Root Cause

Root Cause

Smiles R Contagious | #LearnedMan

Sometimes, what we’re fixing isn’t really the problem — it’s just the symptom.

I once heard about a lady who constantly suffered from earaches. Every time the pain came, she reached for her go-to remedy — BC Powder — and it worked… temporarily. The relief would come, but never stay. After countless cycles of pain and powder, she finally decided to visit her doctor.

To her surprise, the tests showed nothing wrong with her ears or her head. The issue was deeper — digestive problems. All it took was a change in diet and a little exercise, and the earaches disappeared for good.

That story stuck with me because it’s a perfect example of how we often treat the symptom (the headache) while ignoring the root cause (the stomach).

Many of us are living in rotation — chasing relief instead of resolution.

We address the discomfort but never the disorder. We repeat patterns, medicate emotions, and mistake temporary peace for true healing.

My advice is simple:

In your pursuit of happiness, take an inventory of the repeat visits in your life — the places, people, or problems that keep showing up. Then, ask yourself:

• Is it me?

• What should I be doing differently?

• Do I enjoy this cycle, or am I just used to it?

• Am I chasing happiness when I really need to reroute to joy?

Because joy, unlike relief, starts from the inside — where the root lives. 🌱