Needs and Wants

I have been pondering the difference between needs and wants. I read The Peaceful Warrior recently, and one of the quotes in there was:

You are rich if you have enough money to satisfy all your desires.  So there are two ways to be rich: You earn, inherit, borrow, beg, or steal enough money to meet all your desires; or, you cultivate a simple lifestyle of few desires; that way you always have enough money.  A peaceful warrior has the insight and discipline to choose the simple way – to know the difference between needs and wants.  We have few basic needs but endless wants.

I have heard a few people recently talking about getting what they want in life, and this has caused me to reflect on the things I want and what they may be revealing about what I actually need.

I know the times I am happiest are when I am content with what I have in this moment. Sometimes when my world seems to be caving in, I ask myself 'What is actually happening right at this very moment?', and usually the answer is 'Not much'. I am breathing. I am sitting. My body is functioning. I have shelter and food in the fridge. I have family and friends who I can call. I have all the things I need to live for the next second, minute, hour, day, week.

There are things I want. Many things. Like building a meaningful business. Intimacy. Building a family home. I put these things out there as things that I want, and I trust that as I take care of my needs on a daily basis, when some of the things I want momentarily come my way, I will enjoy them for what they are.