Here’s an interesting quote from William Walker Atkinson:
“Desire is the great inciting power of the mind. Desire is “that which incites to action.” And you always act upon the strongest desire—subject always to the restraining influence of the reason, and the restricting or impelling influence of the will.
Desire originates in the sub-conscious regions of the mind, and often we can feel her there, before she emerges into consciousness, stirring us up with feelings of vague discontent and unrest. After a bit, gathering enough force, she emerges into the conscious field, and then begins to demand expression.
Now remember, that when I say desire, I mean all kinds of desire, high and low. Many people think of desire as only the craving of a low nature, but desire really means a feeling that wants something—and that something may be the very highest aspiration of the human mind.
Now, this desire in all of its manifestations has a mighty power of attraction and influence. It manifests as the Law of Mentative Attraction which is constantly drawing toward us the things we desire, and also drawing us toward them. Not only is this true on the conscious plane, but even on the subconscious. Our desires constitute our nature, and our nature is always operating the mighty power of Mentative Attraction.
The trouble with the most of us is that we allow our Desire Force to be scattered, and diffused, thereby lessening its attractive power. It is only when we learn the secret of concentration and focusing the Desire Force by the will that we are able to get results above the average. The will is the director and controller of the Desire Force, and upon its training and management depends the powerful use of the latter.
Desire Force not only has its effect upon the person, and others near him, but it may be, and often is, sent for
thousands of miles where it affects and influences others, in ways. Desire Force is the mighty force which makes many of the phases of Mind Power possible. It spreads out from the mind of the person affecting and influencing others even at other parts of the world, if concentrated and directed by the will. It is a force beside which the Xray and electricity fade into insignificance. It moves not merely blind, lifeless things, but the living minds, thoughts, emotions, passions and actions of men.
It is the force that rules the world, and its destinies. Like any other great natural force it is capable of being used for good or evil. It is neither good nor evil—it is either or both, according to the mind in which it originates.
What phase of mental effort is more apt to be a motive force— the cold, lifeless thought about an abstract metaphysical proposition, or a mathematical problem, on the one hand; and a warm vital wave of “feeling,” emotion or passion, such as love, hate, ambition, aspiration, courage and desire on the other? And remember that these last mentioned all belong to the “feeling” side of the mind, and all are manifestations of
elementary desire.
Desire is at the bottom of all feeling. Before we can love or hate, there must be desire. Before we can have ambition or aspiration there must be desire. Before we can manifest courage and energy there must be desire. Desire for something must underlie all life action—desire conscious or subconscious.
Abstract thought is a cold, bare thing, lacking vitality and warmth — desire is filled with life, throbbing, longing, wanting, craving, insisting, and ever pressing outward toward action.Desire indeed is the phase of our mental action that is a motive force.”
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