What Do You Really Want
If I asked you, right now, “What do you want?” how would you answer? Not what your partner wants. Not what your kids need. Not what your job requires. Not what sounds good to the world around you. But you… your soul, your heart, and your spirit. What do you truly want?
So many people pause when they hear that question. Their eyes glance upward as if searching the ceiling tiles for a hidden scroll that holds the answer. Some shrug. Others nervously laugh and say, “I don’t really know.” And they mean it.
We’ve been taught to be responsible, to show up for others, or to check the boxes of life: like get the degree or job, build the career, raise the family, and volunteer when we can. We’ve grown so accustomed to living life by default or expectation that we rarely pause long enough to ask what we want in our own lives.
There’s also fear. What if we name something too big, too selfish, or too different? What if we give voice to a longing that doesn’t match our current reality?
Many of us were never taught to dream, or worse, were told our dreams were unrealistic. Over time, we began to silence that inner voice that once whispered desires and imagined possibilities. It got buried under the “shoulds,” the “musts,” and the “have-to’s” of life.
Here’s the good news, the ability to answer “What do I want?” isn’t gone. It’s simply waiting beneath the surface, eager to be heard again. It starts with permission. Permission to want what you want, even if it doesn’t make sense to anyone else.
It begins with your curiosity.What lights you up? What drains you? When do you feel most alive? What did you love as a child before life got noisy?
Then it solidifies with practice. Take five minutes a day and ask yourself: What do I want today? Maybe it's rest. Maybe it's laughter. Maybe it’s connection or stillness. Keep asking and listen closely. The answers will come.
Close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths. Place a hand on your heart and whisper, “What do I want?” Then listen without judgment. Write it down. Do this daily. Over time, you’ll uncover pieces of your truth that long to be lived.
When you know what you want, life becomes more vibrant. Your decisions become clearer. You begin to align with your inner compass instead of the world’s noise. And yes, your answer can change over time. That’s the beauty of growth.
Learning to want again is an act of courage. Honoring your desires, big and small is not selfish, it’s sacred. It’s how we create lives that feel aligned, meaningful, and full of vitality.
When you know what you want, even in small ways like what kind of tea you’re craving, what music lifts your spirit, or whether your body needs rest or movement, you begin to reclaim the parts of yourself that have gone quiet. And the more you practice listening, the louder your truth becomes.
So, I’ll ask again with love and curiosity, “What do you really want?” Not someday. Not when everything’s perfect. But today, in this moment. And if you don’t know yet, that’s okay too. Just begin by asking and being curious. Then listen. You’re allowed to want more. You’re allowed to dream again. And you are worthy of living a life that lights you up.
XO Sheryl
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