Do Not Desire, Aspire!

For much of life I have focused on a single question: “What do I want?” Sometimes I thought I knew the answer, but most of the time I have not. Lately this question has been a big unknown, especially since the decisions I make now will affect the rest of my life – and this seems daunting.

The problem with this question is that it is selfish. It focuses on personal desire but doesn’t account for the other people in our lives. When we are caught in desire, there is always something missing: we want things – whether they are material possessions or specific experiences – so that we will be satisfied. Rarely do we take a step back to understand why we actually want whatever it is.

The subtle truth I have found is that whenever I want something, it is something which I perceive to be lacking. Once I get what I want something ironic happens: I no longer want it anymore. Instead, I want something else – sometimes the exact opposite of what I just wanted.

As long as I desire something, I am not grateful for what I have. My energy is spent yearning instead of being. Herein lies the difference between desire and aspiration: desire relates to yearning while aspiration relates to being.

When we yearn for something, we are at unease with our situation. In essence it is a way of running away from reality because we refuse to accept the way things are. Aspiration, on the other hand, makes use of the present moment as a stepping stone to build from in order to be something more than we already are. Aspiration incorporates others into our vision.

We aspire to better ourselves, to help others, to create, innovate, and make a difference. Instead of focusing on what we want for ourselves, it focuses on what we want to do for ourselves and others. While desire focuses on the acquisition of things and experiences, aspiration focuses on being something.

Do you desire power, or do you aspire to be a great leader?

Do you desire sexual satisfaction, or do you aspire to be a great companion?

Do you desire wealth, or do you aspire to share your abundance with the world?

These are just a few examples of the shift in focus that aspiration brings. Oftentimes we do not realize how self-centered we have become, I know I didn’t. It is not necessarily our fault either: this is how we have been conditioned by today’s society.

Now that we are conscious of it, we have a choice: to desire selfish pleasures or to aspire to be a positive influence on society.

I am not asking you to be self-less, but rather to think of self and other in a balanced way. Imagine if everyone did this, what would the world look like?

Questions? Comments? I would love to hear them! Submit below or email me: ben@creativecomprehension.com