9 Ways to Develop A More Self-Reliant Mindset

Just a heads up! Some links on this page are affiliate links which means that, if you choose to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I greatly appreciate your support!

what is a self-reliant mindset

Photo by Warren Wong on Unsplash

9 Ways to Develop A More Self-Reliant Mindset

Self-reliance or self-sufficiency isn’t just for “preppers” and homesteaders – just about everyone can benefit from building a self-reliant mindset.

 

What is a Self-Reliant Mindset?

The concept of self-reliance was brought to the general public’s attention in 1841 by Ralph Waldo Emerson in an essay he wrote titled Self-Reliance.

Even in his essay, there is not one single sentence that explains all that self-reliance encompasses but to state the obvious all it means is that you rely on yourself more.

You are more independent, and your success isn’t tied to anyone else.

You don’t have to give up all help and social contact though, simply knowing that you can stand on your own two feet will grant you the confidence to excel in all areas of your life.

Self-Reliance implies Freedom. You are free to choose exactly who you want or desire to be without feeling the burden of being like everybody else. 

Another term that is frequently used but means the same thing is a self-sufficient mindset.

 

How to be more Self Independent – 9 Ways

1.    Believe in Yourself

The first step to being more self-reliant is to FEEL more self-reliant.

You have to believe that you can stand on your own two feet. Believe this not out of defiance to the status quo but as a privilege of choice. Your free choice.

You have to believe that the values and ideals you hold for yourself and your life are the right ones for YOU or you will never become more self-reliant.

 

2.    Recognize Your Dependencies

It’s important to figure out who and what you are currently dependent on.

You don’t have to make any major changes at this point. Just recognize your dependencies. This way, you will know what kinds of things you need to learn to do yourself.

 

3.    Accept Responsibility

If you want to be more self-reliant, then you need to accept responsibility.

Your actions lead to real consequences, and you need to be responsible for them. If you make a mess of things, you need to be responsible for that, rather than looking to others to fix it.

 

4.    Think for Yourself

You must avoid groupthink and think for yourself.

This doesn’t mean that you take the contrarian stance on every issue, but make sure you understand and believe in the things you talk about. Trust your instinct and intuition

If you have a stance on something, ensure your stance is not just what everyone else thinks.

 

5.    Be Your Authentic Self

You should know your core values and what you believe in.

Furthermore, it would help if you also acted in ways that reflect those values. Don’t try to be someone different to impress others.

If you want to be more self-reliant, you need to be comfortable in your skin at all times.

 

6.    Make Your Own Decisions

If you run to someone else for help making every decision, you aren’t self-reliant.

Decision-making can be very stressful, and while it’s helpful to get someone else’s opinion at times, it’s up to you to make the decisions in your life at the end of the day. After all, you are the one who has to live with them.

 

7.    Look After Yourself

A big part of self-reliance is taking care of yourself.

You need to make sure your mental, emotional and physical well-being are taken care of.

A poor spell of mental or physical health will almost ensure your reliance on others.

 

8.    Commit to Lifelong Learning

While you can’t possibly learn everything, it is important to commit to constantly learning if you want to be self-reliant.

The world and your needs change; you need to keep learning, so you are ready to face these changes independently.

 

9.    Know What You Want

What do you want out of life?

If you want to be more self-reliant, you need to know exactly where you want to go.

What’s the point of being self-reliant if you aren’t following your own goals?

 

 

 

3 Steps to Becoming More Self-Reliant 

Step #1 Brainstorm Your Dependencies

Figure out the people you are currently dependent upon.

You don’t have to stop depending on these people, but you should take steps to make you feel comfortable if you couldn’t depend on them.

 

Step #2  Identify Your Values

Take some time to think about the core values that you hold.

What are the things that you believe in, no matter what?

Being true to these is an important part of self-reliance.
 

Step #3 Address a Weakness

Think about any weaknesses you might have.

Once you have thought of a few, think of a simple step, you can take to address one of them, and then take it.
 

 

Further reading on a Self-Reliant Mindset

If finding out more about what a self-reliant mindset is then I suggest the following books:

 

  1. The Harada Method the Spirit of Self-Reliance
  2. The Art of Self-Reliance: A Timeless Secret to Success
  3. The Journey to Emotional Self-Reliance
  4. The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur

 

 

Related Articles You Will Love

How to Identify Your Core Values

Key Tips on How to Make Good Decisions in Life

Self-Worth Tips to Increase Your Self Esteem

How to Unwind when Worried

 

 

 9 Ways to Develop A More Self-Reliant Mindset

 

 

%d bloggers like this: