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August 15, 2023 14 mins

Have you been wanting something for a long time, but you just haven't gotten it?

In this episode, I talk about how continuing to want something prevents you from actually having what you want. This can seem counterintuitive. How can I stop wanting something if I don't have it?

I like to call this the Amazon Prime way of living, where you only click the order button once, and then (at least where I live) the package will arrive. There's no need to worry anymore, the order is in. I have it in my mind already and I have an expectancy that it will arrive, but I don't have expectations (it could come from any delivery company and any time).

I've been traveling a lot so I'll use a travel metaphor as well. Continuing to want the same thing is like staying at a ticket counter purchasing tickets for a trip and never leaving the counter to go get on the plane. Eventually, you have to leave the ticket counter and allow the process to occur which results in the trip you want. There's no Hawaiian vacation at the ticket counter, it involves going on a journey that might have unexpected delays or delights.

What's something you've been wanting for a long time that you still haven't gotten? Let's see how we can shift you into having it.

My book Engineered To Love has great exercises to shift you into having what you want. It's available on Amazon https://a.co/d/inqi2Kk

P.S. I'll also be talking about my recent travels in Costa Rica and now to Guatemala.

Send us a text

Watch the full video episode at Justin Wenck, Ph.D. YouTube Channel!

Check out my best-selling book "Engineered to Love: Going Beyond Success to Fulfillment" also available on Audiobook on all streaming platforms! Go to https://www.engineeredtolove.com/ to learn more!

Got a question or comment about the show? E-mail me at podcast@justinwenck.com.

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Episode Transcript

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Unknown (00:07):
Hi, I'm Justin Wenck, PhD, and you're listening to the
engineering emotions and energypodcast. Are you ready to bust
burnout, pursue your passionhave more time, money, energy,
and relationships you actuallylove, including the relationship
with yourself. If so, then thispodcast is for you. I'm a best
selling author, coach,consultant, speaker, and a

(00:30):
leader and transforming people'slives from living in fear,
obligation and guilt, to livinga life of joy, ease and love.
What's most important is that Ican teach you all this in a way
that's enjoyable, easy, fast,and can actually last, let's
begin. Welcome to the show,Justin Wenck. Here, coming to
you recording this from LakeAtitlan, Guatemala, and today

(00:54):
I'm talking about how wanting iskeeping you from having might
seem counterintuitive, like ifyou want something and you don't
have it, you just gotta want it.
And then when you have it,you're not going to want it
anymore. Yet, this very simple,yet elusive little, little twist
on how you come about somethingyou want is going to have huge

(01:15):
shifts into actually having whatit is that you've been wanting,
for so long. So definitely stickaround. First, I want to talk
about a little bit of my travel.
So I'm now in Guatemala, rightbehind me is beautiful look at
Elon. And there's two volcanoesbehind me. And this is one of

(01:36):
the clearest days. Well, I mean,this is like my second day here.
But it's incredibly clear, he'sbeen keeping up on some of my
other travels through CostaRica, where I went to aren't all
volcano, I went to Chipo tallspeak, and usually got some views
of those volcanoes mountains getthen weather resulted in being

(01:58):
really challenging, almostcompletely obscure. Actually,
yesterday, I was as I wasdriving down here to like
athalon, I'm staying in SanMarcos Laguna, it was a
completely cloud covered, Iwasn't able to see anything the
driver was was telling me inSpanish. And so I really had to
use my Spanish skills wastelling me that you usually hear
is a really, really great viewand I just see a wall of cloud

(02:21):
just nothing. And you know, it'sone of those we can, we can
often want something like I wantto see the view, yet I knew I
had confidence that like I'mgonna get a good view of, of
these volcanoes here likeathalon, one way or the other
one, I'm here for about 12 days.
So just based on time, it'slikely to happen yet, I wasn't
worried. And I was enjoying thebeauty and the mystery of going

(02:44):
through these crazy thickclouds. And these windy, windy
roads, were just all of asudden, like, oh, there's a
horse carrying sticks and thingsand then, you know, right on the
side of the road and gotta goaround that and just really
enjoying. And it's great to bein a new country. I've never
been to Guatemala before. Andevery country just has its own

(03:05):
little way of just differenceswhich are just really
interesting.
And I got to go to a little alittle city called Antigua,
which is really incredible inall of the streets have
cobblestone so I don't know whenthe city was built when that was

(03:25):
a good idea. So it looksamazing. Yet in practice to
drive on these cobblestones evento walk is incredibly
challenging. It's almost one ofthose like, oh, some good dirt
roads could actually be nice,beautiful looking cobblestones.
And while I was walking around,I was like, you know, I think I

(03:46):
would really like to buy a shirtor something. And in the past,
it's usually something hasbrought up a lot of uncertainty.
At this time. I was like, youknow, I'm gonna make it easy.
There's nothing I really need. Ijust would like a shirt. Maybe
I'd like some jewelry. And itreally does shift everything
when you realize that there'snothing you really need in life

(04:08):
when things just become wellthis would be nice to have,
because it really madenegotiating haggling so much
more easy. When I'm just like,yeah, that just seems like too
much. I don't really I don'treally need this I badly I don't
I don't want it. And so I endedup getting, I probably could
have haggled for lower pricesthat I ended up getting a great

(04:29):
shirt which I'm wearing ifyou're watching this this video
was like I see that and theydidn't have it in the initial
color in my size. Yet she pulledout this black with this lovely
rainbow kind of going down andthe buttons and collar and
sleeves and like you know at theblack is actually even better.
And then I was walking inanother woman came up and I was

(04:53):
like, Hey, do you want to buythis throw that would go on your
bed for it was funny. She'slike, you know, do you want it?
He's gonna be great for yourwife.
If refer to your mom, and I'mjust chuckling, because then
like my mom, my mom's dad, andI'm divorced. And she doesn't
know that, but I just find thatkind of amusing. And I
eventually ended up buying that,it because I feel like I got a
really good price. It'sbeautiful. And I know it's gonna

(05:14):
bring so much delight to me. AndI wasn't attached to having this
item. And so I think we cameback a fair price. Because one
of these, I know, people hereare working hard. And so I don't
want to take too much advantage.
But also, I don't want to gettaken advantage of either. And
so just kind of really fun to gointo situations that in the past
would have really brought me alot of stress and to find ways

(05:37):
to kind of enjoy, have fun andpractice some of the skills that
I've gained over the many, manyyears of doing what I do. And I
know if you're listening tothis, you're likely going to be
able to incorporate this in yourown life and find new ways to do
old things. Because a lot oflife is not new. It's just it's

(05:57):
can we do old things in newways. And this is what kind of
brings me to today's topic ofwanting because you've always
wanted from the day you wereborn you wanted. You wanted your
mother's love, he wanted milk,you wanted food, he probably
wanted your diaper changed, howcan we want in a new way that
actually makes it moreenjoyable. And we can actually

(06:19):
enjoy some of the having, like,having a beautiful trip a
beautiful vacation, which issomething that I had been
wanting, now I am having thatbeautiful vacation because I got
to spend four days with somefriends in the Chirripo
mountains of Costa Rica, wherethey're in a river. And they
have some foreign property. It'slike it has experienced natural

(06:41):
springs and bathing in theriver, which is just fantastic.
Just gorgeous. And then youknow, fruits that are grown
locally, is just phenomenalhikes. Just amazing things, just
having that experience. And Iknow there's experiences that
you probably want to have, andmaybe you haven't had, because
you've been busy wanting them.

(07:03):
And it's like, okay, well, yeah,but I'm gonna want it until I
have it. And I like to call thisa little bit the Amazon Prime
way of, of living life. And youknow, whether you love Amazon,
or hate Amazon, at least where Ilive in California, it's really,
really amazing that go onAmazon. And this is I'm not

(07:26):
encouraging you to go. I don'tcare if you buy on Amazon,
unless you want to buy my book.
But you can also buy my bookengineered to love going beyond
success to fulfillment off ofBarnes and Noble. And there's
lots of other ways to buy it,not through Amazon now. But you
go and there's something youwould like to have something you
want to bring into your life.
And just click order now. And Iknow that within two business

(07:49):
days, it's going to arrive, Idon't have to be wanting it
anymore, I effectively have it,it's just a matter of time, and
methodology. And it might comein two days, it could come in
one day. And I don't exactlyknow which delivery company is
going to be delivering it. Itcould be PS could be the Postal

(08:09):
Service could be another thirdparty. And I don't know the
exact time it's showing up, Ijust know I have it, it's
coming. It's a matter of time.
And I like to refer to as thisis called having expectancy and
it's not expectation expectationwould be okay, I'm going to have
this, it's going to come Tuesdayat 3pm via UPS, that's how it's
going to arrive. And if itdoesn't come that way, then I'm

(08:34):
going to be upset. And I'dbetter make sure it comes that
way. If not, then there'ssomething wrong. And so when we
let go the expectation of thehow, and we just allow for the
what to show up in whatever way,then we get out of the wanting.
And we're already effectively inthe having mindset. Because with
expectancy, it's like I have itas just it's not right at my

(08:57):
disposal, but it's just a matterof time, there's nothing to
stress, I'm gonna go live mylife, do whatever until it shows
up. And you know, as you know,I've been doing a lot of
traveling. So also do a travelmetaphor for this. So, you know,
getting too stuck in thewanting. It's kind of like you
want to have a trip to why Idon't know, let's say, let's say

(09:18):
lake at the lon Guatemala. Soyou go to the ticket counter,
you know virtual ticket counter,physical ticket counter,
whatever it is to go purchaseyour tickets, like I want to
trip to lake at the lonGuatemala, I want it to go
fantastic here your tickets, andthen you don't leave. You just

(09:39):
keep going. I want I want a tripto like athalon, Guatemala and
they go, Alright, here's yourtickets, but you don't fucking
leave. You can't get your tripby staying at the ticket
counter. You can't get what youwant by continuing to want.
Eventually you have to acceptthat you've purged

(10:00):
is your ticket, and you got towalk away from the ticket
counter and allow for thejourney to unfold, which is what
will get you to the trip to thelocation of a destination, it's
the beginning of a journey. Andwhen we stay in the wanting,
we're preventing, going on thatjourney of allowing it to
actually show up in our life, asdoes involve a little bit of, of

(10:20):
trust, that we're going to dothe things that are necessary
for to happen, like to trip ittakes getting to the airport,
getting on the plane, and thengetting transportation from the
destination airport to whereveryou're going. And some of those
things you can control, and thenother things you cannot control.
Like, on my way here, you know,I had the driver all set up, and

(10:45):
he picked me up, he was a littlelate, because there was an
accident. And then after ourbrief stop and Antigua, the
driver, we had a beautiful,beautiful meal, a beautiful
restaurant that he recommended.
I was like, I'm gonna take youto lunch. And he's like, Oh,
that sounds great. And I knewthat if I'm taking him to lunch,
he's gonna pick a really goodplace because he want to enjoy a
good place. So you don't get forme good for him. That's a win

(11:06):
win. But you know, we're abouthalfway from Antigua, to San
Marcos, on like, athalon here,and he pulls off to the side of
the road. And he's like, I gottadrive this other car back to
Guatemala City, here's a anotherdriver, Antonio, he's gonna
drive you the rest of the way.
And I wasn't expecting that. AndAntonio didn't speak English.

(11:29):
Whereas my original driver, Tonydid. So I wasn't expecting that
yet. It turned out to be prettyawesome. Because I got to
practice my Spanish skills, andprobably get some experiences I
wouldn't have gotten having notswitched it out. And so just
being open to, things aren'tgonna go however, you might
expect them. But they are gonnago it did make it here where I

(11:49):
intended. And if I was still atthe ticket counter, if I was
still on expedia.com, or kayakor whatever it is over travel
website, and just continuing toplan the trip. I wouldn't be on
the trip. So what, what aspectsof your life? Are you
effectively not allowingyourself to go on the journey,

(12:11):
not allowing yourself to go onthe trip, you're just stuck in
the wanting? You're having thewant, but you're not allowing
yourself to have what it is thatyou want? You know, is it
something to do with work? Is itsomething you'd like to do
experience? A type of personyou'd like to have in your life?
Let me know, I'd really like tohear so you know, podcast at
Justin wenck.com. Or check meout social media, Justin Wenck,

(12:33):
PhD. So Facebook, tick tockInstagram, like then, yeah, send
me a message there. What is itthat you've been wanting that
you just haven't been able tofind a way to have, and maybe
can figure some stuff out. Andif you're like, I've, I don't
like I don't like reaching outfor help. I highly recommend
allowing yourself to have somehelp. It's made my life a lot

(12:56):
easier, a lot more enjoyable, alot more fun. Yeah, if you're
one of those, because I was thisway for most of my life that
just likes to do things on yourown, then I'd highly recommend
my book engineer to love goingbeyond success to fulfillment.
It's got some great exercisesthat help you get out of the
wanting and into the havingmode. So getting out of

(13:17):
expectation and the new lifeexpectancy. And that's really
what it's all about is to justsay I want this and then have
some expectancy that it's goingto happen. And I'm I'm open to
whatever is going to come my wayto allow it to happen. How did
that trip is going to unfold?
Whether it's a very directroute, or perhaps there's some
some changes along the way. Andalong the way, you might have a

(13:40):
new one, which is totally okay.
You can just keep having meonce, just like on the Amazon
shopping site. Once I order onething, I don't have to wait
around to order another thing. Ican keep ordering new stuff. And
then that'll also show upwhenever it shows up. The key is
to not be stuck and waiting onthat one thing and just wanting

(14:03):
it and wanting it and wantingit. It's all about switching it
up. So been really great sharingthis, Sharon being here in
beautiful like athalon AaronGuatemala. And with that, thank
you and good day
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