Fighting the Wants
The last few weekends I’ve traveled with my husband, and if you’re like me, when you travel, you pick up and read lots of magazines.
I do love to read magazines to get ideas, be inspired, dream … see what’s “new.”
As long as I don’t get caught up in the “wants.”
We walk into Pier 1 or Home Goods or TJ Maxx … it’s fun to browse, but do the “wants” come over you?
They do me.
Just one more set of dishes, cloth napkins, new picture on the wall, outdoor furniture, new pillows … another white bowl … beautiful table cloths … runners …
The list goes on and on for me.
“You are in the prison cell of “wants” if you feel better when you have more and worse when you have less,” says Max Lucado (inspirational writer).
“If your happiness comes from something you deposit, drive, drink or digest, then face it–you are in prison, the prison of want.”
Many times I’ve filled my basket, only to remove most of what I’ve added because I ask myself, “Do I really need this?”
Learning to be content. I wrote about it, here.
Discontentment is really an ugly way to live.
I wish learning to be content was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it seems to be a lesson that we learn over and over again.
What will I have from being content and not always “wanting more?”A deeper marriage, more time with the family, valuing “who’s coming for dinner” over “how it all looks when they come for dinner,” joy and peace. And self-respect when I learn to say no.
It just feels good to have some sort of self-discipline.
Gratitude.
Contentment.
Do you have a hard time saying no to your wants, or how do you keep them under control?
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
I often times put things back after carrying them around the store. Right now its bigger items on my list, We”ve lived in this house 17 years now, and the appliances are going bad, we need a new bed, new carpet, the list goes on, New sliding door because its rotting. So its bigger ticket items. This summer the door is a must. I am trying to stay away from cluttery things because my house is so overcrowded right now .
Thought provoking post, makes us think! Thank you!
your comment is almost the same of my story. Just my flight was $800 because I got to make a stop in Colombia, so I had the chance to explore two incredibly beautiful and different countries.
I did give in to my wants for well over a year during which time a lot of major life happenings occured. Buying what I wanted made me feel good for a while but not long and I finally realized that those things I want, that I feel I need, really were not the keep to happiness and now work hard to NOT give in to the wants. I sometimes do fill my cart during some online shopping and then either empty the whole thing or just close down the shopping site. As you said, it is not a once in a lifetime change, it is gradual and something to work on when the ‘wants’ rears their ugly head.
I do that so often with the shopping basket. I fill it up, it feels good for a sec, then I look down and ask Do I REAAALLLLY want or need this? I almost always put it back.
I really try to keep the wants in check. Great post Sandy