WANTS VS NEEDS — understanding ourselves better
Wants and needs are two different words whose meanings are both well understood and also interchanged — depending on our desires and motivations.
At times, we talk about our needs and wants interchangeably, as though somehow, they are the same thing, mixing them up into one category.
Deconstructing the interplay between these words is key to better understanding ourselves.
In my opinion there is great value in distinguishing them from each other so as to set them up to serve the purposes they were created to serve.
” Simply put, a need is something that is essential to our survival. … Some of the needs we have are emotional needs such as the need for belonging, and the need to pursue our goals and dreams. Wants, on the other hand, are things that we would like to have, but that are not essential to our survival.”
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
- Biological and physiological needs: air, food, drink, shelter, warmth, touch, contact, sleep.
- Safety needs: protection from elements, security, order, law, stability, and freedom from fear (protection from the violation of boundaries).
- Love and belongingness needs: friendship, intimacy, affection, and love—which can be fulfilled by family, friends, romantic relationships, as well as work colleagues.
- Esteem needs: achievements, personal mastery, interdependence, self-respect, and respect from others.
- Self-actualization needs: realising personal potential, self-fulfilment, and actively seeking personal growth and experiences of the achievement of self-expression.
What are your wants and needs?
Do you feel that your want’s and needs are selfish?
Do you feel and think that you are not worthy to have your needs met?
Are you ready to reach you full potential? Reach out so I can assist you in taking that quantum leap forward in your life on all levels: mentally—physically—emotionally—spiritually—energetically.
Be YOU
Karin Kelly Lawrenz
karin@karin-kelly.com