I enjoy and value self-reliance and actively seek it as it brings a degree of confidence that I'll be able to take care of things when I need to; but what things?
Should I be lost in the wilderness I'd be more likely to survive as I have built skills and understandings around what will be required in that situation rather than being clueless and hoping someone comes along to save me. That's just a basic example of course and there's many other aspects in which I work towards being self-reliant and it makes me feel more present in my own life, helpful to myself and others, and it gives me a sense of satisfaction...but that doesn't mean I turn help away - far from it.
Self-reliance isn't at all about acting completely autonomously, pushing away help and assistance, advice or suggestions, and has nothing to do with isolating oneself away from others at all; quite the opposite actually.
I was chatting to a good friend of mine who also happens to work with me - I mean in the same organisation and side by side with me - going over her upcoming annual leave scenario...which I'm none-too-pleased about. That's right, as much as I'm self-reliance-focused I'm not looking forward to her being gone for a while - the support she gives me in various ways allows me to be more effective at my job and I don't like to be without that help. It's her job to provide that support of course, but she goes over and beyond her job brief which I appreciate and have come to be quite reliant upon it, and her. Go figure huh?
Anyway, I voiced my thoughts on her upcoming leave and that I'd miss her being around and she said, "harden up buttercup." Yep, fair fucken point.
She was only joking of course and we went on to discuss what she's put in place to keep me rockin' along and I was pretty pleased; I think I'll cope...but will be glad when she's back.
Along the course of that discussion I made sure to say how grateful I am to have her around; it's something I do a lot - show gratitude - and she made a comment that sort of struck a chord with me.
I'll not write her exact words, but essentially she commented that she knows how self-reliant I am by nature, how difficult it is for me (sometimes) to lean on, or have to rely upon, others and that she knows and understands why I'm like that - She also said how much she enjoys working with me which was really nice to hear. It's a work-ethic thing really, I prefer action over passing the work to others and to counter-balance that throughout my professional career I've had to work hard at building the right team/people around me, passing on the skills and developing those they already possess and finally empowering them to step up and forward. That's what good leaders do and when they do it attitudes, results and rewards are easier to come by. Delegation has been a critical factor in my professional career and learning how to do it effectively has been one of the most valuable tools I have gained.
Naturally, I also promote self-reliance in my teams, autonomy to a certain degree, the ability to think for themselves within the plans and goals we've had, and I think that's an important part of an effective team; the ability to think autonomously and independently, but focused at the goal, as it means the team are more likely to bring me solutions rather than just problems or rely on my guidance all the time - it's inefficient. It's a fine balance I've found really.
A desire for, and focus on, self-reliance is an attribute I look for and build in my teams but that's never at the expense of teamwork, togetherness, unity, camaraderie, respect and communication. It's also an attribute I promote and foster within myself and which has paid dividends in the past and I know it will again. Self reliance is about knowledge, ownership, responsibility, effort, confidence, satisfaction, leading by example and many other things...only fools think it's about being alone.
Do you work towards self-reliance in any aspects of your own life or do you promote it with your children or at your workplace? How have you benefitted from building your own skills and being able to fend a little more for yourself? Comment if you'd like.
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
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I reckon I'm pretty self-reliant but if I had a riffle I'd be doubly so:)
Haha! Oh yeah, one must git oneself a riffle, lest one go through life riffleless. They call it being self-riffilliant.
I really like how you pointed out that being self reliant does not mean one has to push away help from others. To me self reliancy is very much tied to efficiency and intelligence.
I wrote a post a while back about self reliance in respect of being in the wilderness which is something I do a lot and someone (no idea who) commented on humans not being made to be alone. I think the comment was lost in translation to be honest, but it made me think about it since and again when I had the chat with the woman as per this post so I figured I'd put my thoughts into words.
I agree with you, it's about intelligence, being handy, dependable and efficient. If I got bit by a snake I have a snake bite kit in my back pack and know how to use it - self reliance. I also have a sat phone to call for help. So, is the latter phone thing a lack of self reliance? nope, it's also self reliance as I don't need to rely on someone to take care of me by calling the first responders. (Not that I'd not want help if it was there of course.)
Maybe people see it differently and, again, that's just an example above. I certainly agree with you that self reliance is an intelligent thing to seek.
Beautiful post, I loved reading it. Self reliance is important to me in many ways and as you mentioned, it doesn’t only include you.
I,ve been self employed for the past 25 years. My kids have been with us every step of the way and learned from the first step of creating to delivering.
They know that you need to take care of the people you work with, the neighbors. And the community.
Nice work and a credit to you for imparting such valuable attitudes in your kids...and for being self-employed for 25 years (I've done it too and it's not easy.) These days, so many people look to others (AI even) to solve issues and do things for them and I believe it's dumbing people down and society in general. I disagree with the reliance people have on others and AI, computers, the government, police, farmers, tradespeople and so on...back in the day people had to do stuff for themselves and now...it's too easy to act like (and be) a fucken meat sack and not have to use one's brain or body to get things done.
People can be such dumbasses. Not you though, or me, so well done to us!
I feel you and I’m glad I’m not the only one thinking that 😂 we grow our own fruit and vegetables, they learned the skill of arching. They need to learn that things grow outside a supermarket. That meat is an animal. Maybe that sounds a bit weird 😂
Yep, I do that too, hunt for, kill and process my own meat (see image inside my last post from yesterday) and grow as well. I work with my hands, fuck things up and try again and learn all the while. People are so lazy these days, and yet they say they need all the time in the world that technology gives them to do...umm, I don't know what, play video games and masturbate?
True 😂😂 well they learn technology and the art of, because it’s an art, growing their own foods. You can’t say, I don’t have time, when you do it 😉
Exactly right. Some people will never get it though.
Nice to meet you, a person with the same realistic view on society
I believe that throughout our lives we mainly have to know our weaknesses and strengths, to develop our capabilities to the maximum. I value self-sufficiency. There are situations where obviously one can stand out in relation to other people, but nevertheless there are situations where they put us more vulnerable, in general I always try to be the best I can but realize that there is strength in unity.
You're on the right track I think and you probably get good results because of it. Well done.
My wife is very similar to that, she prefers to not have to rely on anyone for anything. I think she just feels like she is going to get let down if she does, but I could be wrong. I'm still learning how to be a good manager, and I might never get it. I do the delegation thing, but it's mostly because I know my worker needs to learn. I try to be hands off as much as possible too. I had to learn many of the things I know on my own, so while I am willing to help, I hope he is able to figure out some of it on his own.
It's all about knowing when to push Nd when not to I guess. I work on the premise of providing the support required, without removing their responsibility for the tasks. That way, they have to think for themselves and yet know I'm there when they need...and that they'll get a better response from me if they bring possiblw solutions to problems not just problems.
Yeah, that is a good point. Maybe I am doing a bit better than I think I am!
You probably are; we can all be hard on ourselves at times.
Being self-sufficient also means helping others to be self-sufficient and in the case of having a team, as in your case, teaching them to achieve those goals together and to be able to solve situations on their own.
When I have had teams in charge I have loved to do just that, and learning to delegate has sometimes not been easy, but if one trusts in one's abilities and in what one teaches, it helps a lot.
Even in my family, although I don't have children, I teach those same things, sometimes I even teach my mother.
We all need to learn and I believe we should continue to do so; and that helps us teach in turn, valuable lessons that others may benefit from.
Exactly!
Every situation in my life that required a little more pain and effort meant an improvement in my self-confidence. Whether it was in my childhood, when I gained self-confidence through playing, during my youth, when I formed myself as a person and later during my work...
It is never bad to push team members forward through business challenges, as they pushed me at the beginning of my career...
Seeking to continually improve is really the only way forward.
Is that a hunting raffle i see there? That is the best photo I've seen today. I've benefited plenty from just making myself better, and i recommend everyone focus on themselves instead of others
Not a raffle, it's a rifle, and yes I use it for hunting.
You say you focus on making yourself better; how do you do that?
Ohh yeah riffle my bad. Well Developing my writing skills on hive, putting more effort in the things i love doing and that is taking care of my kids, especially cooking fo them, when i make myself better i also extend that love and gratitude to my family. Also taking out time each day to develop myself spiritually, despite the busy schedule we still need to build our spiritual life to keep our minds straight
Well, not a riffle, it's spelled rifle. But you got closer on the second try so let's call that an improvement and development. ✅
Rifle ok got it. I play hunting games and am just learning about the real spelling now 😅 thanks for the heads up
People who are confident in their own abilities and believe that they can succeed are the ones who can be self-sufficient and face life's challenges alone, without help, by putting their courage at the forefront. But the truth is that every person has a weakness. It can be emotional. It could be a behavioral disorder. I generally continue my life by considering the possibilities, acting in a planned manner and working hard. Reading what you have written, I see that you have a managerial and leadership side. You are a person who can make on-the-spot determinations about managing a business, placing employees in the right positions and researching the directions that can be developed.
I've been a leader for a long time and have learned a kit along the way, and still learn now. I belive it's through continual growth and development that a person can reach much closer to optimal results so that's what I work towards and support my team's to do as well. It seems to work. What about you?
I prefer to focus on the work I have started, using my own skills and abilities, which I know very well, without making excuses. In line with the information I have acquired, I review what I can and cannot do. I attempt what I can accomplish. I have shortcomings and oversights from time to time. I learn from these. I research, read and take examples for development and change. I think that the value of our success is measured by the work we do and our social life.
That last sentence is an interesting perspective...I disagree with it though, but if that's your measure of success then fair enough.
I think that if we were not enough promoted self-reliance by our family, we should build or improve it on our own so that we could be our own master.
That seems like a wise path to take indeed.
Self-confidence is necessary to achieve some things in life. I do my best to encourage this in myself and those around me.
It would be more enjoyable if you took your shoes off when lying on the grass. :)
I was out hunting and taking my boots off in situations like that is not advisable. Do you hunt with bare feet?
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STOPBeing self-reliant makes my studies easier in a lot of ways. Though still 'No man is an Island' they say, and it is also true. Others can give us things in life that we can't achieve on our own.
Yeah, pretty much what I said.
Hi galen, I very much agree that being self-sufficient is not the same as being isolated. In my case, since I decided to work for myself, being able to do so goes hand in hand with having other professionals who supervise my work and to whom I can turn to when I have a problem.
Greetings.
I find it both interesting and dismaying how some people latch onto one aspect of something and fail to see the broader perspective. I guess that's typical of society these days though.
My conclusion is that this world is pretty idiotic, and there is a lot of ego and mirror-gazing to be had.
And, that I always forget the time difference. Good morning!
Morning...well, pushing on to lunch here. I'm working...or supposed to be. Lol.
!PIZZA