Because It's What You Do

Below is an excerpt from an email I got today that is really relevant to the way we work our lives sometimes. I am trying to be really aware of “why” I do the things I do lately, and sometimes I come up with the answer of “because it’s the way it’s always been done”. However, that’s not good enough for me, I need good answers to “why”. And if there is no good reason why, it’s back to the drawing board I go. Do you have anything in your life that you do because that’s the way it’s always been done, yet you don’t know why and/or it just seems like there may be a better way? I like to take the issue at hand, measure it up to my values and belief system, and decide whether it’s time well spent or not.
We spend so much time doing some “things” just because it’s expected or tradition or just because you “should” or  ________ (you fill in the blank). Don’t let others “should” on you! Buck the system (be it religion, family, job, etc) that doesn’t want you to think for yourself…I follow the “shoulds” of God because I have thoroughly researched Him and The Bible and wholeheartedly believe in His “shoulds”. They are worth my time! What “shoulds” and “just because’s” are worth your time? Which ones are irrelevant and unproductive?  Happy Monday and here’s the excerpt:
If you start with a cage containing five monkeys and inside the cage,
hang a banana on a string from the top and then you place a set of stairs
under the banana, before long a monkey will go to the stairs and climb
toward the banana.
As soon as he touches the stairs, you spray all the other monkeys with
cold water. After a while another monkey makes an attempt with same
result … all the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water.
Pretty soon when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other
monkeys will try to prevent it.
Now, put the cold water away. Remove one monkey from the cage and
replace it with a new one.
The new monkey sees the banana and attempts to climb the stairs.
To his shock, all of the other monkeys beat the crap out of him.
After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb
the stairs he will be assaulted.
Next, remove another of the original five monkeys, replacing it with a
new one.  The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked.The previous
newcomer takes part in the punishment… with enthusiasm.
Then, replace a third original monkey with a new one, followed by a
fourth, then the fifth.  Every time the newest monkey takes to the
stairs he is attacked. Most of the monkeys that
are beating him up have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs.
Neither do they know why they are participating in the beating of the
newest monkey.
Finally, having replaced all of the original monkeys, none of the
remaining monkeys will have ever been sprayed with cold water.
Nevertheless, none of the monkeys will  try
to climb the stairway for the banana.
Why, you ask?  Because in their minds…that is the way it has always been!