There Is No Cause Outside of Our Being: How To Heal the Root Instead of the Effect

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I used to think the problem was always outside of me. In my circumstances. In my past. Among those who did not show up as I had hoped. Then I came across a quote that felt like both an insult and an invitation. “There is no cause outside of our being.”

It can't be ME!

At first, I wanted to turn off the YouTube video. Because if that is true, what does it say about all the struggles and silent disappointments I have lived through? Even so, the more I sat with it, the more I realized this quote was not blaming me. It was quietly offering me back something I had been missing for years: the power to stop just reacting to problems and start healing the deeper causes within me.

That idea opened my eyes. I began noticing how often I try to fix the effect of a situation without ever slowing down to ask what inside me brought me there. I would feel overwhelmed and start cleaning. I would feel unheard and start explaining. I would feel disappointed and instantly create a new plan. I kept treating the symptoms while ignoring the root.

Healing begins with awareness. It begins with the courage to say, “What is happening inside me that is shaping this moment?” Not with shame. Not with blame. With honesty.

These simple steps can help you recognize when you are focused on the effect instead of the cause and guide you gently inward, where real change begins.

Step One: Listen to Your First Thoughts

When something goes wrong, your first thoughts reveal a lot. If you hear yourself thinking things like “They made me feel this way,” or “This always happens to me,” pause. These thoughts are not failures. They are reminders that your attention is turned outward.

A gentle question to ask yourself is, “What belief inside me is being touched?” Often, the cause is something deeper, like fear, insecurity, or a story you have been carrying quietly for years.

Step Two: Pay Attention to Repeated Emotions

If the same emotion keeps showing up in different situations, that is a clue. Frustration, disappointment, insecurity, or overwhelm are often connected to something deeper. Ask yourself, “Where have I felt this before?” “What story do I attach to this emotion?” “What part of me is asking to be healed?”

If the emotion stays the same even when the world around you changes, it is inviting you inward.

Step Three: Notice the Way You Try to Fix the Problem

We all have a natural reaction when life feels heavy. Some of us overwork or clean everything in sight. That is me. Some withdraw. Some get louder. Some try to please everyone. Some shut down. Some let out long sighs without stopping to ask why. That is me again. These reactions tell you which part of yourself feels unsafe or unheard.

Instead of judging yourself, become curious. Ask, “If I did not rush to fix this, what would I have to face inside myself?” Curiosity opens the door to healing.

Step Four: Ask Yourself Questions That Bring You Back to the Root

Simple questions can guide you back to the cause instead of the effect.

What is the belief behind my reaction? What emotion is rising in me right now? What part of me feels threatened or unseen? What truth do I need to remember in this moment?

These questions can shift you from reaction to awareness.

Step Five: Journal for Clarity

Writing slows the mind and reveals the truth beneath the noise. Even a few honest sentences can help you uncover the deeper cause. If you are looking for a supportive resource, one book that truly helped me understand how my thoughts shape my inner world is Don’t Believe Everything You Think. It explains how our thinking patterns create unnecessary suffering and how real freedom begins within. You can find it on Amazon here:https://amzn.to/4iOk6dF

And if you want a simple guided journal to help you reflect on your thoughts and emotions each day, The Five Minute Journal is an excellent option. It is gentle, structured, and perfect for reflective healing work. Here is the link:https://amzn.to/4aEvjLJ

Growth happens one step at a time!

Be Encouraged

You are not wrong for focusing on the effects. Most of us were never taught how to listen to the quiet beliefs behind our reactions. Every time you pause, breathe, and look within, you reclaim a piece of yourself that was lost while you were living in what I call “survival mode.”

When you heal the cause inside your being, the effects outside begin to shift in ways that feel steady, honest, and true. If this message speaks to you, take a moment today to ask yourself not “What is the problem?” but “What is the root?” Your healing begins the moment you dare to look inward.

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