Being able to distinguish our desires from our needs is a crucial life skill. In a world overrun by advertisement, its often very easy to get these confused. We cannot afford to have clouded judgment, as it could mean the difference between having enough vs. not having at all. We need to be able to prioritize what we need before what we want. We will often need to do what is necessary to get what we want. It is a matter of great discipline. It is easy to choose to eat unhealthy fast food as it tastes good, but it can cause detrimental effects to our health in the long run. We may decide to buy an expensive car we’ve always dreamt of, but then never have the money to afford any petrol!
To break this down further, we should try asking ourselves, “Do I want this?” or “Do I need this?” everytime an opportunity presents itself. Consider whether the opportunity will help you build towards your goals or take you in another direction. Recognizing your desires is an essential step towards building personal relationships, physical health, and other aspects of your life. You could spend the entire day watching Netflix as it is easy and fun, but does it propel you in the direction you need to go?
For each of us, what we define as a need vs a desire is highly dictated on the kind of environment we’ve grown in and the level of comfort we’ve experienced throughout our life. What may feel like a “need” for someone may just be a “want” for someone else. For example, we may be comfortable commuting to work in a metro, but for someone from a more affluent family, being pampered all their lives, this may not feel like an option; owning a car is more like a need. We need to learn to identify the values we associate ourselves with and learn to carefully walk the line between needs and desires.
Often in life, we’ll find situations that are the perfect combination of our needs and desires. These “high-need, high-desire” scenarios are the ones we should seek out and work towards. A person who never indulges in their wants can often lose motivation and purpose. A lot of joy in life comes from things we enjoy, and thus, want. It’s about finding the perfect balance.