Do You Need or Want?

People tend to think that words have power. Well, that is easy to see as the truth is that words are the sound of your thoughts. Your words give you an indicator of what you are thinking. Are your thoughts coming from a point of scarcity? Maybe your thoughts are one of abundance. No matter what your thoughts are your thoughts do lead to your results.

A good example of this is examining the word need and the word want. Both of these words are often used interchangeably. You’ll hear kids say they need a Coke or they need some candy. You’ll hear couples talking and they will often express that they need more money. They need a new car. They need something that they do not have.

The Main Difference between Need and Want

However, need and want produce vastly different results. If you listen to what successful people say, you will rarely ever hear them. Talk about what they need and we’ll talk more about what they want. Well, you will hear people who are struggling financially talk about what they need. They often talk a lot about what they need, but rarely ever mention what they want.

I love the phrase. I have plenty of money for everything that I truly want. And if you step back and examine that phrase, you see how true that line of thinking is.

When I was younger and barely had any money, I still was able to find money for cigarettes. I was also able to find money for alcohol. However, there were times I struggled to find money for rent. Sometimes I struggle to find money for the electric bill. Which one do you think I wanted to do?

Other examples are say your child needs $10,000 for a life-saving operation you would find a way to get $10,000. You may start up a go fund me you may ask every friend and family member and stranger you know on the street for help. And you would find a way to come up with that money. Why? Because you truly want your child to be saved and to be healthy.

That’s one reason why I always mention that the poor want to be poor. Because it’s easier to stay poor. It’s easier to talk about what you need to go after the things that you want. And if you talk about well, I want to get out of poverty you will start doing what needs to be done, wanting activates a part of your mind to where you start making that a priority. While talking about need doesn’t do that. It tells your mind that’s not as important and it’s just something to be dreaming of.

Why do these words create different results?

There are a lot of philosophical reasons as to why these two words produce Basley different results. I mentioned a bit earlier that need is just something for you to dream. While wanting essentially shift your mind into Geer to get whatever it is, you want.

Examine how Need feels

A good way to test this is just examine how the two words feel. Start with the word need. It’s just kind of there. There’s a bit of anxiety with it. A sense of hopelessness often comes along with someone who is talking about what they need. I need 50 bucks to get to some gas doesn’t have as much power as how it sounds. You’re going to struggle with the need. When you talk about your needs, you’re not taking responsibility for what can be done. When you need something, it sounds like you want somebody else to do the work for you.

Need comes from a lack of

The biggest threat to anybody’s success is the scarcity mindset. When you’re too busy looking at what you don’t have as opposed to what you do have available at hand you’re going to always lose out. Scarcity keeps you playing small. You gotta play it safe because you don’t have nearest as many acorns as the other squirrels out there. If you run out and grab those three acorns out there, somebody may come along and still four, and all of a sudden you’re gonna have less. Instead of looking at those three acorns and go get them.

Need says you don’t have that item to start with. Whether that item is talent, knowledge, insight, or whatever when you need something you’re starting small. You’re starting safe. You’re not willing to take the risk that may pay off in dividends.

Examine how “want” feels

Now let’s look at want that has a more powerful feel to it. I want to get $50. I want to earn $50 as opposed to I need to earn $50 examine how those two feel when you say them. Want has more of a go-getter energy behind it. Your mind wants to go get that, while need is a little more wishy-washy.

Want comes with the feeling of a can-do attitude

If you want to have a successful business, you’re going to do what is needed. If you want to have a happy family, you’re going to do those tasks that are needed to have a happy family if you want your wife to have a good open relationship with you, you’re going to do what is needed. 

You see that want allows you to accomplish what others need. That is because want has the power of action. While again need has you wait for other people.

When you want to accomplish your goal, you set your mind to achieve that goal. When you have your why, the want easily follows. 

What is it that you want more than anything else? Why do you want that result? What will happen when you get what you want? These are all great questions to ask. But with anything that you want the next step is always taking action.
What is it that you want more than anything else? Why do you want that result? What will happen when you get what you want? These are all great questions to ask. But with anything that you want the next step is always taking action.