Ask anyone you know what it is they want right now in their life, and you’re sure to get a lengthy wish list.
There will be material things that would make their lives more comfortable or convenient like a new car, a bigger house, or just more money in general.
They might also want a change in circumstances such as a new job, better health or happier relationships.
We all have a wish list.
We always will.
And even when we do get what we want, we almost immediately start desiring something new. This is what keeps us alive, working towards better things and gives us the motivation to move forward.
You see, a main “Criterion of Consciousness” for the human experience, is never having all you want. For as one dream comes true, another one swiftly takes its place.
Not having all you want is one of life’s constants.
And learning to be happy while not yet having all you want is the first “Criterion of Joy”. Nail it, and for the rest of your life people will be asking what it is about you.
And that’s why desire is a beautiful thing.
It’s good to have the desire for more than what you have. What matters is how that affects you. Does it make you resentful that you don’t have what you want, or does it motivate you to work hard to get those things? Do you let it keep you from being happy, or do you find enjoyment in the things you do have?
Learning to be happy while not yet having all you want doesn’t always come naturally, but with some effort anyone can learn to be happy despite their circumstances (it’s all in your mind anyway).
Here are some ideas for doing just that.
- Count your blessings – Taking some time to think about the good things in your life every day will help you to be grateful and will keep you from feeling deprived.
- Avoid jealousy – Put your thoughts and energy toward positive things and don’t allow your thoughts to get negative. Eventually you can feel real happiness for others achievements, which will help to contribute to your own success as you let go of negative energy.
- Don’t lose that desire – Keep wanting in a positive way. Set goals and work toward reaching them. Take pleasure in every step taken toward your goals. Enjoy the process rather than waiting for “happiness” to arrive when you finally get what you want.
Joy is defined as ecstatic happiness. That doesn’t come from the new car, big house or getting rich, but is what is experienced along the way. As the saying goes, “Happiness is a means of travel, not a destination”.
A person who is happy while still wanting more and working to get it has that special something. The energy and enthusiasm that can come from having a strong desire adds a dimension to your personality that can’t come from any other source.
Please share your thoughts on this concept on desire by leaving a comment below.
Thanks.
Comments 21
Hey Alex,
Thanks for creating this video for us, it really helps to keep things in the right perspective 🙂
Author
Thanks Angel
I’m happy you liked it.
I’m liking this a lot Alex.
It’s a breath of fresh air in a very polluted, crammed and hectic world!
Author
Hi Gareth,
Glad you liked it.
When your thoughts are focused correctly all the noise of this hectic world will quiet down and you will only focus on what moves you forward.
Alex – this is beautiful – I was expecting some sort of IM video but got motivated with my life instead – how wonderful you put it across very nicely – as a spiritual person I totally agree with this. I give thanks to God every evening for my ‘being’ and for all the gifts that he has given me through my day , even my challenges – God bless you Alex
Author
Thank you Helen
I also give thanks for everything all the time, it helps me stay in a good vibe all day long.
Alex… What a beautiful job you did expressing these vital life lessons. We often hear these sentiments and sacred ideas piecemeal, however it’s exceedingly rare that one person can weave all this together in ways that inspire others. Those who can are natural teachers of the ways of the universe.
Nice inspiring video. Desire is indeed a beautiful thing especially when you understand–get–the difference between desiring some thing for its own sake versus desiring it because you don’t like your current state in which you are experiencing the opposite/absence/lack of that thing.
Most people fall into the second category. They are unhappy right now (or experience some other negative emotion like loneliness, fear, frustration, etc.), and they start to believe that that they feel this way because they don’t have some thing (such as a nice house or car, good health, a great friend/partner, etc).
So then they start to believe that if they had that thing, they would be happy/connected/secure/free. And of course we know how that always ends up–with the same old state of unhappiness.
But when you are simply free from unhappiness–no matter what–then you doesn’t need anything else. Then you can simply desire something and play the game of fulfilling that desire, knowing that you are not doing because you lack something right now, but simply because it’s something interesting or different to take on in life–like a new possibility of being in life.
Author
Yes Claude
As Wayne Dyer puts it…
“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at will change”
Thank you for this. It has really helped my day.
Hi Alex
Thanks for taking time and creating that fabulous video. Just wondering was it only created with camtasia. If u don’t mind sharing it please.
Thanks
Aziz
Author
Hi Aziz,
Of course I don’t mind 🙂
My good friend Amit produced the video for me. I just gave him the script, some images and the voice over and he did his magic.
You can find Amit here: http://www.bit.ly/video911
Thanks Alex
thank you
alex for this AWESOME post
my mom all way say to me :Count your blessings
is better truth …
thanks
Hi Alex,
great post/vid. I totally agree with you on some parts.
That’s what people mostly forget to do : to count their blessings and see how lucky they are allready.
( Even if they only have one pair of pants and one chair to sit on, there is always someone who doesn’t have this neither).
On the other hand I would rather say a person should keep himself motivated trough as you say “a desire”.
Sometimes the desire “to have” doesn’t make such a big difference anymore , like for example Warren Buffet. He is tremendously motivated but doesn’t need all those things that he can afford. He is planning to give it anyway a way.(Poor kids;) As by him everyone has to prove himself.)
So I would rather say that the desire”to help others” could help a person much more than the desire “to have”, and this should be the key to motivate yourself even more.
Thanks again,
Marcel
Author
Thanks for your insight Marcel
Very nice!
FYI I share with you a famous quote from one of the greatest philosopher that the word ever knew:
“Desire is the essence of man” Baruch Spinoza
… and desire is at the very center of his philosophy in a very modern way despite it was written about 300 years ago.
I like the way you are mixing business and self development. It’s nice to “meet” great people like you on the Internet and especially in the Internet Marketing landscape. Way to go!
Author
Thanks Gerard
Nice quote by Baruch Spinoza the way.
Desire is what moves the human race to become better.
People I know who are not happy, often forget to count their blessings. Your well produced video is a good reminder for everyone, including myself. Thanks for producing it 🙂
Author
Hi Ralph,
When you see even the smallest things as blessings you can’t avoid being happy and thankful
I always open Alex’s stuff.