Wishing: Why We Do It and What We Want to Achieve

Wishing is one of the most universal and ancient human actions. We do it when we see a falling star, when we blow out candles on a cake, when we throw a coin into a fountain, or when the New Year comes. This action knows no cultural boundaries, is not dependent on age or social status. It lives within each of us from childhood. But why? What makes us, rational beings of the 21st century, believe in the magic of numbers, time, and random coincidences? And why, despite all our science and pragmatism, do we continue to wish, knowing that no one but ourselves can fulfill them?

Why Does a Person Like to Wish

The first reason is the need for control. In a world that often seems chaotic and unpredictable, the act of wishing gives us an illusion of controlling the future. We cannot influence the weather, politics, the health of our loved ones, but we can say aloud or to ourselves: “I wish...”. This action returns to us a sense of agency, even if it is purely symbolic. From a psychological point of view, wishing is a form of coping strategy, a way to deal with uncertainty.

The second reason is hope. Man is a creature that lives in the future. We cannot exist without expecting something good. Wishing is the crystallization of hope, its transformation from an abstract feeling into a concrete form. When we wish, we tell ourselves: “I believe that the future can be better than the present”. This is a powerful psychological anchor that helps us move forward, even when circumstances are against us.

The third reason is ritual. People are ritualistic beings. We need repetitive actions that give life structure and meaning. Wishing is a ritual that we share with others. When we blow out candles on a birthday in a circle of family or wish on New Year's Eve, we participate in a collective action that strengthens social ties and gives a sense of belonging.

Finally, it is a game. Wishing is a game with fate, with the world, with ourselves. We know that no one guarantees fulfillment, but we still play because there is an element of magic that makes our lives less gray and predictable.

What Is the Most Common Wish

If it were possible to conduct a statistical survey of all the wishes made by humanity, the results would be predictable but no less touching. The most common wishes are love, health, and happiness for our loved ones. We want our relatives to be healthy, to find our “soulmate”, to have peace and harmony in the family.

Second place goes to material wishes. Money, a house, a car, travel, career growth. This is also part of our nature: we want stability, security, and the opportunity to afford what makes life comfortable and interesting. However, as research shows, material wishes often give way to immaterial ones as people begin to value time, relationships, and inner peace more than things.

Third place is desires related to personal development. We want to become smarter, stronger, more confident. We want to overcome our fears, learn something new, overcome our limitations. These are desires that reflect our deep need for growth and self-realization.

Interestingly, regardless of the cultural context, the most common wishes remain unchanged. People want the same thing, regardless of where they live and what they believe.

Why There Is a Day of Wishing

The Day of Wishing is not just a random date. It is a symbolic reminder that we have the right to dream. In a world where we are constantly busy, where we rarely stop to think about what we really want, this day becomes a pause. It calls us to remember that life is not just about obligations but also about dreams.

The history of this holiday does not have clear roots, but its appearance reflects the deep need of man to legitimate his desires. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we often put off dreams “for later”, considering them trivial or unattainable. The Day of Wishing gives us permission to dream without a sense of guilt. It is a day when we can allow ourselves to be a bit childlike, a bit naive, and believe that our wishes can come true.

Moreover, this day serves a therapeutic function. When we wish, we do not just dream, we articulate it, which means — acknowledge its existence. Acknowledgment is the first step towards making a wish a goal, and a goal — reality. The Day of Wishing is also a reminder that dreams do not live by themselves. They become real only when we turn them into an action plan.

In the end, the Day of Wishing is a festival of human hope. And as long as it lives within us, as long as we believe in the possibility of a miracle, we remain alive. And perhaps the most important wish we can make is not to stop dreaming.
© elib.ng

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