Wish: (v) 1. to want; desire; long for 2. to wish (a person or thing) to be (as specified)
(n) 3. an act or instance of wishing 4. a request or command
I have a question (actually two): What do you wish for? and How does that make you feel?
I notice there are two different types of wishing. Disney’s Cinderella sings “A dream is a wish your heart makes.” To me, that type of wish is magic. It feels amazing to let my heart guide me to my truest desire, my purpose, my passion. When I use wish in this manner, it feels really good to me–like wishing on a star.
Another kind of wishing sounds more like this: “I wish I looked like her” or “I wish I didn’t have to work so much.” This kind of wishing feels like a pit in my stomach. Instead of inspiration, it feels like frustration and separation. The distance between what I have and what I wish I had seems so vast that it will be never be possible to reach it.
So, what’s the difference?
Maybe the words “want” and “desire” can shed some light.
Want: (n) 1. something wanted or needed; necessity; 2. the state of being without something desired or needed
Desire: (n) a longing or a craving as for something that bring satisfaction or enjoyment
To put it simply, the difference is in the feeling. So again, the question: How does what you wish for make you feel?
If your wish makes you feel more frustrated than inspired, I’ve learned a few simple tricks that may help you switch it.
- Ask yourself, “How do I want to feel?” and then look for reasons to feel that way right now. When you find proof that you are capable of feeling that way now, you will be better able to believe it is possible to feel that way more often.
- Stop wishing and start doing! And if your immediate response is “I would if I could!” or “I don’t know how!” my response to you is “What is your first step?” If your wish, or your desire, is truly coming from within, you know your first step. You may be drowning it out with lots of thoughts and worry and wishing, but it’s there. Get quiet and listen–you’ll know what to do.
- Be grateful and Have fun! Gratitude makes life joyful, which in turn makes life much more fun! Fun shuts of worry and opens up possibilities.
- Strengthen your mindset. Find a coach. Join a mastermind. Find a podcast. Do something to grow your belief. Recently, I heard someone say “Skill set training without mindset training actually confirms an already low self esteem.” I’m not sure I would believe it if I hadn’t lived it. This is why I am so out loud about it now. đ
The joy of life is found in living and progressing toward your dream. Let your wish be your guide, not your enemy, because as Jimminy Cricket so wisely sings, “When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true!”
