What We All Want
Even though we’re all different, unique human beings, there are some things we have in common. Because I pay attention to what’s going on around me, I see these things I’m writing about clearly. And it gives me this information to write about.
So, what is it that I’ve noticed from others that are similar things we all want?
✺ The number one thing we all want is to be loved.
I could see it on people’s faces when they’re loved and when they’re not. Many bitter people have given up the notion of sharing and receiving love. It’s very evident to see and sad, actually.
We all want to be loved for who we are and get disappointed when we’re not. I know I’ve felt that way before. It can screw with our minds and lead us to believe we’re not good enough, and that’s why we can’t be loved. That is furthest from the truth. Many of us don’t know how to love because we’ve never experienced it from others.
What will change everything for us is looking inside and finding a reason to love ourselves first. We can’t love another if we don’t love ourselves. Forget about the bad stuff that you’ve been told that made you feel unworthy. Chances are, the people who said those things didn’t love themselves, so they aren’t a very trustworthy source. Think about the sources who made you not want to love yourself.
Then find just one thing you like about yourself and focus on it. That like will blossom into love with enough time, care, and attention. Not unlike a relationship with another. Love takes time.
We can’t expect to look at ourselves in the mirror today and say “I love you, kid” and bam! we instantly love ourselves (if we weren’t feeling it before). Loving ourselves takes time to develop true feelings, and it starts with just one thing, and it will snowball into liking other parts of ourselves.
Oh, and just saying the words “I love you” to yourself and others doesn’t mean you actually feel it. Words without concrete action showing love and kindness toward ourselves and others are just words.
✺ We want to be noticed for who we are.
I think a lot more people would be successful and do what they love if they were recognized for who they truly are. This is evident by the idea that what we think, we are.
If we were overlooked, or worse, made fun of, criticized, and judged harshly when we let our guard down and were who we are, then how can we truly believe that we are special – that we have something special to share with the world? Chances are slim.
Yes, we can change and develop good self-worth, self-esteem, and self-confidence, but it takes being aware that we are missing those things for us to take the steps to change our inner beliefs about ourselves.
I find that most of us are living life without fully knowing or embracing our full potential (myself included). It’s almost like we take on the beliefs and judgments of others because it seems easier and less stressful – go along with the pack, so to speak. But in the long run, we know deep down inside that that is not us and never was. This is where regret screams at us when we get older, and we realize how much time we’ve wasted living for someone else.
To be noticed for who we are is the ultimate good feeling. Whenever I was performing with a band, I felt whole, complete, like I was where I was supposed to be. The musicians that I worked with saw me for who I am, and I want to believe that most of them respected me for it.
Which leads me to the next thing:
✺ We all want to be respected.
I could give examples showing how I was disrespected, but we all have those experiences, so I don’t need to share mine. Disrespect is disrespect no matter how you slice it. We know when it’s happening, and, quite frankly, I think it is getting worse as people disrespect others more and more.
My opinion is that we’re getting so far removed from following the Golden Rule (see below) * that it’s now become commonplace for manners and respect to be ignored. I’m sure there are plenty of people who don’t even know the Golden Rule, let alone follow it or care about it.
Yet, we still want respect. Respect is earned, yes, but it’s also something we should give one another to live in a civilized society. We’ve come so far in our human existence, yet the very things that make us human seem to be slipping away.
✺ We want to have personal freedom.
Having freedom is different for everyone. For one person, freedom is having a high-paying job, regardless of how much they enjoy their work, because it allows them to buy what they want, live where they want, and spend money on vacations. For another person, freedom is living authentically, waking up each day knowing they are doing exactly what they want and what brings them joy, with happiness overriding the desire for money.
Then there are the other folks whose freedom is being who they are, earning a living doing what they love, and having the money to enjoy life. Basically, it’s the freedom to live as you choose, without worrying about what someone wants or thinks, and to believe that whatever you do is what you truly want.
✺ We want peace of mind.
What is peace of mind anyway? For me, it’s being in good health, having control over my life, how I spend my time, focusing on what serves me, living in the present moment, and being around people who respect me, acknowledge me, and care about me.
For you, it might be something different because we’re all different. But each of us wants to have peace of mind. It’s our birthright. We deserve to live our lives without worrying, having anxiety, or living with any low emotions like sadness, anger, or depression.
Life is meant to be lived happily. If not, why are we here?
Thank you for reading this. I hope I’ve offered something to think about and strive for. If you have any other ideas, please comment them.
To having what we want,
Francesca
* The Golden Rule is the moral principle of treating other people the way you want to be treated. It is often stated as “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Rule)
Written by a human for humans.
© 2026 FrancescaME | All rights reserved.
If not noted otherwise, photos taken by Francesca M.E.
NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
*DISCLAIMER: FrancescaME is not a therapist or doctor, and any information shared is from personal experience, learning, and research.
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