The best way to get what you want is to stop wanting it. Can it be that easy? It may seem incredible, but it’s true. These simple ways can help you achieve it.
“As soon as you stop wanting something, you get it. I’ve found that to be absolutely axiomatic.” – Andy Warhol.
Simple Ways to Get What You Want
Can you really get what you want simply by letting go of the want? If it is true, why aren’t more people taking this advice to be a success and make things happen?
Humans are, by nature, filled with wants.
- Some want to be rich and famous, win a promotion, enjoy someone’s affection, have their kids’ respect, buy a bigger house, a nicer car, and more.
- Moreover, others want to lose 10 or 20 pounds, get their noses straightened, have a clearer complexion, or revamp their hair or wardrobe.
- Besides that, do you want to have more friends, tell jokes effectively, be the go-to person for advice, and be considered the most intelligent and admired person in the room?
How can you get these wants by letting go of wanting them?
I don’t have all the answers, but I can come up with a few reasons why this may work.
The Thomas Edison Example
Look at Thomas Edison. He definitely wanted to invent a number of devices – and did. However, before success, he experienced countless failures and frustration. His secret? Failure didn’t dim his enthusiasm. Instead, he kept going.
On the other hand, isn’t that the same as wanting?
Consider this. Edison’s motivation was to create, invent, find solutions to problems, and offer new ideas others would find useful. He embraced life, living in the moment, fueled by his insatiable curiosity, propelled by his genius. It wasn’t the success he was after. He enjoyed what he was doing while he was actively involved in it.
After so many failures, he achieved success. He had stopped wanting it and then got it.
Relationships Matter
Here’s another more relatable example. After all, Thomas Edison lived long ago, and most of us aren’t inventors. But we do have relationships. We know the heartache and pain of wanting someone we care about to reciprocate.
Maybe we’ve learned that being too bold and persistent scares off the person we seek to attract. However, if we back off, take a more laid-back approach, and stop wanting love so desperately, the result may surprise us. We get what we want when we stop wanting it.
However, it may not be with that person but with someone else. The outcome is the same.
Tips for How to Get What You Want
This approach is worth considering the next time you think of something you genuinely want. But there’s one more point worth making. While you stop wanting something, you don’t stop working toward it.
- Consequently, you still need a plan, a strategy, and a workable approach.
- Furthermore, you still need to take action to achieve goals. That’s following through with a reasoned plan.
- Be in the present as you put forth the effort. Do your best in the here and now instead of wanting the result and fixating on getting it.
Finally, the less you think about wanting the want, the quicker you’ll get what you want.
What’s your experience?
