To support our beliefs, there is a causal relationship between how we develop and support our ideas. This is a fancy way of saying that for every belief we hold, there is a cause for that belief. We often use words that connect the ideas, and to get to the underlying belief structure, it is important to know the connecting words that we use to describe this causal relationship. These words are because, while, therefore, before, after, in the same way, whenever, if, so that, although.  “I am successful because I don’t have children” and “I don’t go to a party if it is far away” are examples of these words connecting two facts, and it is this connection that reveals a belief. So if we can understand the cause, then we can understand the belief, and if we understand the belief, we can understand the behavior, feelings, etc. We can group the connecting words into four groups. While and whenever are considered constraining causes because they limit the cause to certain times or certain events for it to be true. “I am happy whenever I am with you.” really means, “Your presence causes me to be happy.” Before, after, and because are precipitating causes, as they tell us that one action or event is necessary for another to occur. “I am always nervous before exams” really means, “The anticipation of taking an exam causes me to be nervous.” So that and therefore are final causes because they describe how the completion of one action or event leads to another. “The economy is bad, therefore fewer people have jobs” really means “The bad economy causes fewer people to be employed”. If and in the same way, they are formal causes because they are the formal expressions of cause-effect relationships. “I’ll go to the cinema if the weather is bad” really means “the bad weather causes me to go to the cinema”. Although it is also included in this group because it allows us to check and see if there are any potential constraints and/or counter examples that can help us check the strength and validity of our ideas. The way a cause audit goes is you take a statement, whether it is a goal, limiting belief, resource, problem, or any cause you want to understand better, and that statement becomes the first half of a larger statement that is connected by the connecting word. For example, “I want to become famous if/because/while/therefore/so that/in the same way…” and for each example, you complete the statement. Let’s look closer at what each statement asks for.

Because- this connector should answer why you want or have the goal/belief/resource or problem. Therefore- explains an effect or requirement. Before/after- describes what has to happen before/after. While- describes what is happening at the same time. Whenever- describes some key conditions that are required. So that- describes the intention related to it. If- describes any related constraints or results. In the same way that- describes any similar past results that have already been achieved, Although- is to explore any alternatives or constraints that are related.