All Desire Is Divine

We tend to categorize desire almost as soon as it arises: good or bad, healthy or unhealthy, worthy or shameful. But what if we became curious about desire before evaluating it?

Desire can be a pathway into a deeper understanding of our human needs and our spiritual aspirations.

The practice is to pause long enough to listen.

I finish a Zoom call at my desk, and the M&Ms in the kitchen cupboard beckon. I could grab a handful without thinking. Or I could pause:

What am I really wanting?

Maybe it’s something sweet. Maybe I need a break, a little pleasure, or simply a moment away from the desk. M&Ms may still be the answer. Totally cool.

The point is the pause.

Desire gives us information. When we become conscious of it, we have an opportunity to discover what lies beneath the immediate impulse—and choose a response that nourishes both our human needs and the life we are called to live.

In that space between desire and action, discernment becomes possible.