Earlier today, I had a brief conversation with a superintendent at my worksite; he had a long career in construction spanning 45 years, so he is a wealth of knowledge. I asked him what he does to keep himself motivated in our industry. He paused momentarily and mentioned some words that his favorite writer, Ralph Waldo Emerson, had said.

If you dont know Ralph Waldo Emerson, he is a towering figure in American literature and philosophy and is often remembered for his insightful observations on human nature and society.

The superintendent told me that Emerson once said that 3 wants are fundamental desires that drive human behavior:

1 The want for more (greed),

2 The want for health,

and

3 The want of Anywhere but here.

While seemingly straightforward, these desires offered a deep glimpse into the complexities of human motivation and our quest for fulfillment. So, I decided to dig deeper for a better understanding.

The first desire Emerson identifies is the want for greed, encapsulated in the phrase its never enough. This desire stems from an insatiable longing for more more wealth, more success, more possessions. It reflects a deeper discontentment, a belief that happiness and satisfaction can be attained through the accumulation of material wealth.

However, this endless pursuit often leads to a cycle of dissatisfaction, where each achievement or acquisition only fuels the desire for more, leaving people trapped in a perpetual state of wanting.

This want for greed speaks to a broader societal issue, where success is often measured by material wealth and social status.

It challenges us to reconsider our values and question whether true contentment can ever be achieved through external means.

Emersons observation invites us to explore alternative sources of fulfillment that are not contingent on accumulating wealth but are rooted in the richness of our internal lives and relationships.

The second desire Emerson discusses is the want for health.

This desire is universal, transcending cultural, economic, and social boundaries.

To want to be healthy is not merely to be free from illness but to experience a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. It reflects an understanding that health is the foundation upon which we build our lives, enabling us to pursue our goals, enjoy our relationships, and engage fully with the world around us.

However, the want for health also highlights the challenges and inequalities within our societies. Access to healthcare, nutritious food, clean air and water, and safe living conditions are not uniformly available, making pursuing health a privilege for some and a distant dream for others.

Emersons identification of health as a fundamental desire serves as a call to action, urging us to address these disparities and work towards a world where the want for health can be a reality for all.

The third desire, characterized by the sentiment anywhere but here, is a longing for change, something different from our current circumstances. It reflects a belief that happiness and fulfillment lie elsewhere, that if we could only change our location, situation, or surroundings, we would find what we are looking for.

This desire is often rooted in dissatisfaction with the present and romanticizing the unknown.

However, Emerson suggests that this want overlooks a crucial truth: that our external circumstances are not the sole determinants of our happiness. The energy we bring to our experiences, the attitudes we adopt, and the meaning we find in our daily lives shape our fulfillment. By focusing on changing our perspective rather than our location, we can discover that contentment is not a distant reality but a possibility within our current existence.

The energy we bring to our experiences, the attitudes we adopt, and the meaning we find in our daily lives shape our fulfillment.

Emersons identification of these three wants greed, health, and the desire for change serves as a powerful reminder of the complexities of human desire and the search for fulfillment. It challenges us to look beyond the superficial markers of success and happiness and to delve deeper into the values and attitudes that truly shape our well-being.

In doing so, we can address the underlying discontent that drives these wants and work towards a more fulfilled, contented existence.

I was fortunate to come across this wisdom passed on to me from my worksite superintendent from Ralph Waldo Emersons insights.

Examining these desires invites us to contemplate the true sources of happiness and fulfillment. Emersons observations encourage us to reconsider our priorities, to value our health and well-being above material wealth, and to find contentment in our current circumstances through a shift in perspective.

In embracing these lessons, we can navigate the complexities of life with a deeper understanding and appreciation for the journey toward fulfillment.

What are your thoughts? I would love to know.

This post was previously published on medium.com.

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Emerson's Insight: Navigating the Three Fundamental Desires of Human Nature - The Good Men Project