What do Humans Desire?

The unending battle between our animalistic desires and our semi-rational mind

Rodrigo Rivera

You, my good reader, are a human. What is more, you are an animal! A very smart one at that, but an animal nonetheless. And as animals, you, me, and everyone else you’ll meet possess some inherent traits so ingrained into our biology that we’re constantly forced to fight them in order to achieve our society-imposed goals.

For example, you can’t tell me you’ve never once wished for an easy and worryless life, or at the very least for more free time in your day. And I’m not talking about extra time to finish your to-do list. I’m referring to time in which you’re only allowed to relax, nothing more. Sounds nice doesn’t it? Because what kind of animal has to worry about meeting deadlines, or paying rent, or responding to an email? Only us, of course. But what does that tell us?

Well, first of all, it seems like us humans have found a way to commodify the passage of time itself, to absurd degrees. If existing itself is a cost that needs to be offset by constant results, then how are we ever meant to relax? Do you think your housepets worry about efficiency when deciding to take a nap? Why can’t we just do what we want instead of what society wants us to do, like every other animal?

Well, that is problem number two, actually. What we desire and value is largely influenced by what society values. Do you think our DNA alone could make us want a prestigious job, high grades, or a big online following? Sure, you can argue that these are rooted in more primal desires—the need for social belonging, recognition, competence—but there’s no way natural selection accounted for us having to stress over a made-up stock number going up or down, or over having to be tested on our knowledge on paper for 3 hours straight.

What’s worse, we can get worried about things that aren’t even real yet, or about things that we think might be the case, without any definitive proof. What other animal could anxiously spiral about whether or not to have children because their family thinks it would be nice, but they don’t quite want to, but society says they’re meant to, but the economy, but, but, but!

Not to mention how we use the phrase “need” so sparingly. There’s next to nothing that we “need” to do other than eat, drink, socialize, sleep, repeat. You don’t “need” that internship, and you certainly don’t “need” to go to college, or even “need” to make anything of your life. Who’s forcing you?

Well, as it may be, I would argue that these “artificial” worries are one of our main human characteristics. Having long-term foresight allows us to plan ahead and make the most out of our time and resources, but at the same time, it dooms us to never be able to not think about what we’re meant to be doing, at all times.

Though contradictory at first, I suggest both trying to define what it is that you rationally want, and listening to your body more often. See, sometimes we focus so much on our societal “needs” that we forget about our most primordial needs. A happy body makes for a happy human, after all.

Evolution would find it silly if you sacrificed your survival needs in order to chase these “fictional” needs. But you, as a human, would find it silly not to take on some more stress if it can potentially lead to success. Well, what if you collaborate? Find a middle ground with your body, in a way that you both can be happy.

Before dedicating all your resources into something, ask yourself, is this something I genuinely want, or is this something that I want because I’m “supposed to want it”? Then, even if you’re “supposed to want it”, make sure that your body at least wants it a little, too. We don’t want to only do things we should rationally desire—exercise, working, studying—or we end up miserable for lack of feel-good chemicals. But we also don’t want to only do things our body wants—drugs, infinite sleep, bad diet—or we might hurt our futures, inner-desires, and mental state in the long run.

I’m sure finding a lifestyle that both feels rewarding to your animal body and is approved by your inner self sounds monumental, because it is. Still, know that when you do reach that balance between your animal and human side, you’ll reach a level of fulfillment and completeness like no other, that will make it all worth it!