How many times have we found ourselves thinking about undertaking a project, but immediately come up with a list of excuses? This quick reaction always runs up against that old phrase that has echoed for centuries: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Ultimately, what has humanity truly been relentlessly pursuing throughout the centuries? Undoubtedly, each of us wants to be a better and happier human being. However, we often get lost along the way in common aspirations, which distract us from what should be the real and lasting focus of our lives.

The act of truly wanting something is far more complex than a simple desire. It requires the combined action of mind and will, but its true strength and energy come from our sensibility. It is an engine driven by our highest goals and dreams.

Therefore, we need to understand the difference: “Desiring is not wanting; you must learn to want.” Desire clings to what is fleeting, to what does not last, while true wanting focuses on what is lasting, on what builds us up permanently.

I acknowledge that I have two types of desires: one of a circumstantial and generally physical nature, and another that is more constant, patient, and serene. To enrich the meaning of life, it is essential to elevate the quality of these aspirations. The pursuit of knowledge is fundamental because, as the author of Logosophy states, “Knowledge is one of the possessions to which human beings should most aspire, since possessing knowledge facilitates possessing everything else.”

In my view, the process that allows for the manifestation of a true wanting involves taking simple yet extremely important steps:

1. Creating the thought: Knowing clearly what you want, and ensuring it’s something that fosters good, both for yourself and for the people around you.
2. Keeping the thought: Being consistent and not letting the idea die, offering natural stimuli. Don’t forget to water the seed you planted.
3. Connecting with your feelings: Engaging your heart in the goal to give it strength and energy.

A simple example of this was my return to Pilates classes a year ago. At first, it was difficult, and my mind created resistance and many excuses. But little by little, I nurtured thoughts about the benefits and the reason for the effort. In the first few weeks, I gained dexterity and confidence in the exercises, feeling a great sense of well-being that came not only from the physical aspect but also from internal overcoming and a feeling of gratitude for having accomplished a small part of what I set out to do.

This small example, combined with the application of the logosophical method, has allowed me to develop an inner awareness and more active defense mechanisms. I learn to discern what I should cultivate in my mental world and what distracts me from my focus, using each experience as training for greater mental and sensitive agility. This clarity facilitates the identification of obstacles and the assessment of the path between the idealized project and its accomplishment. Each small overcoming, then, becomes a connecting dot with the greater purpose of life: the evolution of my own spirit, giving me more confidence for future and more challenging projects.

As another year draws to a close, this is the perfect time for each of us to “plant a flag” on the stretch we have just traveled. It’s time to revisit what we have accomplished, visualize the path we covered, feel gratitude for the completion of small projects or even those that are underway, and, above all, renew our stimuli to continue this great project that is our own life.

May the coming year be one of serene and constant wanting for all of us.