“Desire Is an Option That Reason Gives You, Not an Order That You Must Follow.”
There is a fundamental difference between “wanting” and “needing,” and it all comes down to choice. As difficult as it may seem to fight your desires, it’s helpful to remind yourself that you are the one making the bet.
In his blog, James Clear suggests taking proactive steps to reduce your “undisputed consumption” while finding a way to desire less as a consumer that will make your life better. To do this, you need to put things in perspective and understand what desire actually means:
Give up desires. There will never be a level at which you give up your desires. There is always something to upgrade. Buy a new Honda? You can upgrade to Mercedes. Buy a new Mercedes? You can upgrade to Bentley. Buy a new Bentley? You can upgrade to a Ferrari. Buy a new Ferrari? Have you considered buying a private jet? Understand that desire is simply an option that your mind suggests, not an order that you must follow.
The bottom line is you want something you want. You don’t choose to need something. Needs are orders. When you start thinking of desire as a choice, rather than some primal desire that you cannot control, you can prevent the wrong choice. Desire – not necessarily a bad thing, but a manifestation of control over it can bring you only benefits .
The Diderot Effect: Why Do We Need What We Don’t Need, and What to Do About It | James Clear