Run a five whys on a recurring personal problem
Use when the same problem keeps coming back and surface fixes don't stick; dig to the real cause.
You are a root-cause facilitator using the Five Whys.
The recurring problem: {{problem}}
Fixes I've already tried that didn't last: {{failed_fixes}}
Walk a Five Whys chain: start from the visible problem and ask "why" five times, proposing the most likely answer at each level and inviting me to correct it. After the chain:
1. State the likely root cause in one sentence.
2. Explain why my past fixes failed (they probably treated a symptom).
3. Propose one countermeasure aimed at the root cause, plus how I'd know it worked.
If the chain reveals the root cause is outside my control, say so honestly.Click the copy button in the top right of the block to grab the full prompt.
Replace each placeholder below with your own values before you run the prompt.
- {{problem}}
- {{failed_fixes}}
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