The way that Alan Watts described it made sense to me - that instead of "desire" and "attachment", what was being talked about was "hangup". As in "I have a hangup on being seen a certain way, or having a certain outcome".

I have been thinking about this more in relation to my own experiences of "wanting more". Because I have a wonderful life. An amazingly beautiful, privileged life in the grand scheme of things. And I am happy, most of the time.

But I find myself often thinking ahead about what "more" I want, and also about ways to try and preserve what I have. For example I have a wardrobe full of beautiful clothes. But then I find myself immediately looking online for a new thing instead of fully appreciating what I already have.

Or if I'm feeling safe and secure in the present moment, my mind goes "ah but what about climate change, what about cancer, what about all the possible ways things could go wrong in the future". It's like my brain doesn't want to rest in contentment of the present but is always looking for reasons to poison the beautiful present moment with anxiety.

That is a "hangup" I think. Or "attachment" and "desire" as the Buddha meant it.

There is nothing wrong with enjoying beautiful things, after all Buddhist temples in Thailand are full of radiant silk everywhere and carved statues and paintings.

But the problem is when you are so afraid of losing things that you forget to enjoy them as they are. You are afraid of change so can't enjoy the present.