Want vs need
If there is something we suffer too much from, it is a state of want.
The energy of "I want" is akin to the energy of I wish... there is no attraction, no substance.
Moments spent imaginatively wishing and wanting are frequently only followed by heavy sighs and often automatic self-discouragement.
And when the moment has passed, life continues without any roots of intention nor action sown.
The emotion and energy invested perpetuate the state of wanting, and I wish, which in turn blooms into misery and a sense of failure.
A want is external, while a need is internal.
A need has all the ingredients necessary to flourish and motivate.
Question your wants often and a lot, because they are the symptom of what you need.
The emotion and energy of want sustain the state of wanting and eventually stagnation in life.
When, against all odds, a want has actually been materialized, you will either miss it or realize it’s not what you need.
In summary
“Want” is external and perpetuates stagnation, while “need” is internal and motivating. Question wants to uncover needs, as wants often lead to dissatisfaction.
— Dane Broderick