want vs need vs have to

Tell me princess now when did you last let your heart decide? 

-Aladdin,  A Whole New World- 

How often do you listen to your heart? How often do you interrupt yourself and just think before you act? I mean, we're taught that way growing up. "Think before you act." "Think before you speak." Think, think, think..... So we were programed that way, weren't we? 

I had a great conversation with my friend the other day. The difference between "want", "need" and "have to". Well, as an idea I knew the differences among them. But when he said, "When it's "want", it's your choice", it clicked me in a way it did never before. Then I realized, how often do I do things just because I want to? Ask yourself. How often do you do things just because you want to? Like go for a walk, or take a bicycle ride, or take a hot bath, have a cookie, or start water coloring? Without making any excuses. You do it just because. Or be spontaneous!! try this new shop that just opened in the corner. Pick up a phone to call a friend who you haven't talked in a long time. Take a day trip somewhere. Go to a  museum. Order a dish you've never tried before... ANYTHING!!!! Do you do things because you want to? or because you need to? or because you have to?  I remember watching Jim Carey's "Yes Man". In the beginning, he was not willing to say "yes" to things, because he was programed to say "NO" and analyze things logically. As the story goes on, he starts to realize the change in him. The joy of saying yes to unknown. The excitement to jump into something unfamiliar.  The love of living life. And towards the end, he finally realized his "wants" and "have to/need to". 

I think we often forget how to pay attention to our "wants". Because we are too caught up in what we need to do, what we should be doing. Oh, I have to do this because of XYZ. Oh I need to do this because of XYZ...  I have to pay the bills. I have to go to work. I have to clean up the dishes....
Joel Osteen often says in his books "Everything happens FOR you. Not TO you". You get to do all these things. It seems like such a hypocrite thing in the beginning to think that "I get to pay the bill." "I get to wash the dishes" "I get to go to work"... It's not easy to think that way when you are not that fond of those things. It's an opportunity for you to shift that paradigm. Life scares you. Of course it does. You are constantly jumping into something new, even things that seems the same or same routine, it's never the same. Everyday is different. Every moment is different. And again, it takes courage to say yes to your life and be responsible. That's why most of people don't do it and settle for the easy things, the things that they are familiar. the things that they are comfortable. But, if you want to go farther, you have to get out of your comfort zone. Start listening to your little voice inside. Listen to what they want. Listen to want they say. In the beginning, it's hard to tell whether that's your ego or your inner voice. As you practice, you'll start to see the difference. My teachers call it "10 minutes of silence". Everyday, 10 minutes a day, sit in silence. No phone. No TV. No distraction. Just sit with yourself for 10 minutes. If any thoughts come up, just acknowledge that it's there. "oh, how interesting". and let that go. Really, start listening to the voice inside you. Do you have to? Do you get to? Do you want to? You always have a choice. Life happens FOR you. Make it count. 

Love, hope, faith