Difference Between Wanting and Craving

Have you ever wanted something, didn't get it, and then quickly forgot about ever wanting it in the first place. Conversely have you ever wanted something really bad, weren't able to get it, and kept craving it for days, months, maybe years later?

Stress comes from craving not from mere wanting. What do I mean? Well lets take an example from my life. Ever since I was 7 years old and saw the movie Cannonball Run I have wanted a red Lamborghini. Do I think about that sometimes? Yes. What happens if I don't ever get that car? Well I think I will be OK. My happiness and my fulfillment isn't tied to that car. Let's take a second example from my personal life. I am hungry right now. What happens if I do not get any food in the next 30 minutes, will I be happy? No. Will I want it even more? Yes. Will I be more stressed because of it? Yes. That's the difference between wanting and craving. Craving is a have to have kind of mentality. Wanting is a desire.

Well what about when it comes to our health? What if my body is telling me it needs something? Is that a wanting or a craving and should I follow it? With this we have to use our logical mind. We have to think about if this feeling is based on something good for us or bad for us. If we are in the mood for ice cream and we can't let go of that idea, then that is probably a craving. Now say we are training for a marathon or doing heavy weight training and feel this growing feeling for more protein. Then I would say, yes it is craving, but follow your instincts.

So the bottom line is we must work on our feelings of craving. We must learn to let go of our need to have something. Its OK to want it, but to need it causes us stress. If we do find ourselves needing something and not being able to let it go, then we must analyze it. We must find out if this is something that will benefit us or hurt us. If it is the first, then pursue it, if it is the second we must learn to let it go.

Wishing you the very best,

Dr. John Zipp