Need For The Sake of Need

Need. Having needs is part of the human experience. Most of us were taught that expressing a “need” was/is weird, sappy, weak, even selfish or mean. We also may stand in our own way of getting what is needed due to low self worth, not being able to express/form a need or feel humiliated for “needing” in the first place. The need for a quiet space, the need for someone to help us lift or move something heavy, the need to be listened to, acknowledged, the need to show emotion without it being a problem, the need for rest, the need to be honest and real without being cast as negative, the need to be who we are without apology.
Many of us stop ourselves from reaching out in need. As children we learn not to ask, we learn to handle things ourselves, be ultra-independent, stuff our hurts, emotions, fears, ignore bodily functions, even pass up food and drink – too avoid looking like we are too much work for our parents. In our little minds, it makes perfect sense to play and live small. Don’t appear weak, act like you know things that you possibly couldn’t know (no one has to spend the time on us, we are less of a burden) be self sufficient, keep everyone happy with us cause we are no trouble at all, no one will laugh at our needs if we keep them secret and deny that we have any. Everyone will love me and not think I’m a pain in the patootie.
As we grow into adults, away from our families of origin, We may never be met with ANY of this shaming responses around our need..

REMEMBER the world is not our family of origin.
We are most likely NOT going to be met with the attitude of our “family”. But sometimes it does feel as though we don’t want to stick our neck out with others for fear we will be humiliated (like we were as small children) all over again – just for having a simple need.
I think on some unconscious level we assume that others will negate our needs or ignore our expression of need. But to the contrary, in my experience, non-family members are not poised to fuck with our “need”. Take a chance. Take notice of what you say or do to stop yourself from getting your needs met cause now we’re just doing this to ourselves. WE are the snuffers of our own need, the dark blanket dimming our own light , the doubters of our own worth. Take notice of how you place the blame elsewhere.