How to Get What You Really Want

We’ve all gotten something we thought we wanted, only to discover…it wasn’t.

The new car smell wore off, but the payments didn’t.

The “right” person turned out to be just the “next” person. The “dream job” started to feel like…well…a job.

What if there’s a way to break that cycle?

There is.

But it doesn’t happen naturally. Getting what we really want means figuring out what is most important to us.

You want a Tesla? Great. I hope you get a Tesla. But why do you really want it?

You want to get married? Okay, but why do you really want to get married?

Our focus is usually on what’s right in front of us. We want what we want. And we want it now.

That’s why you could spend your entire life indulging in a lot of different things but never getting what you really want.

You can’t get what you really want until you discover what you value.

Your values—the things that matter most to you—are not so easy to spot. So, here’s a question to get you started: What are the words you hope people would use to describe you?

And let’s be honest—do any of us really want to be known for simply what we drive, where we live, or how much we work?

Values, unlike wants, aren’t easy to market. They don’t come with free shipping. But when we teach ourselves to look past our short-term desires and appetites, we see the bigger picture. And we discover what we really value.

So, do the decisions you’re making now line up with your future hopes and dreams?

If not, maybe it’s time to think through what’s most important to you—your values. Which words describe the person you hope to be? Write them down. Tape them to your bathroom mirror. Set some reminders on your phone.

Prioritize what you ultimately want over what you want now.

Put your values in the driver’s seat and throw everything else in the back.

When you do, you’ll get something much better than just the next thing. You’ll get what you really want.

And who doesn’t want that?

It’s your move.