Always be clear about the Big What and Big Why
By Bertie Junior, Kitten age 3 ½ months

Hello. There’s lots of detail in life and it seems to me you can confuse yourself if you think too much about that. You would not believe how many things I find on the floor every day that honestly look like toys, even if they’re not.

Anyway, I’ve just chewed over (literally) an article that Mum wrote and I’ve decided to reinterpret it for kittens, cats and other people too.

So, the tip to handling all those details and choices excitingly well is apparently to have a clear sense of your overall direction, purpose – the biggest end result you can dream of and the reason why you want it. Then everything else slots into place beneath that. That’s why it’s called the Big What and Why, it’s got to be big enough to hold all the other little whats and whys (like shall I wash my left paw next or my right?)

I think the big view is important because it helps you give more to life and enjoy more of life. And it gives you lots of other nice things too like the ones below. I’ve explained them using my Big What and Why as an example.

My big What is to be happy and spread happiness because I think happiness happens when people are being true to themselves and being themselves respectfully alongside lots of other people.

See? I may be young, but we cats spend a lot of time not Doing, so we come out with stuff like that. And purr a lot. Anyway, these are some of those other nice things that you can get when you know your Big What and Why, and stories about how they help me:

1. Build confidence in what you’re saying

If you’re clear about what you want AND why it matters, it’s a great deal easier to speak up and do the things that will help you along. When play is what’s going to make me happy, I do whatever’s needed. Sometimes that means pouncing on unexpected body parts.

2. Be consistent and make decisions more easily

If you want freshly cooked fish, it’s no good suddenly getting distracted playing with shoelaces. Stay focused on getting the fish.

3. What you say and what you do match up, you are easily understood

When you know what you want and why, what you say and what you do will be naturally consistent.. which is a lot of syllables to achieve. Look hungry, sound hungry and food will appear. Snuggle up, purr – attention and cuddles will appear.

4. Reduce stress, chill out

I think people look very worried when they are confused and don’t know what to do. I know what I want, and I do something towards getting what I want. I usually get it, but even if I don’t, I’ve done what I can and just go have a nap or something then carry on later.

5. Get other people to understand you, follow, respond

I have found even the most determinedly “not bothered about animals” human can be captivated.  Some play, falling over your own tail, unexpectedly sitting on them and purring, looking stunning – there’s nearly always a way to get them smiling (NB Keep yourself safe whilst you find out what the something is).

6. Handle ad-hoc questions smoothly

Whilst the answer to Food? Hug? Play? Is always going to be yes, what if all three questions came at once? That’s where big What comes in. My big What is to be happy and spread happiness. So I might say no to food if I am full because eating more will make me feel stuffed and that doesn’t feel happy.

7. Build up “Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!” factor (humans call it motivation)

When I’m being happy, others around me feel happier. Then they remember what how nice it is to feel happy, and sometimes they remember what makes them happy. And go and do more of it.

8. Make it easy for others to help you get even more of your Big What

If I don’t make it obvious that I feel happier eating fresh cooked cod than tinned cat food, I will keep getting tinned cat food. Communicating what makes me happy, increases the chance of others contributing to my happiness. (By the way, I also like ping pong balls)(And tennis balls)(And beautiful farmhouse in Welsh Valley)

9. Get above the detail, see what’s important

Pencils are fun to play with, so are toes, paperclips, dust, shoelaces, bits of paper, ping pong balls… Lots of little things and it could get confusing choosing which one – but not if I go back to my What and Why: I play with stuff that’s fun. Is it fun? Right, I’ll play with it.

10. Make your Big What Really Big so there’s lots of different ways to do it

To be happy and spread happiness, there’s so many ways to do it. Main one is just to be me. Then all the details like looking cute, purring, playing, making someone feel special just kind of follow. If I said my Big What was to purr lots then I wouldn’t have so many choices. In fact I think I might even get a sore throat from purring so much, and I would feel strangely unfulfilled because all the other things are important to me too.

I hope you are feeling happy now.  I think people like being around other people that are happy so I hope you know what makes you happy. It might be fresh cooked cod of course. Or it might be something else. You can tell me what it is by replying to this post. And that would make me happy too!

© Bertie Junior, August 2011, updated March 2013

Time out in the Welsh Mountains to take stock, relax, eat yummy home cooked food, get pampered, enjoy beautifully inspiring walks, rediscover what makes you happy,  and be content Happy Holidays