Contemplating the word desire and contemplating the word want this week increased my appreciation for both words.
The word desire ushered in my internal landscape where ideas and values ripe with meaning dwell. My desire to be in the present moment was front and center.
One aspect of being in the here and now, that we can easily overlook, is the necessity of identifying and staying with feelings no matter how elusive or disturbing they are.
It is a different matter when the focus moves from our internal landscape to the external world. When this occurs, the word want may be more appropriate. For example, I wanted an art table. For me, want is reserved for something concrete.
Whether we are under the influence of desire or want, benefits will accrue if we locate and explore the feelings that underlie our yearning. In our culture feelings are perceived as bothersome or untrustworthy; we are often encouraged to ignore or medicate them.
Feelings are messengers that make our desires and wants known to us. There is wisdom in the phrase, "don't shoot the messenger."
Feelings are not trustworthy until they are examined closely. As we tend to our feelings they shift and change. That is the nature of the beast. It behoves us to pay attention to feelings for they come from the oldest part of the brain. There are reasons why they persist. Ignore them at your peril.
Feelings are mysterious and haven't found an honorable place in the twenty-first century. You can be on the cutting edge of evolution if you are open to exploring the mystery!
Nicky Mendenhall
To read post on blog: www.nickymendenhall.blogspot.com
