Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-23
By HOWARD WHITMAN

knowing what you want is not
the easiest thing IN the world
Yet if you 60 up to a friend and
ask, Have you given any
thought today to what you
really want?" you probably will
get some such reply as. Don't
be silly, l know what I want
My only problem is how to gel
it,"
That this cocksureness is sc
per cent Illusion is no new
discovery; the Greeks knew il
$500 years ago. They had q
saying, when the gods are an
cry with a. man they give him
what he asks for"
What an individual wants-ol
thinks he wants-rarely remains
constant. At age 20 he is likely
to want fame, at 35 money, anc
at so peace of mind. Examine
yourself; do you want the same
things today that you wanted
Is years ago?
Want to try a revealing eX-
pertinent? Take pencil and pa
per and list the ages in your life
from grammar school to the
present at, say, 5, 10 and l5-yeal
intervals. Then (being brutally
honest, for you don't have tc
show it to anyone) set down
after each age, what, to the best
Of your memory, you wanted
most at that time.
Sample of Results
Here is sample of the results
of such listing, in this instance
by a woman 80 years old:
Age 10-To be big-game hunt
ress.
Age 15-To be popular with
boys.
Age 20-To be a "well-known'
career woman.
Age 25-To find a husband.
Age 30 After succeeding ir
the previous objective) to have q
larger house and "a little more
money.
Age 1910 worry less.
Another sample, this by mar
81 years old:
Age = Earliest recollection)
To own a horse.
Age l5-To be a famous scien-
fist second choice, opera sim
gelD.
Age 25-To have a private Of
fee and a secretary.
Age $50 have an assured
income.
Age 45-To get more fun out
Of life.
Age 5l-To stop working SC
hard.
1t is worth try at Self-analy-
sis to see if you can fathom what
you really want. You will be
amazed, l am sure, to find that
certain things which you set
down almost at once and with
utmost certainty will not remain
on your list when it is finished
New Dimension
What do you really want to-
day? Take pencil and paper anc
write down half "a dozen or g
dozen wants which occur to you
in order of Importance. See if the
values of these wants don't begir
to shift as you look at them ir
black and white. See If you DOM
gain some new insights, see your
self In a new dimension.
Again a sample--a man who
runs a small upholstery business
makes $4,000 a year, owns his
home. and has a wife and three
children wrote this list of wants
/. A million dollars.
2. The most beautiful woman
in the world.
3. A wire-wheeled Cadillac
convertible.
4. My competitors should dror
dead.
5. Good health for my chill.
dren.
8. Happiness in our home.
7. Good health for my wife
and myself.
8. Long, happy life for all of us
8. Peace In the world.
10. Days when I wake up anc
feel good about everything.
IL. Not to lose my temper.
After he had stared at the list
for Ave minutes he began tt
work his pencil over it. He elimi.
mated 2 and 4. He crossed out II
and IL and wrote in their place
self He added a new
item: Satisfaction from my
work" And then another: "A
reasonably secure income" He
condensed 5. 6, 7, and 8 into
Good health and happiness
Then he altered and REMEMBERED
his remaining list as follows:
/. Good health and happiness
2. Peace in the world.
3. Satisfaction from my work
4. Self-control.
5. A reasonably secure income
s, A Cadillac.
Z. The chance to earn a lot Of
money.
The Jones Test
Another way Of gaining in
SIGHT into your wants--to help
determine which are real wants
which are illusions--is TO put
them TO the Jones test. OF each
want on your list ask yourself
do I want this for myself or do
| want il for the Joneses?' Is IL
a real want which would stand
up IN your own inner mind and
heart under any circumstances
or is 1t want which is super
imposed upon you?
A woman wants mink coat.
Does she want it because 1t ranks
high in her own inner scheme OF
values? Does she like mink for
Us intrinsic qualities, regard II
as the finest OF furs, admire its
color and texture. consider 1t the
most seryicesble and durable fur
and hence the best investment
for inter protection from the