Needs - what's your take?

By definition, a need is a necessity, something you cannot do without. When deprived of a need or several needs, there are clear adverse consequences. Thus, a need is something that supports a safe, stable and reasonably healthy life.

There are layers and hierarchies of needs, including:

• Physiological needs

• Safety needs

• Belonging and love needs

• Esteem needs

• Self-actualisation needs

Needs can be free flowing instead of linear. You can thirst for esteem needs over belonging and love needs and even simultaneously. However, physiological and safety needs will always trump the other needs for survival. There are theories of basic human needs and writers such as Maslow have created visual depictions of human needs such as the one described above.

When considering needs and motivation, growth needs appear not from a deficiency, but from a desire to better yourself and develop as a person.

Needs represent your relationship with yourself. It reflects your connection and understanding of what brings you true joy and satisfaction.

I would like to explore

• Especially how to view my needs equal and also as important as other people's.

• How to discover my needs - what methods, techniques and theories are out there.

• How to honour my needs - boundary setting and keeping.

• How to communicate my needs without attempting to control the outcome.