In our modern society we often feel judged for daring to want more. Advertising and media campaigns often rely on messages like: be happy with what you’ve got! And, practise more gratitude! Telling you that once you’ve climbed the career ladder, bought the house, built the relationships, you’ll be ‘happy’, right?
Well what if you’re not? Does that make you a bad person? When friends and/ or family are telling us we’re successful, they’re proud of us, we’ve done so well. What if the niggle in our mind is still saying that there’s something MORE?
I often write about this topic because it chimes so deeply personally and with my clients. Today I’m offering another perspective on it, inspired by a post I read by Emily Williams, where she shared that it’s natural to want more - it’s inherent in our nature and nature itself. For example, a plant will seek more sunlight, an animal will seek more food, better shelter, a tribe where it feels safe.
So it doesn’t surprise me that humans are also wired to seek out more. It could be more knowledge, more understanding, more wealth, more freedom, more of anything really. We’re expansive creatures.
I don’t have time for those who want to keep us explorers in our boxes. I give myself (and you if you’re seeking it) full permission to expand - full permission to desire the things we desire.
Owning what we want is powerful, because admitting what we want and allowing ourselves to dream is how we create new and different outcomes for ourselves. It’s how we start to believe these things are possible and start taking tiny steps towards them.
So the action this week is to watch your language. Where are you saying to yourself that you ‘should’ or ‘shouldn’t’ do something. Because those ‘should’s’ belong to someone else. What you’re really saying is: I SHOULD want ‘x’ when really I want ‘y’.
I meet more stifled people than selfish people. Lets stop stifling ourselves. Email and let me know (I’ll keep your confidence) - what do you really want? You’ll get no judgement from me.
P.S. Wanting more is the natural state of things - we're here to grow. Lets be grateful and STILL want more.