Gabriel Rolón: 'Desire doesn't attract anything, it pushes you to go toward what you desire'

Psychoanalyst Gabriel Rolón has challenged the popular notion that desire magically attracts what one wants, asserting instead that desire is a driving force that compels individuals to actively pursue their goals. Speaking on the radio program "Perros de la Calle," Rolón explained that desire functions not as a magnet for fortuitous events, but as a catalyst for personal movement and effort.

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The desire does not attract anything, the desire pushes you to go towards what you desire.

Rolón stressed the importance of action, stating, "It's not go and take it, it's go and look for it. Then we'll see if you can take it or not." He believes that attributing negative outcomes to "bad luck" is a misinterpretation of how life dynamics truly work. The psychoanalyst suggests that even when the final outcome is not entirely within one's control, the process of actively seeking and preparing, whether for a career opportunity or a personal relationship, is paramount.

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I think it's not go and take it, it's go and look for it. Then we'll see if you can take it or not. Because sometimes whether you can take it doesn't depend on you.

This perspective extends to a critique of passive hope, which Rolón argues can paralyze individuals by fostering an expectation of miracles. Instead, he advocates for embracing the present moment, defining happiness as "that moment of eternity where what you were, what you want to be, what torments you from the past, and what you fear about the future coexist." Ultimately, Rolón posits that recognizing one's true desires and taking responsibility for the journey toward them, without relying on external circumstances, is key to a fulfilling life.

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I do like this view of going for what you desire and not staying waiting for what you desire to magically come to you.