the questions inside my mind

how do you choose when to go for what you want and when to stick to what is practical? are all wants frivolous or are there occasions wherein you need to pursue them? for a person who has, for most of her life, been level-headed and logical, is it possible to throw caution to the wind and not feel guilty about it? when we are fighting battles within ourselves, is there ever an instance where we are really victorious or do we always eventually lose?