Dealing with "want"

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hi, all. Looking for advice and companionship on this part of the journey.

Here I am, sitting at my desk writing reports, and some small part of me decides I ‘want’ to walk over to the cafeteria and buy a brownie. Simultaneously I ‘want’ the success of not eating that brownie today, and there are several other ‘wants’ related to not eating a brownie fluttering around – they’re just really quiet right now.

I know the answer: I will not eat the brownie and instead I will continue to sit at my desk, breathe, stretch my shoulders and write my reports – grateful that I have a job in a state with more than 10% unemployment. Simultaneously, if there’s something any of you have found particularly helpful in quieting specific ‘want’ prompts I’d really like to hear about it. This is one illustration of other times I’ve tried to distract myself with a ‘want’, away from what I know is best for me.

#2

when you get home figure out two things you want to do, write them down or put them in front of you. Do one of them and be ok without doing the other
If we continue to repress our wants, rather then transform ourselves, we will always have a struggle. and if that is the case, we could just be ok with that too.

#3

Dear Techne,

I always differentiate between what I want and what I need. Big difference for me between the two. In your case it is not a question of wanting your job and the success of completing it, but needing it in the face of high unemployment, caring for yourself and your family etc, therefore in my books that would constitute a priority. I sometimes set the what I want, in your case the brownie, as a reward for me after completion of what is needed. And then most of the time when I have finished what I need, I have forgot about the what I want. :slight_smile:

#4

I think you can find a balance in between. You can have a brownie and still be thankful for your job and continue to work on it more happily, after the nice present you give yourself…