I Don’t Want to Want, I Want to Have

by doniree on May 2, 2010 · 28 comments

in Introspection, People/Relationships

Post image for I Don’t Want to Want, I Want to Have

It’s one thing to meet someone who gets it when I go all “the universe” on a conversation or start talking about manifesting, the Law of Attraction, and all the other The Secret things I was living before I saw The Secret and now that I’ve seen The Secret have actual words for a little fraction of the things I believe.

It’s another to meet someone who challenges that, who inspires me daily to think bigger, tap into something stronger, and takes my current perspective and jumps it up and into the next level.

We were talking about Big Important Things like how we got where we are, what we want to get out of everything, and how we go about getting those things we want.  He said that things just seem to work out for him.  I said that my mom has told me forever that I live a “charmed” life.  We wondered if maybejustmaybe we were living a life that attracts this “just working out” business that we seem to be in the middle of because we believe it to be true.

We talked about the Law of Attraction and about receiving those things we desire the most.  And then he lit my mind on fire.

I think the thing people miss, the part that holds us back from actually getting what it is we want out of life, is that we find ourselves concentrating so hard on the wanting that we just keep perpetuating want.  We never actually receive anything, because we’re never open to receiving those things.  We never think of a situation in which we actually get what we want and how that feels, we get stuck in the wanting and therefore stuck in the not-having.

It’s when we focus on the receiving, when we’re open to those doors opening and those things happening – that’s when we get exactly what we’d been wanting.

~ChristopherDan, Idea Person by day, thought-provoking conversationalist by night

I smiled and thought back to a conversation I’d had about a month or so ago when I decided that I no longer wanted to be wanting a sense of peace and freedom and openness, that I wanted to have that, knowing it would lead to new relationships and new experiences.

Literally the next day, I got thirsty, stopped wanting and started receiving.  Next up?  I really kind of want a Toyota FJ.

Are you focusing on wanting or having?  I challenge you to focus on having it and seeing where that takes you :)

{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }

To Kiss the Cook May 2, 2010 at 7:00 am

Solidarity- I have tag called "Dear Universe" for just such occasions. This was probably the greatest reminder I could have stumbled on today. Lots of good things happening but it's going to take a little more intention to tie them together the way I want. Nice to hear it from someone else.
.-= To Kiss the Cook´s last blog ..I Am Ready for (Farmer's Market) Love =-.

Reply

doniree May 2, 2010 at 9:16 am

Excuse me while I go through every single post in that tag. Good luck tying it all together, something tells me you will :)

Reply

Lindsay May 2, 2010 at 12:31 pm

I love this. I think I'm definitely stuck in the want. I'm going to try my best to just be open to receiving instead.
.-= Lindsay´s last blog ..Her Hands =-.

Reply

doniree May 3, 2010 at 3:38 pm

You go girl :)

Reply

Amy --- Just A Titch May 2, 2010 at 11:33 am

I love this. Seriously. I tend to get so caught up in the desiring, in the how-the-eff-is-this-going-to-happen details, the minutiae that I forget to just open up and receive. Love it.
.-= Amy — Just A Titch´s last blog ..Resume; or, The Kind Of Woman I’ve Grown Up To Be =-.

Reply

doniree May 2, 2010 at 9:15 am

It's a beautiful space to be, isn't it?

Reply

Ben May 2, 2010 at 2:48 pm

Amen. It’s so hard to take enough time to celebrate what you ‘get’ or achieve before you start wanting more. Totally agree.

Reply

doniree May 2, 2010 at 9:16 am

Oh wow, really well said. You just took it up another level. :)

Reply

E.P. May 2, 2010 at 3:14 pm

Yes, yes, yes. Beautifully said, friend. And something for me to keep in mind in these coming weeks and months. Because what Ben responded with? I'm struggling with a bit these days…
.-= E.P.´s last blog ..Grandmothers know best =-.

Reply

doniree May 3, 2010 at 3:38 pm

Clearly we need to catch up ASAP. I miss you.

Reply

Manderz May 3, 2010 at 2:47 am

I'd say this wanting vs having is the biggest reason I fail at the Law of Attraction. I never believe I can have what I want, and I definitely don't visualize the possibilities. I always get caught up in the how's (or the seeming lack thereof).

But awareness is the first step, and now I can move forward focusing on having.

Reply

doniree May 3, 2010 at 3:38 pm

I dare you to try, and you have to promise me you'll tell me when big things start happening :)

Reply

Chelsea Talks Smack May 3, 2010 at 2:58 am

I definitely got in a funk as of late, as you know and have lost sight….but i'm getting it back. slowly but surely, i am. I realized yeaterday while i was meditating that while i was finding peace i kept going back to thinking about all this negative, horrible things- its like my mind was SET on seeing them….and I said, "chels, look where you WANT to be….don't keep looking down or you will fall there." Things are looking up….

Reply

doniree May 3, 2010 at 3:39 pm

And you always remind me, when you get caught up in looking forward so much take a timeout to look around and show gratitude for what you HAVE.

Reply

Ryan May 3, 2010 at 3:18 am

Great blog. Couldn't agree more with you. *Just what I needed to hear* Thanks Doni, you're rad

Reply

doniree May 3, 2010 at 3:40 pm

You're rad, Ryan.

Reply

Angel May 3, 2010 at 7:52 am

I had a yoga teacher awhile back that taught us something that I think was even more powerful than the excellentness you just shared. Now granted, he was also the guy who would single me out and say, "this is going to hurt. You. Especially." He was always right about that so I think he was on to something when he led us through an exercise like this. First say to yourself of someone else's belongings, "I want Cali's Michael Kors chocolate velvet wedges." Over and over again. How does that make you feel? Then say to yourself, "I have my Target flip flops, I have my Target flip flops, I have my Target flip flops." Sometimes, you are able to change your entire perspective by repeating to yourself what you already have rather than dwelling on things you want.

A little different spin but it all comes down to self awareness, I suppose.

Reply

doniree May 3, 2010 at 7:54 am

That is absolutely awesome, you just took it up another notch. My friend Chelsea (commented above) covered a bit of this today – you should check that out. I love the reminder that I truly do HAVE so much :)

Reply

Bitter Chocolate May 3, 2010 at 9:11 am

What he said is SO true! I definitely focus on wanting too much, on where I'd like things to go, where they should go, where they could go… but my life's been the best when I just opened myself to opportunities and thinking anything could happen. I should get back to that :)

Reply

doniree May 3, 2010 at 3:43 pm

Life's more abundant then, isn't it?

Reply

Veronica May 3, 2010 at 9:53 pm

I'll always want more things in life, that's just how it goes, but I am also totally content with the things that I have, and not worried about upgrading or obtaining more.
.-= Veronica´s last blog ..May Flowers =-.

Reply

Melissa May 4, 2010 at 3:53 am

So I'll admit it. I do not believe in the Secret. I think it sparks interesting conversation but I think the rest is just feel good mumbo jumbo. However, that passage about wanting and receiving really struck a chord with me. As soon as I obtain something I automatically look to the next thing, rarely enjoying whatever it was I just got. I too have been in quite the funk as of late and I think this can go along with being self-aware. Why do I need to keep wanting? Obviously it's adding to my funk and not making me feel better to WANT everything. Time to start enjoying and being present.

It's amazing how it all comes back to original conversations, huh?

Thanks for the inspiration this morning!

Reply

LiLu May 4, 2010 at 6:54 am

I want a cheeseburger.

GO!
.-= LiLu´s last blog ..People Who… (An Ode of Animosity) =-.

Reply

nicopolitan May 4, 2010 at 10:53 am

With all synapses firing, my brain tells me after reading this post that it's actually okay to want. That is more striking than you think, because I have always been of the school of thought that my wants come second to my obligations (other peoples' wants).

And then… I realize that I am not for want of anything. I don't need to want. I… do not want…?

Doni, I think you burned a chip in my brain.
.-= nicopolitan´s last blog ..I Have =-.

Reply

Leave a Comment

{ 4 trackbacks }

Previous post:

Next post: