Recycling Emotions: Greed to Desire

After converting frustration to inspiration and seeing an example lets analyze another emotion this time; Greed.

We have all been greedy at some point of our lives. Greed is maybe the only hit sin that is not limited to one particular aspect of life. The adjective "greedy" can be attached to almost any noun. Greed is also one of the most natural emotions and is inherent in all of us. We start our lives being greedy for love and milk and move on to sweets and toys and on to money and success. The progress of greed is directly proportional to the growth in our lives. But pause a minute. Take a while and analyze if it is greed that makes us fight on in our quest for more?

Then there is desire. There is a thin line between greed and desire. Desire works similar to greed but within limits. That is the distinguishing factor. Desire metamorphoses into greed if it is not controlled. But there is another factor that sets them apart. Desire does not feature in the hit list of top 7 sins. Greed is bad. Desire can be good.

Recycling is an amazing process. It can convert absolute waste into very useful products. But the most fascinating thing is it can be applied to almost anything; garbage, plastic and emotions too.

Lets then see this fascinating process of limiting greed to desire.

1. Desire something

Desire lets us have goals. And goals lend meaning to our lives. I need to buy house. I have a goal. Goals let us measure our performance. Goals set the base for our plans and help us achieve in life. Desire is never bad.

2. Set a goal

Setting a goal helps measure our success. Keep tracking the goal to know how much you have achieved and how far you still have to go.

3. Set the limits

The most important part of the process that helps distinguish the greed from the desire. Know when to stop.

4. Be insatiable

Contradictory to point 3 above? Not really. Once you have achieved a goal, a desire, move to a new one. The satisfaction part applies to the new desire. Too much of the same generates greed. So stay away. As the maxim goes "Satisfaction is the death of desire". And of ambition.

Be greedy, be hungry but within limits and you will have everything you ever needed.