## Evaluating Your Desires

In our experiences, often we find ourselves desiring for something before we can articulate why we crave it. This is a significant reality to recognize: our desires, in their initial stages, are fundamentally mystifying to us. As such, it is of paramount importance to not place undue trust in our immediate justifications for our wants.

This enigmatic interim, the span between the birth of a desire and the formation of an explanation for it, is the fertile ground where rationalization plants its seeds. As humans, we are inherently prone to self-deception. Invariably, we gravitate towards attributing our desires to the most noble reasons we can conceive, rather than confronting the more authentic, and often less flattering, root causes.

Unfortunately, this tendency paints an inaccurately virtuous picture of our motivations, leading us astray. Ignoring our true desires for the sake of preserving self-image may result in decisions that ultimately do not satisfy us or align with our real values and goals. Thus, it is crucial to question and evaluate our desires honestly, rather than accepting them at face value. Recognize that our first explanation for a desire may not be the most truthful one. Cultivate introspection and seek self-awareness to better understand what truly drives your wants and needs lest you become a narcissistic prick.