Have whatevery you like

T.I. - Whatever You Like

(why is it so hard to find songs with the explicit lyrics removed? Geez..)

For some reason, I woke up singing this song today. "Baby, you can have whatever you likkkkkkeeee".

Well, how many of us know what it is that we'd like? Do you know what you want out of life? Stop and think about that for a moment. Not things, like money, cars, trips, and clothes, but feelings. Happiness? Joy? Contentment? Do you know what makes you happy, joyful, and content?

You're more likely to get what you want when you focus on the end result you have in mind. But so many of us are mentally running between our obligations - work, school, children, family, etc - that we don't spare moments to actually think ahead. We're consumed with thinking about the present moment. Or we don't think that thinking of a feeling is realistic. When you have diapers to change, food to put on the table and bills to pay, it may seem unrealistic to think about what gives you bliss.

But until you think about that bliss, you won't have it. You'll have more of the same of what you're getting. You'll continually live the saying "if you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always gotten." Besides, where is the harm in thinking something different? Something that makes you feel good?

Our desires spring from wanting to feel good anyway. We want material things to feel ease, comfort, and stability. Its much better to feel good inside than to lust after things. I'm not condemning the want of material things - on the contrary. What I'm advocating for everyone is to feel good about life in general and strive for those things once that inner happiness is reached.

First things first, though. Start with knowing what it is you really want, not just what you desire on the surface. And from that place you're more likely to have them.