Desires, Deception, and the Modern Motivational Trap
Are We Being Misled in the Name of Self-Improvement?
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A seeker friend showed me a video yesterday. It featured a renowned motivational speaker standing before a massive audience, her voice resonating with conviction. She declared, “Never believe anybody who tells you to give up desires. Having desires is natural. If God didn’t want us to have desires, why did He give them to us? We must desire and give our all to fulfill them. The problem isn’t with having desires, but with expecting somebody else to fulfill them for us.”
And the crowd? Predictably, they roared in approval. You could almost feel the collective pump — that adrenaline rush motivational talks are designed to trigger. The audience was inspired, determined to chase their dreams and desires with renewed vigor. After all, when a figure of authority reinforces what we already want to believe, we rarely stop to question it.
But as I sat there reflecting on her words, a wave of discomfort washed over me. Something didn’t sit right. Her reasoning was not only simplistic but also dangerously misleading. It’s the kind of statement that fuels the already rampant culture of unbridled ambition, material greed, and restless striving. And it got me thinking — what are these motivational speakers really doing to our society for their own flimsy material gains?
Let’s break this down.
The Convenient Half-Truth
At first glance, the logic seems persuasive. God has given us desires, so why shouldn’t we act on them? After all, isn’t suppressing our natural tendencies a form of self-denial? But this argument is a classic example of selective reasoning — cherry-picking a comfortable narrative while conveniently ignoring the broader context.
Because if we extend this logic further, it unravels quickly.
God has also given us the power to feel anger, jealousy, lust, frustration, worry, and even the ability to deceive. So, does that mean we should indulge in all of these? Should we act on every impulse simply because it exists within us? Hardly. The choice has always been ours. This is the real test of human life — what we choose and what we discard.
Just because something feels ‘natural’ doesn’t mean it is beneficial. Fire can cook our food, but it can also burn down our house. It’s not the existence of desires that defines our lives, but our relationship with them.
Material Desires – The Endless Pit
The speaker’s words glorify desires, especially material ones. The subtext is clear: desire more, work harder, and achieve everything you’ve ever wanted. But if material fulfillment was truly the gateway to happiness, why are so many wealthy and successful people still restless?
The world has been living by this very philosophy — pursuing desires endlessly. And yet, look at the state of our minds. Look at the condition of the world. Consumerism is at its peak, stress and anxiety are at unprecedented levels, and people are lonelier than ever.
It’s as if we’ve all boarded a train that has no final destination. Just when we think we’ve reached a milestone, a shinier, more attractive desire calls from the horizon. The house we once dreamed of is now too small. The job we celebrated is suddenly not prestigious enough. It never ends.
Krishna, in the Bhagavad Gita, describes this trap with precision:
“That person attains peace into whom all desires enter, just like the waters enter the ocean, which remains ever undisturbed even while constantly getting filled; not the one who savors such desires.” (Bhagavad Gita 2.70)
True fulfillment, Krishna says, isn’t about extinguishing all desires but about mastering them. Like the ocean remains steady even as rivers flow into it, the wise remain undisturbed by desires, knowing their fleeting nature.
The Illusion of Motivation
This is where modern motivational speakers mislead us. They tell us what we want to hear — that our desires are justified, even virtuous. They rarely question the nature of those desires or the consequences of pursuing them.
Why? Because it sells.
The ‘desire-and-achieve’ narrative is immensely profitable. It keeps people hooked to the next seminar, the next self-help book, and the next coaching program. But genuine self-growth isn’t about endlessly inflating our ambitions; it’s about confronting our inner chaos and finding peace amidst it.
Ironically, the sages — those who renounce material desires — are often the most blissful. Have you ever wondered why a person with minimal possessions can radiate contentment while millionaires remain agitated? It’s because freedom doesn’t come from acquiring more. It comes from wanting less.
And yet, speaking of giving up desires is often labeled as pessimistic by motivational speakers. They mock the very idea of detachment as impractical or defeatist. Why? Because they themselves lack spiritual consciousness. Their minds are consumed by the very desires they preach about. Naturally, they want the world to believe as they do — that the relentless pursuit of desires is the only path to fulfillment. After all, it’s far easier to justify one’s own indulgences when others follow suit. This collective denial of spiritual truth ensures their ideas remain celebrated, their influence unchallenged, and their pockets full.
What’s even more astonishing is their confidence in claiming to understand God and His intentions. This speaker boldly declared that since God gave us desires, we must fulfill them — as though she has unlocked some divine secret. But if one were to ask her, “Have you read the Bhagavad Gita? Have you studied any religious scripture with sincerity and pondered over its teachings?” I am almost certain the answer would be a no. These speakers may speak with authority about God’s intentions, yet their understanding remains shallow, drawn more from self-serving logic than from spiritual wisdom.
But Krishna’s teachings offer a far deeper perspective. He doesn’t ask us to suppress our desires forcibly, nor does he glorify indulgence. Instead, He guides us toward transforming our desires — from fleeting material cravings to a longing for spiritual realization. And that shift changes everything.
The Real Purpose of Desires
It’s not that desires themselves are the enemy. In fact, Krishna acknowledges that desires can lead to purposeful action. But not all desires are worth pursuing.
“This desire, this anger (resulting from desire), born of the material mode of passion, is highly devouring and highly sinful. Know this as the enemy here.” (Bhagavad Gita 3.37)
Desires rooted in ego, greed, or insecurity bind us. On the other hand, desires born from a higher purpose — the longing for knowledge, self-realization, and spiritual growth — elevate us. And therein lies the true choice.
A Lesson from Shukadeva Goswami
The Bhagavata Purana offers a striking example that challenges the shallow perspective of the motivational speaker. Shukadeva Goswami, a self-realized sage, once passed by a group of young damsels bathing in a river. Despite their lack of clothing, they felt no shame in his presence. Yet, when Shukadeva’s father, Vyasadeva, approached, they rushed to cover themselves.
Why?
Because Shukadeva saw no distinction between male and female. His mind was utterly pure, free from bodily identification and lust. But can we claim to possess such a level of consciousness? Hardly. To assume we are beyond material desires while indulging them freely is nothing but self-deception.
Responsibility Over Rights
Of course, the beholder is responsible for their own thoughts and behavior. But does that mean we are exempt from accountability for our own actions? Not at all.
Dressing responsibly, speaking responsibly, and acting responsibly are not outdated concepts. They are the markers of a civilized society. And this applies to all genders equally. If we justify indecency under the garb of “personal choice,” where do we draw the line? Left unchecked, we may soon find our streets filled with naked people claiming freedom of expression.
Consider Bhutan, one of the happiest and most peaceful countries in the world. Traditional attire is not only respected but cherished. Their culture values modesty, harmony, and self-restraint — qualities we seem to mock in the name of progress.
The Voice Within
Ultimately, our conscience holds the most honest answers. Reflect on how you feel when you meet someone well-dressed, radiating grace and self-respect. Then compare that to the discomfort or confusion you may experience when faced with indecency. That inner voice speaks volumes — if only we choose to listen.
Krishna’s teachings remind us that true freedom lies not in limitless indulgence, but in self-mastery. It is only when we conquer our desires, rather than being enslaved by them, that we truly begin to live.
Let’s not allow shallow words of false motivation to blind us. The choice is ours — to seek fleeting pleasure or to pursue lasting peace. And as always, Krishna has shown us the way.