We can begin our investigation into thinking with desire by considering its definition. Desire refers to a strong feeling of wanting something, often involving physical attraction or emotional attachment. This means that when we think with desire, we are engaging our minds in a way that is focused on achieving a particular goal or outcome. Rather than simply observing our desires objectively, we are actively pursuing them through thought and action. This approach to thinking has been described as "desiring with one's mind."
When we think with desire, we are making choices based on what we want rather than what is logical or reasonable.
If you have a crush on someone, you might fantasize about them and plan ways to impress them even though your friends tell you it won't work out. You may also choose to ignore advice from others because your desire for this person is more important to you than their opinions. In this way, desire motivates us to take risks and make decisions that could be considered irrational but meaningful to us personally.
Thinking with desire can also involve creativity and imagination. When we allow ourselves to daydream and visualize potential scenarios, we open up new possibilities for action and fulfillment. We might consider different paths toward achieving our goals or explore alternative ways of experiencing pleasure. By allowing our minds to wander freely, we may discover insights and solutions that would not have occurred otherwise.
There are also downsides to thinking with desire. If we become too attached to certain ideas or people, we may miss out on opportunities for growth and progress.
If we focus solely on winning someone over at any cost, we may end up hurting ourselves or others in the process. Desire can also lead to frustration when things don't go according to plan or when we realize our desires cannot be fully satisfied.
Thinking with desire requires us to balance between pursuing what we want while remaining flexible enough to adjust as necessary. It involves letting go of societal norms and expectations to follow our own intuition and impulses. By doing so, we can create a richer inner life full of passion, exploration, and self-awareness.
Additional information:
For further reading on the topic, see "The Power of Thought" by James Allen and "Desiring With One's Mind" by Jesse Prinz. Both texts offer more in-depth discussions of how desire shapes our thoughts and actions.
Research on sexual attraction and relationships has shown that desire plays a significant role in human behavior.
What does it mean to think with desire rather than about it?
Desiring something is an innate human experience that involves a combination of physical sensations and emotions as well as cognitive processes. It can be driven by internal motivations such as hunger, thirst, pleasure, pain, or fear, but also by external stimuli like sight, sound, smell, touch, taste, and even thoughts about past experiences.