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Wants — Needs — Desires

Thanks to Steve Kistner, Eureka, Missouri, for this Teaching Moment.

We all live in a rapidly paced world where success is often defined by the “bigger, better, faster” aspects of life— i.e., bigger house, faster car, better golf score, etc. Maybe by definition that is the “rat race” most of us profess to despise. Did you know that you can control your level of involvement in it? The control switches are your wants, needs and desires.

Needs
Abraham Maslow, a noted professor of psychology, theorized that people have five basic needs. In short, they are: shelter, food, security (which can include the security of employment, money, health, religion), love/belonging (friendship, family, work groups, clubs, religious groups), and respect (a feeling of self-esteem, valued for our thoughts and ideas).

Wants
Wants help us to improve ourselves in one or more of the five basic needs categories: I want a better job; I want to get an “A” on the next history exam; I want to start exercising to improve my health. However, wants without a plan are simply wishes. In order to change “wants” into success stories you need to develop a plan that includes action steps and a timetable for completion.

Desires
Desire is the fuel that ignites your passion. This is the most powerful of the three control switches because it directly impacts the other two. Desire has the power to change imagination into reality, doubts into risk-taking, fear of change into motivation and roadblocks into minor setbacks. Your desire, your passion, is what excites you and prepares you to meet the day’s challenges.

Suggestions for implementation:
 Discuss with your family what you wrote down for your wants, needs and desires.
 Discuss any surprises you heard from other family members in the discussions.
 How can you help each other succeed in your efforts?

Questions for discussion:
 Write down two examples of your “needs.” Be specific.
 Write down one example of your “wants. “ Include your action steps and timetable for completion.
 Write down the one “desire.” What propels you each day and gives you the energy to face the day enthusiastically?

10/02/06

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