I once thought if only I had a few wishes, then I would have everything I needed. And subsequently, I would be happy and content.

Yet, I never thought to question why that would be the case­­­ ­.

• How long would I be happy even if I obtained it?
• Would receiving something I wished for make me happy?

Fundamentally, I merely bought into the programming.

Maybe you have as well.

But wait, that isn’t an unusual thing.

See, we are the programmed.

We are programmed to Wish

Disney’s showcase song is built on the premise of the marriage of wishes and fulfillment.

When you wish upon a star

Makes no difference who you are

When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true.

And respectively, many of us grew up believing in that type of magic. We wanted and hoped to live in a world with fairy godmothers, princes, and genies. Who didn’t want to live in a world where dreams came true by desiring them?

And this thinking becomes so much a part of us we hardly recognize the creep into our vernacular.

Who can say they have not at some point uttered?

• ” I wish I could do that!”
• “If only that would happen to me!”
• “If only that were me!”
• “What If I had that opportunity”

The Reality of Wishing

However, there are no genies, princes in waiting, or fairy godmothers.

And wishes never lead to a life of fulfillment.

Wishing leaves us empty.

Why?

Primarily a wish can never be fulfilled.

What is a wish in actuality?

In earnest, wishes are what we desire but hope to get effortlessly.

“I wish is code for I don’t want to do anything differently (Shetty 78)

And the very thought that something can be obtained without motion is ludicrous.

Truthfully, to get something, you must put yourself in the field of motion to obtain it.

So, our mental offers pushback

How Mentality Comes into Play

We are structured to use our senses. That sensory input is translated through a lens of understanding to which we give our observations meaning.

It is not hard to look at something externally without understanding the complexities involved in shaping that person or thing and making a judgment.

Some people make things look super easy. They make it look as if they wished for it, and it appears.

And, when we see someone with the output we want; the money, cars, accolades, position, recognition, and awards, we make up a story based on our perceptions of what we see on their highlight reel.

And we amp ourselves up to believe that we want that and we are capable of doing the same things to get it.

But few consider if they have the resolve to obtain or keep it.

The Great Illusion

In truth, most don’t want to do what it takes to get that thing they wish for.

They only want the result.

The underlying desire is to wish oneself to fulfillment.

We all have dreams and wishes. The difference is that dreams are there for you to do something with – they are a component of hope; without a dream, there is no hope. A wish, however, is simply a desire to have something without doing anything to accomplish it.” Catherine Pulsifer

Truth Hurts

If we truly wanted what another has, we would have to accept all that went into crafting that.

That would mean being able to live and deal with the same experiences, good and bad, that shaped the individual into becoming the progenitor, creator, or performer we see.

The question becomes could we withstand the work it would take.

And if we are truthful, we know the answer.

That’s why many will never obtain it. Because If it were bestowed upon one’s person without the work to get it, the outcome would be destructive.

You can’t handle what you are not prepared for.

So be careful what you wish for, without the desire to work for

A Story for Your Consideration

There is a story that Shetty relays in his book Think Like A Monk.

In his book he recounts a little account of Picasso.

Picasso meets this woman who is obviously enamored with his talent. And so, she requests that he paint a portrait of her, which he does. And it is a remarkable piece. However, it only takes seconds to draw. Then, upon completing the commissioned work, he turns to the lady to give his price.

The lady is shocked by his fee. Picasso charges $30,000 for a 30-second portrait.

She is stunned. She is bewildered, wondering why so much. When Picasso told her, “Madam, it did not take 30 seconds; it took thirty years.

The Point

The woman saw the work, and she desired the output without considering everything that went into rendering that. Her desire was to merely get the output for little or nothing in return. She hadn’t considered what went into creating that work of art.

The ease with which Picasso drew the portrait resulted from 30 years of practice of concentrated effort. The only way he could produce such work in such a short period is due to his investment. Had she known that either she would not have asked for the portrait, or she would not have been shocked by the price tag.

The truth behind the story

• We rarely see beyond what we can see.
• Looking at outcomes alone lead to vain musings for the same.
• We assume that because someone else makes it look easy, we could produce the same result.

None of that is true. It never has been, and it never will be.

A Final Word on Wishing

So, the next time you think to wish upon a star, understand that wishes will not get you what you want. And even if you could wish for something and obtain it, the very fact that there was no input involved in getting it should give you pause. Then, how could you maintain it?

Remember, all things need maintenance.

That is something to think about.