I've not read much into his work, maybe I should, but the hierarchy of needs he speels out is pretty easy to understand; the idea being that you must achieve each level in your life before you can move "up" to the next.

Here they are, starting at the "bottom":

1. Physical needs - food, water, shelter, clothing
2. Security needs - societal/familial protection from hunger and violence
3. Love and Belonging needs - receipt and giving of love, appreciation, friendship
4. Esteem needs - to be a unique person with self respect and general esteem from others

5. Need of Purpose, knowing and fulfilling inner potential
6 is sometimes lumped in with 5 but is also sometimes separated as the need self actualization.

You see I have highlighted Need 3. This is where I feel like I'm hung up, and I continue to focus on my sex life as a problem here. I'm not getting any, so I feel like I'm not appreciated. There are 1000s of conversations that can be had on this, but my general question:

Am I wrong for wanting sex to make me feel good? I can't seem to get beyond it, even though my relationship is stable and warm. She needs me, but she never seems to want me.

Is there any way to eliminate this need, or satisfy it some other way so I can get on with my life? I can see the other side of the fence, but my mind keeps me held back at the need for acceptance.

I just want to be able to evolve personally, and instead, I feel like I'm stumbling along while the rest of society races by. I feel like being held back by something so "petty" as sex and intimacy makes me a weak person.

I welcome your thoughts.