difference between Wants and Needs.

we all want money, admiration, love, respect, to be needed etc. Want is the key word here. We all want something. Doesnt necessarily mean that we need it or that its good for us. As humans we will forever be in a state of wanting someone or something. I think its very important here to differentiate between wants or desires and our needs. As we grow older our desires seem to evolve and grow. we want more of this and more of that. And yet we somehow manage to live with what we have. No matter how much or how little we have, we all learn to make due, even if we think we remain unhappy. This concept or thin line between making due with what we have and forever choosing to remain unhappy because of what we want but can not have, must be explored in depth. We all need to understand that this line does indeed exist for everyone and that this line is essential for creating satisfaction for ourselves. once we identify this line and realize this concept and tell ourselves that we are making due with what we have then we have already won half our battle in the pursuit of happiness. Our happiness does not lye with our wants and desires even though it may seem that way to us. surely you must have noticed that when our desire is met we feel happiness but its short lived and fleeting. as soon as we have fulfilled our desire we simply move on to the next one on the list and associate our happiness with that new desire. on the other hand, when all our needs are met we feel happy and fulfilled for a longer duration of time. there is a whole subject dedicated to reading consumer psyche and marketing firms target consumer via subliminal messages to make them want to buy products. I dont want to dwell on the details of how exactly this is done. but the gist of it is that normal traits which were found in humans/people are now being systematically associated with products and things. for example prestige is being associated with cars or traits of machoism and success are associated with cigarettes. now what happens is that inorder to acquire these traits a person simply buys the product and presto !they are under the illusion of marketing. the reality is traits and characteristics which were are shaped with hard work are now easily being bought and sold in the form of material possessions. hence we say that we live in a materialistic world. where the value of people are judged by the amount of things they possess, or the size of their bank balance etc. In light of this its imperative that we honestly ask ourselves if our wants are truly our wants ? and also if what we want is really what we need? Next time you desire something take a minute to reflect on why you want it and if its worth it ? if not then try to re enforce your satisfaction by telling urself that you already have everything you need and be thankful for it. this will help reduce the stress and anxiety we tend to build over time in our pursuit of our desires.