Unmet needs are powerful motivators. Getting our ‘needs’ met becomes a significant driving influence in the life of everyone born into the world. I’ve been delighted to become a grandpa again in recent months and observing my latest wee grand-daughter’s ability to make it clearly known that it’s her feed time, has reminded me of this fact! Our physical needs cry out for satisfaction…but so do other underlying needs we carry – at a spiritual level.
Murray Smith
Functioning properly and effectively in our personality cannot happen without our ‘spiritual’ needs being met. People cope reasonably when casual needs of life aren’t fully met, but there’s other areas of unmet need which cause immense stress and difficulty. For example, having a level of companionship, as opposed to confinement or isolation is important for well-being. Affirmation, expressions of genuine interest and the care of other’s feeds our soul. It makes life better.
What devastates our functioning optimally in life is failing to have our ‘crucial’ needs met. The deficit resulting from these needs being unmet, introduces dire issues. It’s been said that, ‘man is a thirsty being.’ How true. We ALL carry crucial longings, deep internal spiritual needs which we clamour to have satisfied – often without realising it.
For example ‘security’, ‘self-worth’ and a sense of ‘significance’ are three universal areas that are like an inner ‘well’ within everyone. When that well is dry and empty, our ‘thirst’ compels us to find ways to fill it. We have an inbuilt longing for ‘self-worth’…the need to feel special, that our lives count for something- that we matter. Inferiority cripples many people and the thirst to feel accepted and valued, drives them to extreme measures to achieve ‘status’, to escape feeling unnoticed.
Our need for ’security’ is immense. Insecurity propels us to pursue things we think will make us feel secure. Many seek security in acquiring possessions, a home or a healthy bank account. Perhaps we feel it will be found in a relationship, in intimacy. People marry for security- often ending up disappointed. Insecurity motivates many to seek positions of leadership as the sense of being in control or able to manipulate outcomes brings a sense of ‘having it together!’ Insecure leaders are dangerous – a mature leader allows others to be alongside as equals, to even ‘overtake’ them in importance!
What about ‘significance’… another entirely valid need along with ‘self-worth’ and ‘security’? The issue is, what am I looking to, for these crucial needs to be satisfied? People go to desperate lengths to feel significant through achievement, winning the respect of others…like the Mr Universe confessing his lifetime motivation for ‘working out’ was a futile effort to eradicate unabated feelings of being ‘puny’ and insignificant.
The Bible describes exactly where our deficit with respect to these needs originates. The prophet Jeremiah spoke arresting words at God’s behest, “In forsaking Me, My people dig their own leaking wells which can’t ever hold water.” A stubborn pattern in human hearts sees us reverting to independence and self-determination to satisfy our ‘thirst’…We’re not condemned for being ‘thirsty’ -rather for futile self-effort which delivers leaking, broken stagnant wells, while Jesus alone, offers us ‘living water’.
Flat Lay of the Holy Bible and Items on the Desk. Photo: Chris Liu, pexels.com
