Desire and wanting are emotions inherent in human nature and are intriguingly motivating feelings. Willpower, on the other hand, is a somewhat different concept. Desire can arise psychologically from the motivational and emotional centers of our brain. Willpower, however, develops more around decision-making and long-term planning, requiring self-awareness and discipline.
The key differences between these two are: desire is emotional, while willpower is logical; desire seeks quick results, while willpower is geared toward long-term expectations; desire is more reactive, while willpower is proactive and demands more conscious effort.
As humans, it's nearly impossible to make such clear distinctions within ourselves. For example, when we're dieting, our desire to eat cake may peak, but willpower helps us resist. Hence, these elements can often compete with one another.
From this perspective, we might actually desire something even when we think we don’t want it. It can be difficult to determine whether someone who says they don't want to start a new venture in their professional life truly desires it or not. In professional life, acting primarily based on willpower may seem reasonable. However, if willpower dominates too much, it could also leave us struggling with the influence of our desires.
Resolving this is very difficult... Still, by adopting a mindfulness approach, we can try to make the situation more concrete, considering whether our desires and wants arise suddenly, are temporary, emotional, or reactive. On the other hand, we should also evaluate how balanced our long-term willpower is with our true self and life goals. Even if the outcome is a 50-50 per cent balance, at least it serves as an indicator.
Of course, life isn't mathematics—it is complex and full of many factors. Our task is to simply clarify our minds between wanting and not wanting. The answer should be Yes or No, as being stuck in limbo could be the worst possible scenario...
Dr. Bilinç Dolmacı
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