Many people, when they want to get something or attract it into their lives, don’t see the difference between a desire and a need. That’s why there are so many disappointments with various techniques for manifesting desires.
Not every desire comes true, but when it becomes your need, the chances of it being realized in life increase many times over.
Let’s figure out what the key difference is between a desire and a need, and how to turn your desires into needs.
What is a desire
A desire is what you wish for, what you dream about. It’s your “wish list” without a specific deadline for when you want to get it.
You can dream about anything, but if it doesn’t fit into your current life at all, or if you don’t truly believe inside that you can have it, then the desire will remain just a desire.
A dream also won’t materialize if it hasn’t been turned into a goal with a deadline for when it should be achieved.
When a dream gets a deadline, it turns into an intention or a goal. And the next task is to break this goal down into smaller sub-goals and take actions that lead to the result.
What determines a need
A need is what you require, what you currently have.
Often at the Keys of Mastery, you can hear the phrase: what you currently have is the level of needs that you allow yourself to have.
Most often, your needs include: rent, food, small expenses, sometimes going to a café with friends, clothing – a minimal set of needs, nothing more is included.
But at some point, you realize you deserve more, and this is born from within. You begin to allow yourself more and more. This is a very powerful engine in both life and business.
A simple example: I used to travel on Ukrainian trains because they were cheaper, and I couldn’t afford to pay more. But then I realized I couldn’t travel in dirt, with everything old, when we have luxurious Russian trains.
Yes, they cost twice as much. But I allowed myself that. I later realized I also couldn’t travel in a third-class sleeper car: the noise, the crowds, I couldn’t handle that environment.
I moved to another level.
A need is born from within and grows step by step. If the need is genuine – you truly need it – then the means or opportunity to obtain it will appear.
What you have now is a set of basic needs. And each person’s set of basic needs will be their own.
We deserve more. Not to worry about what to feed the child, but to allow the child an extra ice cream, and for yourself a little feminine item, some shoes. I remember the state of limitation very well.
During my pregnancy, which was difficult, I worked from morning till night because I needed to save money for the newborn. I was running around like crazy.
I felt sick in a minibus, and it just wouldn’t stop. And when the minibus didn’t stop on request, I realized I would never ride in them again. I learned to order a taxi and completely forgot about minibuses in the city. It was a turning point.
Another example. I needed to change my wardrobe. I really love sporty style. At one point, I was alone in a business-class hotel in a gorgeous place, walking down the hallway to iron a beautiful dress for a meeting.
I was wearing sweatpants, even though they were decent, with no stretched-out knees, I caught an inner discomfort.
If a girl buys a fur coat because all her friends bought one and it’s customary to show off who has the more expensive fur coat, then that motive is false.
But if you understand inside that it’s -40 outside and you can’t run around in a puffer jacket, then you will go and buy yourself a quality, good item. That is a genuine inner need that gets fulfilled.
See also 3 signs that will help determine a true desire
How to turn desires into needs
People often dream of many things: traveling the world, or buying a big house by the sea. These are standard, common dreams.
They don’t come true for everyone, firstly because the mind doesn’t believe it’s possible, and secondly, because there’s no inner need for it.
Often, people even run away from their desires and dreams, so deep is their lack of belief that these things could actually happen to them.
Try, instead, to examine your dream under a microscope. Say you dream of a house by the sea. Go to Pinterest and get inspired by design ideas, choose what resonates with you, imagine yourself inside that house, think about which country you’d like to have it in.
Imagine you have the money to buy this house and you’re browsing options, immerse yourself in it. If you practice this more often, your consciousness will expand, and I’m sure opportunities will come into your life that will help you get closer to making this dream a reality. Stay alert, don’t miss them!
You can also take a smaller desire. Write a list of things that aren’t part of your basic needs, but that you require. Things you usually don’t have enough money for. Write as if you already have the money for them and you’re planning to buy them all very soon.
Look at your list and think about why you don’t allow yourself these things, why you limit yourself. You’ll most likely encounter some unpleasant emotions, behind which lie limitations. Those are what you need to work with.
It’s important to bring these limitations to light; this will allow you to expand and shift some of your desires into needs.
See also: 10 Steps to Your Dream. An Instruction Manual for Manifestation
How to Artificially Provoke a Need
If your set of needs is minimal, your task will be to expand this zone so that it includes things for creating your comfort and coziness. After all, we all deserve the very best: the best living conditions, quality service, and caring treatment for ourselves.
All of this will be yours, provided that you, first and foremost, allow it to be. You must make the need arise from within. But it can also be artificially provoked.
You have basic needs, a level of monthly expenses for certain constant necessities. These are things you cannot do without. Even if you suddenly get fired, the money will still come, or you’ll be able to find another job that covers your basic expenses.
What if you want more? To break out of this cycle? Desire alone is not enough. Your mind, your consciousness, must come to believe that you truly need what you want, beyond the basics.
For example, new clothes, not because the old ones are worn out, but to look better, to feel more comfortable, because you deserve it.
Premium cosmetics, because your skin needs quality care, and you want to take care of your body. And so on.
You can gradually stretch your needs so that it’s as comfortable as possible for your mind to get used to the changes. Simply make a decision, for example, to buy cosmetics a class higher, and accordingly, at a higher price.
A car of a more prestigious brand, not because it’s prestigious, but because it’s your safety.
See also: 4 Ways to Help You Fulfill an Intention
Share in the comments how well you are meeting your personal needs? How much do your desires align with your needs?
This article is based on the webinar “Key to the Dream”