Self Reliance – What is it?

The idea of self-reliance is a broad one and one that covers many different concepts. Everyone has a slightly different idea of what constitutes self-reliance and there are many different types of self-reliance that apply more in different situations.

You can be self-reliant in that you don’t need the accolades of other people, you can be self-reliant in that you are able to do things on your own without becoming lonely or bored and you can be self-reliant in as much as you’re able to solve problems without help. Self-reliance is none of these things and all of these things and as such, none of us are probably truly self-reliant though most of us strive to be more so in various areas of life. Read on and we’ll look at some of the different ways in which you can be self-
reliant and some of the forms it takes.

Independence

Independence means being able to do things on your own, without needing the encouragement or the company of others. This means that you do things because you want to do them, without necessarily needing an escort or even someone to share that time with. This is a valuable trait because it means your options aren’t limited by what other people are willing to do with you.

Many people struggle with independence and feel the need to be constantly with friends or to spend all their time with a partner. If you do this too much you can eventually end up losing your own identity.

Resourcefulness

Resourcefulness is from self-reliance in as much as it helps you to cope in situations where the chips are down. This means being able to draw on a limited pool of options and still come up with a satisfactory solution.

Financial Independence

Financial independence means not relying on an employer or anyone else for your income. Most of us are financially dependent to at least some degree but simply having savings and the ability to gain alternative income makes you much freer.

Self-Starting

Being a self-starter means that you are self-motivated and able to drive yourself to achieve the things you want to achieve. Entrepreneurs are the perfect examples of self-starters as they motivate themselves to work without needing a boss. Being a self-starter gives you the ability thus to forge your own path.

Capable

Being self-reliant means being able to fix your car engine or take out the trash. It means not relying on someone else to do things and thus being ready for almost any situation.