Honor Your Desires

It might seem unusual, but I am in the midst of a book titled The Empowered Wife. Actually, I’m reading it together with my wife after more than one coach friend told me that it transformed their marriage.

In this book there is a fascinating idea. The author suggests that part of the key to a healthy relationship and a healthy life in general is to “honor” our desires. What she means by this is that we take the time to recognize and value our desires. She does not mean that we just get to demand or expect that our desires will be fulfilled. Rather, she seems to advocate for an abandoned approach concerning whether or not our desires are met while also maintaining that it is important to spend time understanding and dreaming about what we want most.

In contrast with this is to not understand our desires and to dismiss them when they surface. It seems to me that this approach often leads to resentment. Even if we believe that it is noble to sacrifice our desires for the good of others, it seems to me healthier when this is done with a clear understanding of and connection to the desire that is being sacrificed.

This week, I invite you to ask yourself: 

What do I want most? What are 20 things that I want? On a scale of 1-7, how well do I honor my desires? What would change for me and for those around me if I improved in this area? 

God bless,
Dan