Wanting vs. Deciding
Short Definition
A distinction between wishing for outcomes and making commitments that accept costs and drive sustained action.
Expanded Description
In Adams' framework, wanting is passive and collapses when costs appear. Deciding is active commitment: once the costs are accepted, behavior aligns around execution and persistence.
The concept is central to his self-development framing and appears in both book-era writing and later public analysis.
Practical Test
- Does behavior change immediately?
- Are costs accepted without ongoing negotiation?
- Does persistence continue after setbacks?