We are driven by our desires. They interplay, overlay and contradict. Our immediate desires often interfere and end up getting precedence over our stronger longer-term desires. Our desires for safety and comfort sometimes shut down our pursuit of curiosity and sustained effort. By changing our attention, we can change our desires. This is called “reframing.”
ASSIGNMENT:
Throughout this week, pay attention to what is driving you. Is it to make friends? To do well on an exam? To please your parents? To succeed? (BTW, what does “success” look like to you?) When you become aware of a thought that is impeding a “preferred” desire, try “reframing” the situation.
- Which desires are mutually reinforcing?
- Which desires challenge or undermine one another?
- Do you tend to be more aware of your short-term desires or your long-term ones?
- Can you change what you want to do by changing the focus of your thoughts?