For all it is rightfully derided, it is this aspect of "user story phrasing" I find valuable. If you can politely ask stakeholders to state their problem in the form "As a _____ I want to _____ so that I can ______", then you can find out that why as filled in on the last blank. And then you can use that why to figure out the best actions to take, being careful that you still scratch the itch the that middle blank in that story brought up.