Merit

To "merit" is to earn something by working at it step by step.  I merited Boy Scout badges.  I merited a certificate for working at something.  Now, there are some things we want but we have not worked for them.  We are at the level of "desire."  A person may say, "I need to stop drinking/drugging."  But that is not desire, yet.  They just don't want the hangover, divorce, unemployment, wrecked car and so on.  Desire has an urge to it that presses the "action" button.  With the action button they begin the work, step by step.  In time, they get lots of badges, little round medallions.  Desire>action>medallions.  Hold onto that desire.