I found the needs and wants thread very intriguing and it reminded of good ol' Abraham Maslow and his ... Theory of Human Motivation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow'...archy_of_needs

It made me wonder... how are those of here at FV meeting our deficiency needs? (For those who don't want to read the link deficiancy needs are needs which do not cause physical duress when not met but instead emotional or spiritual duress.) These include: safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.

Items copied from the article are in italics. My thoughts follow in bold.

Safety and Security needs include:

Personal security from crime
Financial security
Health and well-being
Safety net against accidents/illness and the adverse impacts

I meet my safety and security needs by choosing to live in a low crime area, having health insurance, practicing good health habits, living below my means, and keeping an EF.


Social needs
After physiological and safety needs are fulfilled, the third layer of human needs is social. This psychological aspect of Maslow's hierarchy involves emotionally-based relationships in general, such as:

friendship
intimacy
having a supportive and communicative family

My social needs are met in a variety of ways including making time for my personal relationships (dinner with a friend I haven't had the chance to see in a while or a date night with my husband). I am also involved in my church, my homeschool group, and of course FV.

Esteem needs
All humans have a need to be respected, to have self-esteem, self-respect, and to respect others

For me these are met through many of the same avenues as my social needs. When I worked outside the home they were met by a job well done in that venue. I now work to ensure that my sense of self-worth comes from within so it is not endangered by outside circumstances. For this reason reading is an inherent need for me. I learn about myself through books about self-discovery whether they be spiritual self-improvement or a memoir of another person's journey to which I can relate.


Aesthetic needs
Based on Maslow's beliefs, it is stated in the hierarchy humans need beautiful imagery or something new and aesthetically pleasing to continue towards Self-Actualization. Humans need to refresh themselves in the presence and beauty of nature while carefully absorbing and observing their surroundings to extract the beauty the world has to offer.

This final level, combined with esteem, is also known as self-actualization. I crave new experiences and devour them whole. I have difficulty returning to the same place for a vacation or day out. I also have never cared for reading the same book twice. I no longer have the resources to travel as extensively as I once did but now I have travel books for within my own state so I can still experience new things on a regular basis. One activity I never tire of repeating is walking down my road. I live in the country on a beautiful tree lined gravel road and the peace I feel when taking a solitary walk never seems like the same experience twice.

I realize that I could live without girls night out, date night, books, travel, and solitary walks. However I also realize I wouldn't have much to live for without those things. The challenge is to find ways to meet these needs in meaningful ways (which often don't cost much) instead of superficial ways (which often cost a lot).

So, I'm interested to know... how are you meeting your deficiency needs?