The Desire Compass
Greetings from my Happy Place, a charming little coffee shop with gnomes hidden in every corner and planter, making you feel like you stepped into a magical wonderland where dreams are made possible. While I’m biting into my spinach and feta croissant (yum 😋), my thoughts drift to a place where desires are not forbidden but encouraged. We all have them; some desires might be naughty (like kissing your sexy yoga teacher whose tight shorts leave little to your imagination😉 ), and others are more basic (such as getting your dream job). In contrast, some desires reach the depth of our souls where meaning, fulfillment, and purpose reside.
Desires are like a blueprint, helping us gain clarity on how we want to live, what we want to achieve, and (most importantly) how we want to feel.
My desire right now is for my beach vacation never to end, but I’m stepping into the land of “Wishful thinking.”
Why do we reject desires?
It feels selfish.
We believe it’s sinful or inappropriate.
We don’t feel worthy of what we desire.
We worry too much about other people’s opinions.
We don’t have the confidence to pursue our desires.
What are the benefits of following our desires?
Desires ignite creativity.
Unfortunately, creativity is not something we can summon at will. It’s an energetic process that deeply aligns with how we feel and what we desire. Our environment and the people we surround ourselves with can either inhibit or foster creativity.
My creativity stems from a desire to create, connect, inspire, offer a different perspective, follow my passion, and feel fulfilled.
What are some desires that get your creative juices flowing?
How can you create a life that’s more colorful, exciting, and meaningful?
What places or people inspire you?
I’m inspired by people who dare to dream big, follow their desires despite obstacles, and stay courageous to live authentically.
My surroundings inspire me, such as hiking in the mountains, sitting in a charming coffee shop, walking through botanical gardens, watching a beautiful sunset, traveling to exotic places, marveling at historical old buildings, and more.
“Desire is a teacher; when we immerse ourselves in it without guilt, shame, or clinging, it can show us something special about our minds that allows us to embrace life fully.”
(Mark Epstein- author of Open to Desire)
Desires act as a road map.
When we are unsure which path to follow, we feel lost. Having a sense of direction keeps us motivated, disciplined, and energized. The desires I want to emphasize are not external ones, such as being successful or driving a sexy sports car; it’s about creating feelings that bring us joy, peace, and happiness. If you desire to feel confident, empowered, and courageous, then use it as a compass to navigate towards your desired feelings. These feelings will not naturally materialize; they require effort and practice!
Let your desires be your North Star 🌟
“Knowing how you actually want to feel is the most potent form of clarity that you can have. Generating those feelings is the most powerfully creative thing you can do with your life.”
(Danielle Laporte)
Desires fuel self-growth.
Stagnant waters are the muddiest ones, inhibiting a clear view of the bottom. If our life is like muddy water, we cannot see clearly what our heart and soul crave. Our desires are like a flowing, clear river, full of energy and life force, propelling us towards growth and self-fulfillment.
When we suppress our desires, it’s like waking up every morning without a purpose; life feels meaningless, inauthentic, and empty.
When we use our desires as fuel for self-growth, life becomes rich, meaningful, and exciting.
“Desire is the foundation of our will to live. When you cease to desire, you cease to evolve.” (Danielle Laporte)
Desires are the catalyst for self-transformation.
Just like caterpillars need to transform into beautiful butterflies, we need to grow into the person we wish to be.
Unfortunately, transformation doesn’t happen overnight; otherwise, I would already be an empowered, successful writer who has published several books and doesn’t care about people’s opinions – instead, I struggle with self-doubts and lack of confidence like most people.
Transformation is a slow process; just like trees need years to mature so we can enjoy their fruits, we need years of mistakes, detours, bad experiences, pain, and self-reflection. Only then can we accumulate wisdom to help us plant strong roots, make meaningful choices, and be true to our heart and soul.
Transformation is not an end goal; it’s a journey of learning, growing, re-inventing, changing directions, curiosity, exploration, changing your hair color and style a dozen times, and living authentically.
“Desire is where the Divine lives, inside your inspiration of your desire. Every desire is of profound importance with huge consequences and deserves your attention.” (Mama Gena)
Desires help us connect on a deeper level.
Humans have an innate desire for connection, but not every connection is meaningful. Some of them are shallow and boring; I would rather spend time alone in the wilderness trying to find Bigfoot than waste time on meaningless small talk 😉
Life can be a treacherous, difficult, and sometimes lonely journey. The path ahead can be dark and confusing, but if we surround ourselves with people who support and love us, it provides us with the strength and courage to find our way through the darkness.
So, how do we know if we are connecting with people on a deep and genuine level? If I had the answer for that, I would have been able to save myself a lot of disappointments. Here is my take on it. When you feel heard, seen, valued, comfortable sharing embarrassing or painful experiences, and feel joyful and uplifted after spending time with that person, then you experience a magical connection.
Desires are not selfish, unrealistic, or something to hide in a vault….well, maybe some 😉
Desires give us a clue about the missing pieces in our lives. It’s our feelings, not our rational thinking, that propel us to move forward, start a new endeavor, create connections, get excited, seek fulfillment, explore, chase adventures, and pursue meaningful activities.
I hope you will always foster an open mind and open heart to pursue your desires 😊
You are worth it! ❤️🌻
“There is no easy way to walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires.” (Nelson Mandela)
