by Marlene A. Mania

Created on: March 14, 2011

How often do our 'needs' get put on the back-shelf, and our 'wants' get prioritized as 'top-priority'? 

What if we all had an 'obsessive organized-streak', that prompted us to organize our lives in a super-orderly fashion (in sequence) - which helped us to roll-things-over to the next thing that was on our priority list... until, our 'needs' were so met, that we could continue to the next step, being: our 'wants'? Not in the real-world? Everyone is different. Some people are more obsessive than compulsive; and others - more compulsive than obsessive. Some are more proactive than neglectful. However - What if we could have a happy-balance? 

It's a familiar feeling - You just had a big dinner and you are chilling with your favorite TV program playing, or you are playing an online video game... and you know that you'd like to get your 'need' of washing the dishes out-of-the-way, however, your 'want' of relaxing and focusing on something a bit more fun, is distracting you from your 'chores' - or, the thing that is at the top of your 'feared' priority list. 

Now, you could change your perspective, and make washing dishes an exciting event... by inviting some friends, or calling your siblings over. However, for the sake of argument - Let's say, washing dishes is not your favorite thing, regardless if there is a party of people involved. 

It is common-knowledge that the quicker that you do the dishes ('need'), the faster you will gain a feeling of accomplishment. You will also be freed from the guilt of being distracted by your 'want', when you do things according to priority - rather than doing things out of a 'compulsive impulsivity-streak'.

The momentum of accomplishing your 'needs', which can be prioritized - can certainly establish a lot more focus, than if you procrastinate; of course. The more you focus and accomplish your 'needs', the more focused you may become on acquiring your 'wants'; and, the more you acquire your 'wants' - the more you can help others reach their goals; and therefore, others can help others... and so-on...

Just as an artist lays out an outline/sketch as the initial plan for a drawing, and establishes a foundation to build upon; that foundation could metaphorically represent our basic needs... later, that drawing can become very well-developed and advanced - because the artist can continually add the smaller details, move-on to the next level of development - until satisfied with the big-picture - as a whole. 

Sometimes we may think that we are not complete without our 'wants'... When we should really focus on our basic/foundational 'needs' - to expand towards our 'wants'. That prioritizing (or sequencing) may produce a liberating momentum, because we can move forward towards a next level of development, rather than simply focusing on the basic level of 'need'. Though 'sequencing' may be deemed as an obsessive-compulsive disorder - finding a happy balance and a positive point in this insight, hopefully could inspire a more 'need' and 'want' consciousness. 

Granted, there are people who are more obsessed with lists, and plans than others; and there are other people who are more laid-back, and go-with-the-flow - and no one's priorities may ever match each other's - and being overly-obsessive with order may not necessarily be a good thing; however - being proactive is - It's simply an observation that: the more 'needs' or chores that get met, the more time can be spent relaxing, playing, creating, and developing - and focusing on giving, sharing, improving, and enjoying life to it's fullest. Instead of feeling guilty for what you 'need' to accomplish. 

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