The Difference Between “Need” and “Want”

A very nice lady recently posted a comment on my Facebook page to the effect that she doesn’t always have what she wants, but she always has what she needs – and is satisfied with that.

Fair enough – sounds like a peaceful way to live.  But it got the wheels a-turning in my head; something didn’t quite line up with that statement.  Yes, of course we don’t want to stress out about always striving and struggling for more.  But as I wrote in a previous post, our definition of “enough” can change – especially when we wake up and really begin to evolve.  The fact is that in this physical reality, in order to continue to express our true Divinity in  ever-expanding ways, we also need to expand our physical world.  It’s just a fact that material things increase our ability to learn and express our Selves.  Whether the things are given to us or we buy them with money, they’re essential.  In order to travel and experience new places and people,we need money.  If we want to surround ourselves with beautiful, inspiring things, we pretty much need the physical means to get them, and so forth.  Money, dare I say it? is a powerful freedom-maker.  In order to live life to the fullest expression, we need to manifest abundance.

But the real point here is the mistaken idea that you can be “satisfied” and still want something.  Say what?  The definition of the word satisfied is: “ filled with satisfaction; content”.  In other words, if you’re satisfied, you want for nothing.  Therefore, if you still want something that you don’t have…you’re not satisfied.  You are, in fact, dissatisfied.

And that’s the way it’s supposed to be, frankly.  Desire (want) is what keeps us moving and evolving toward the fullest expression of our Selves.  Don’t get me wrong: acceptance and gratitude for what we have is a good…nay, essential… thing.  We need to be happy with what we have.  But that doesn’t mean we stop moving.  Yes, I’m in this wonderful place;  now, I wonder what it’s like over there in that slightly different, even more wonderful place?

I don’t know what true “satisfaction” would look like – I’ve certainly never experienced it, and I hope that I never do while I’m still inhabiting this old carcass.  If I settle for what I “need” to simply be alive…well, I can do that living under a bridge.  I need air, water, food, and a bare minimum of shelter.  And I could sit under that bridge and meditate and be holy for the next 20 years…and not much would come of it.  I would have made little contribution to the good of all, except perhaps for the few other bare-survivors I met there in my dark niche under a freeway.  Certainly, if I could help even one of  “the least of these” I would be helping the All, and I would have “enough”…what I “need” – but would I be expressing all that I could have done and been?  Would I have provided the Creator with all the varied contrast and experience possible?  Nope.  Not by a long shot.

If you’re going to try and live your Life Purpose, “wanting” is essential.  Because that purpose is built into your blueprint.  And the way to read that blueprint is very, very simple: your innermost, most authentic and burning desire is your purpose.  Whatever it is  that you want to create…your purpose is to go out and create it, thereby creating more life for All.  True satisfaction is death.