It's interesting to note that stoicism -- in my experience perhaps the most difficult thing I've ever done and still fight hard every day to follow -- could be said at its core to work against these baser motivations.
Considering this, one must ask deeper questions about one's view on life. Are these base motivations part of something bigger than one may one day assimilate rather than succumb to or separate from? What in our lives makes expression of base desire so detrimental to expression of other desires?