Introduction to Needs and Feelings – What Makes Us Do What We Do?
The two sides of the same coin are needs and feelings, yet most of us keep them distinct. When our needs are satisfied, we are content. When they aren’t, we get irritated. It’s that easy. So, why isn’t it straightforward?
It’s not easy because we’re not used to thinking about wants and feelings; we allow the feelings in and try to come up with ways to make ourselves feel better, circle back to the no-longer-effective techniques that got us here. We spend so much time focusing on the “what” that we forget to ask ourselves “why.” We make snap judgments about what is good and terrible, or what is right and wrong, because that is what we were taught, and it is simplistic and judgmental, much like the social system we live in. However, there is a lot more to the world than that.
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Attachment Formation: Needs And Feelings
The six basic and existential wants that emerge throughout the first 10 years of our existence are proximity, sameness, belonging, significance, love, and being known, and these are extensively discussed here. Strong attachments are formed when these requirements are satisfied, allowing good, productive, and cooperative relationships to flourish.
- Well Being
- Honestly
- Peace
- Play
- Autonomy
- Meaning
- Connection
These requirements are shared by individuals of all ages, from the youngest to the oldest; people from all over the world; and followers of all religions. These are the same requirements shared by the individuals you like the most, the people you connect with the least, your greatest friends, and your worst foes.
You, your significant other, and your children all have the same requirements. Doesn’t it make things easier?
Something awful is happening to sentiments all around the world; the list becomes shorter with each passing day. The more technologically advanced we become, the busier we become, the fewer sensations we have and express. We don’t pay attention to the needs that cause our feelings, and most of us can’t identify more than 20. Here’s a list of emotions that might arise when one’s needs are being ignored:
- Afraid
- Annoyed
- Angry
- Disgusted
- Confused
- Disconnected
- Embarrased
- Fatigue
- Saddness
- Pain
- Tense
- Vulnerable
- Yearning
- Disquiet
If all of these words have made you feel down, consider the following list of sensations that result from met needs:
- Affectionate
- Engaged
- Hopeful
- Cofident
- Excited
- Grateful
- Inspired
- Joyful
- Peaceful
- Refreshed
The fact is that this list might go on and on, but it should suffice to demonstrate the vast spectrum of emotions we overlook. Everything seems to boil down to sad and glad, pleased and frustrated, which drastically limits our range of thought. Having additional words to express our emotions will allow us to more accurately specify our requirements. If you look closely at each word, you’ll see that each tells a distinct narrative than the others; it might include references to the past or future, indications for other surrounding emotions, and so much more. We forget the actual essence of sensation, its complexity, intensity, and potential when we forget these words.
How Do Our Needs And Feelings Affect Us?
Needs and feelings are inextricably linked; when needs aren’t satisfied, unpleasant emotions emerge. The first step in understanding who we are, and teaching our children who they are, is communicating these sentiments and expressing just how each underserved need makes us feel. We may respond to every circumstance with empathy and compassion by following the judgment-free process of pure observation, extracting the unmet need, and refining the sentiments circling around it. We are free to search for different ways to assist us to satisfy our needs after our sentiments and requirements have been identified.
Binary definitions are simple because they do not need us to think; instead, they simply ask us to act, and doing without thinking has already proved to be detrimental. Reducing everything to binary notions of good and bad, right and wrong, has led mankind to where it is now; hardly the finest world imaginable.
This is the future I envision. Let us teach our children all of these terms, and let us educate them that these feelings aren’t good or bad since feelings can’t be terrible. Let us raise kids in a guilt-free, shame-free, and fear-free environment.
Instead of using the word tantrum, we should always seek out the actual need and devise a new approach for satisfying it. Our children are deserving of it.
References
- “The Making and Breaking of Affectional Bonds” by J. Bowlby (1977): Bowlby’s seminal work on attachment theory conceptualizes the human propensity to form strong affectional bonds and explains the emotional distress that arises from separation and loss. This study highlights the importance of attachment bonds in emotional regulation and personality development, incorporating perspectives from ethology, cognitive psychology, and control theory (Bowlby, 1977).
- “The need to belong: desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation” by R. Baumeister and M. Leary (1995): This study evaluates the hypothesized need for strong, stable interpersonal relationships, linking the fulfillment of this need to emotional well-being and health. It emphasizes the universal desire for belongingness and its profound effects on emotional patterns and cognitive processes (Baumeister & Leary, 1995).
- “Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process” by C. Hazan and P. Shaver (1987): This study extends attachment theory to adult romantic relationships, suggesting that the emotional bonds formed in adult love are akin to those developed in infancy between children and their caregivers. It explores how attachment styles established in early life influence adult relationships, highlighting the continuity of attachment dynamics from infancy to adulthood (Hazan & Shaver, 1987).
- “Attachment orientations and emotion regulation” by M. Mikulincer and P. Shaver (2018): This review delves into how individual differences in attachment orientation affect emotion regulation strategies. It discusses the role of secure and insecure attachment patterns (anxiety and avoidance) in shaping emotional responses and coping mechanisms, providing an attachment perspective on emotional dynamics in relationships (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2018).