes up is a problem to fix. Sometimes, it’s just a part of you asking to be witnessed.
Next time something uncomfortable arises, try asking:
What if this isn’t a disruption, but an invitation?