Do you let 'Wants' & 'Fears' dictate your gameplay?

I try to fulfill my sims wants, but there are frustrating ones like the want to get struck by lightning, see a ghost and be saved from death. Typically they happen when its the least possible thing at any given moment. ...Then they stay for weeks of my sims life! I just wish there was a way to nudge those little party poopers out of my sim's want slots!