The Difference Between WANTING and NEEDING Change

I need change.

I need something else.

I need movement.

I need a new job.

I need to travel.

Do the above statements sound familiar to you?  Throughout my life these thoughts have come in and out of my head like the tides.  Acting on them gives me comfort and feeds an inner urge I can't explain. NOT being able to act on my need for change picks away at my zest for life.  Explaining these feelings to someone else can be difficult, especially if they are very content without change, exploring or movement.  Before you can begin to explain your need for change YOU must be able to come to an understanding of WHY you feel this way.  So, let's think about the difference between wanting something and needing something.

What is the difference between wanting change and needing change?

A WANT is a desire.  For example, you desire a new car - even though yours is running fine.  You may desire a new coat because the one you have is out of style.  You don't NEED a new coat because the one you have now still keeps you warm.  Would replacing the coat make you happier?   Maybe.  If you didn't buy a new coat and kept your old one, would you feel depressed, withered or tortured?  If you must keep up with the fashion world, you might feel a bit embarrassed, but most wearing an older coat will not wither away your happiness of life.

Now, let's think about NEED.  Merriam-Webster's dictionary states "a need is a physiological or psychological requirement for the well-being of an organism".  We need water to live.  We need heat to keep us warm from freezing temperatures.  We need energy, in the form of food and vitamins, to move around, stay alive and fight disease and sickness.  Really without meeting basic survival needs the human population would not exist.

The words well-being described in Merriam-Websters definition brings a few things to mind, such as  feeling comfortable, happy, thriving, progressive, successful and satisfied.  Without well-being a person might feel depressed, withered, not themselves, tortured, distressed and maybe even a bit crazy.

After reading about the differences of "want" vs "need", how do YOU feel
about YOUR need to change now?  I challenge you to really think about your inner self and how you deal with the love for change. If you feel yourself withering without it, you were probably born with the gene that makes you who you are.  Welcome to the family.


If you'd like further guidance in explaining your urge for change to someone close to you, please contact me.  My service is free and I have a lot of experience in this area.