Dynamics of Desire

Most people fail on Step 1.

The following is an article I submitted to an indie zine run by a friend, based on a longer talk I gave in New York.

---

If the fulfillment of our desires were entirely up to us, then why are we left with unsatisfied desires?

The reality of our situation is that it takes two to tango. We need someone else - something else - to act in order for our desires to be fulfilled. Call it luck, call it time, call it the Universe, God, Divinity, the Supreme, call it whatever - as long as you’re intellectually honest enough to acknowledge that all we can do is try our best and wait.

This is the arc of attraction, the metaphysics of manifestation, the dynamics of desire. It’s a powerful process:

1. Be exceedingly clear about what you want

2. Make yourself ready to receive it

3. Patiently allow things to move into your life

Most people fail on step 1. We need to actually understand what it is that we want. It’s not as simple as possessing money, power, fame, beauty, knowledge, or autonomy. It’s about understanding what desires are fundamental to us: the things we do without being asked, the things we do naturally, the things that are inherent to our body, mind, and soul.

These desires demand nothing less than their full expression from us. They are central to our existence, and therefore, their fulfillment requires us to centralize our existence around them. Our actions speak louder than our prayers; we’re often too distracted by dopamine hits to orient ourselves around those central desires.

Once we’ve oriented ourselves in the right manner, it’s as simple as waiting for the sun to rise. Depending on the season and my position, it may take a few hours or the entire 2 months of polar night, but eventually the sun will rise.

I can’t make the sun rise. But I can make sure I’m awake and watching when it does.