What Do You Want Most in Life?

Whatever it is that you want most in life should make your heart sing and your spirit soar.

One day I was walking on our property. My mind was quiet, and I was in listening mode. I could hear a rooster far off in the distance and birds singing. I saw them gathering food for the babies in the nests. Every time the mother bird would leave the nest, the little ones would get quiet. Then, when she returned, it was like hearing raucous applause on a sitcom. It made me smile.

I must have been in the zone because this question dropped into my head: What do you want most in life?

It came out of nowhere but had a big impact. “Well,” I thought, “that’s a great question — one that has no specific answer and one that can change depending on your life situation.” I liked the question so much that I posted it on Instagram. And then I started asking friends. Enthusiastic about the answers I was hearing and the expressions on people’s faces when I asked, I branched out to asking strangers in the grocery store check-out line, at the gas station, in line at the post office, and at the gym.

The responses were insightful and touching.

One person noted: “I just want to have fun with my family and friends. I want to look back and know I didn’t miss out.”

Another, more serious response was this: “I want peace, deep inner peace.” It came almost as a whisper, as if the person was letting out a deep sigh.

Still another reflected on his job: “I want to get a job that I like and look forward to going to work.”

My older friend stated: “I’ve already gotten what I wanted most in life.”

“Oh,” I said in a nonchalant way, “are you finished with life then?”

“Of course not,” he retorted in a huffy voice. “I still want to travel; I want to laugh; I want to enjoy what time I have left.” Bingo. He dug down to find the essence that the question points to.

So, what does this question mean for you? How do you find out what you want most in life? Here’s a clue: look in your heart; it will reveal the answer by speaking to you through your longings and desires, your hopes and dreams, and through what brings you the greatest joy. Speak them out loud. Write them down. Let your truest self be heard.

Adyashanti, spiritual teacher, once said: “You get what you value most.” I hope whatever it is that you want most in life makes your heart sing and your spirit soar. Because when you soar, you give us permission to do the same.

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You can find out more about me by visiting tamihendrix.com