When discussing what it is that you want…I believe the first thing that needs to happen is identify what exactly it is you want in the first place. I mean if you don’t have priorities and a goal, then making a map is pretty tough. The second thing to ask is “Why do I want what I want?” I would like to suggest that there are basically TWO fundamental motivations that turn our thoughts into desires.(1) Either we identify a potential within ourselves that drives us to make improvements, or (2) we see something in another persons situation that we want. I am pretty sure the ladder is the more common reason for our desires. I think that often times we are completely, totally content until we find out it could be better. For example; several years ago, I took an awesome vacation with my whole family to Branson MO and it was like a dream. Was it Italy? Or Hawaii? Or some place where they shot Lord of the Rings? NO!! But guess what…I don’t care. That vacation was everything I could imagine a vacation being. Laughing, movies, Texas Hold ’em, swimming, running..it was absolutely perfect. (I initially wasn’t looking forward to the ‘Dolly Parton Review’ show, but even IT turned out to be good!) So, in this particular case, I was perfectly content – but I could also share a long list of times I was NOT content – and the only things I got from that mindset were frustration and stress.
There is a long history of the “better life” concept. All the way back to when Adam and Eve were told they could have ‘more’ if they ate from the tree of knowledge. Prior to being made aware that there was ‘more’ of anything, I am sure they were perfectly content. (as a side note: A tree full of Snickers would have been much more tempting to me) 
And then a couple thousand years later even Mick Jagger sang “You can’t always get what you want” lamenting on the sometimes failed desires that usually ends with inversely getting what you need. And then there are the famous cows that are drawn to the grass on ‘the other side’ that seems so much greener (and I suppose tastier). Often times, the grass is equally green on both sides but because there is a possibility it could be tastier, or simply because it is supposed to be off limits, the rebellious cows instinctively reach for it. Are we the same? Do we desire things just because it is more than what we have? Why are we so drawn to things that seem to have ‘more’ than what we have presently?
Now there is a potentially good side to this concept as well. I can think of two situations off the top of my head: (1) You have you identified a talent or skill you have that you want to improve? Great! There’s nothing greedy about that. In fact, we all should try to find things in ourselves that we could improve or add to. According to Newton, bodies that are either in motion or at rest, will stay that way until acted upon by an outside force. So the “natural” state of doing nothing – is to do nothing, but within you is the ability to be that outside force that changes rest into motion. Always be looking for ways to improve upon yourself. If those things are on your list of what you want, then you are indeed on the right path.
(2) The second way I see we could use this concept in our favor is in negotiations. This was a business lesson I learned when I was just a kid. Before you begin negotiating…whether it is for a Pokeman card or a million dollars, know exactly what you are willing to accept BEFORE you begin negotiating. If later you find you could have gotten more, then remind yourself, you had already determined your contentment prior to the exchange. In business, it is said you will never earn or lose as much money as you do during negotiations, but know ahead of time your satisfaction level.
If your list of things you want is healthy and well defined, you stand a great chance of reaching all your goals! Make sure the things on your list are the indeed important, lasting and things that generate true joy. Don’t solely seek money for money’s sake…or a car, house, spouse, job, ______(fill in the blank) just because you think you can level up, or because another person has something you don’t…but rather set your desires on things that matter most.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy
and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
(Matthew 6:19–21)
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith
and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
(Timothy 6:10)
By the way – notice the scripture doesn’t say ‘money’ is the root of all evil…nor that it is even the ‘love’ of money…money is “A” root of evil. There are many things that cause us to slip, but money can be a powerful one of them if we allow it to control our want list. It isn’t bad to want to be wealthy if the reason you want to be wealthy is solid.