The idea of want can be examined from many perspectives. In secular societies want might be considered similar to the emotion desire, which can be studied scientifically through the disciplines of psychology or sociology.
Getting what you want in life is not a matter of luck or chance. It is a matter of setting clear goals, planning your actions, and working hard to achieve them. Whether you want to advance your career, improve your health, or enrich your relationships, you need to have a vision of what you want and why you want it. You also need to have a strategy of how you will get there and what resources you will need. And most importantly, you need to have a positive attitude and a strong motivation that will keep you going even when you face obstacles or setbacks.
Here are some steps that can help you get what you want in life:
- Define your desired outcome. What is it that you really want? Be specific and realistic. Don’t just say “I want to be happy” or “I want to be rich”. Say “I want to have a fulfilling job that pays me well” or “I want to save enough money to travel the world”. Write down your goal and make it measurable and time-bound. For example, “I want to get promoted to manager by the end of the year” or “I want to lose 10 pounds in 3 months”.
- Identify your reasons. Why do you want this outcome? What benefits will it bring you? How will it improve your life or the lives of others? How will it make you feel? These are your intrinsic motivations, the ones that come from within you and drive you to pursue your goal. Write down your reasons and review them often. They will help you stay focused and motivated.
- Break down your goal into smaller steps. What actions do you need to take to achieve your goal? What skills do you need to learn or improve? What resources do you need to acquire or use? What obstacles do you need to overcome or avoid? These are your extrinsic factors, the ones that depend on external circumstances and influence your progress. Write down your action plan and assign deadlines and priorities to each step.
- Track your progress and celebrate your achievements. How will you know if you are moving closer to your goal or not? How will you measure your success? What milestones will you set along the way? These are your indicators, the ones that show you how well you are doing and how far you have come. Write down your indicators and check them regularly. Celebrate every achievement, no matter how small, and reward yourself for your efforts.
- Adjust your plan as needed and keep going. What if things don’t go as planned? What if you encounter unexpected challenges or opportunities? What if your goal changes over time? These are your feedbacks, the ones that tell you what is working and what is not, and what needs to be changed or improved. Write down your feedbacks and use them to revise your plan as needed. Don’t give up on your goal, but be flexible and adaptable.