If you made a list of needs, chances are you had some wants on that list. Wants pretend to be needs a lot of the time. That's why they're sneaky. They trick you into believing that your life would be lesser off if they weren't part of it. As I defined in the Meeting Your Needs section, a need is anything that if it were taken away from you, would leave you physically, emotionally or mentally harmed. Thus, if you're not disrupted by the removal of something, it's probably a want.
There's no rhyme or reason when it comes to wants. They're subjective and wholly personal. In order to obtain your wants, meet your needs first. When you don't meet your needs, and try wanting something - things can get confusing. For example, going on a date and wondering the whole time if they like you.
When you meet your needs first and then go after what you want, you can maintain your peace of mind. So on your date, instead of wondering if they like you, you can ask yourself the ultimate question: "Do I want you in my life?"
It's a lot easier to identify if you want something when you know you don't need it.
YOU ARE READING
Take What You Want, Leave the Rest
Non-FictionThis book is designed for you to read any chapter you want, when it suits you. The chapters are intentionally brief so you only read what you need. It's a culmination of takeaways from therapy both as a practicing MHC-LP and as a client of therapy.
