How to Achieve Self-Reliance and Maintain Independence
As adults, it is essential to be self-reliant if you desire to succeed in life.
According to the article written by Charlie Huntington in the Berkeley Well-Being Institute, “Self-reliance is the ability to independently choose and execute a course of action that result in you getting something you want.”
Being self-reliant means being independent and self-sufficient in all aspects of life, including emotional, mental, and financial matters.
To achieve this, you must not rely on others to fulfill your needs but be able to do so for yourself.
Being self-reliant can help prevent unfavorable circumstances, such as being trapped in a bad marriage or a toxic work environment due to desperation.
Being Self-reliant allows you to take the necessary time to make informed decisions that can only enhance your quality of life and overall well-being.
Below we have a full list of how to achieve self reliance and maintain independence.
1. Become Financially Independent
Being financially independent is one of the most crucial aspects of becoming self-reliant and maintaining independence.
In today’s world, money plays a significant role in everyone’s life. Therefore, supporting yourself financially without relying on others is essential.
It is empowering to make your own financial decisions without outside influence.
Dependence on someone else for financial needs can lead to a bad relationship or a toxic work environment.
Being stuck in a mad marriage or job can negatively affect your mental and physical well-being. [Read also: 10 Reasons Why Protecting Your Mental Well-being is So Important]
Being financially self-sufficient allows you to depart from unpleasant situations quickly, not leaving you stuck in bad situations because of finances.
2. Get to Know Yourself
To achieve self-sufficiency, developing a deep understanding of yourself is crucial as it allows you to make decisions that are not influenced by external factors.
When you clearly understand what you like and dislike, it becomes harder for others to persuade or push you into doing things that don’t align with what you want.
On the other hand, if you lack self-awareness, it becomes easy for others to influence you since you may not know what you genuinely like.
Surprisingly, many people do not fully understand themselves and lack self-awareness. In fact, according to the article written by Jeff Kauflin in Forbes, “95% of people think they’re self-aware, but only 10-15% truly are.”
However, knowing yourself requires time, dedication, and internal evaluation.
It’s not always easy to take a step back and truly reflect on who you are as an individual, but it’s a necessary process.
By taking the time to evaluate your strengths, weaknesses, worth, morals, and beliefs, you can gain a better understanding of yourself and what truly matters to you.
This self-awareness can help you make important decisions and navigate life’s challenges with a greater sense of purpose and direction.
So, while it may require some effort and introspection, getting to know yourself is a worthwhile endeavor that can bring great rewards.
3. Accepting Yourself
There are many reasons that you may find it hard to fully accept yourself.
One reason may be holding yourself to such high standards.
You might constantly feel like you’re falling short of your expectations, even when others see you as successful and accomplished.
In addition, accepting yourself can be challenging if you compare yourself to others and feel like you are not measuring up in terms of success.
Perhaps during your upbringing, you may have experienced situations where you could never meet the expectations set forth by those around you.
This could have left you feeling unfulfilled and perhaps even questioning your worth despite your hard work.
However, embracing who you are and understanding that your flaws are okay is essential.
Furthermore, focusing on your strengths while giving yourself the kindness and compassion you would show a friend or loved one can help you learn to love yourself.
Learning to love yourself unconditionally is crucial, but it doesn’t mean you should stop striving to improve.
In fact, striving for personal growth can help you become the best version of yourself while boosting confidence and helping with self-acceptance.
Taking the time to truly understand yourself and continuing to work on yourself throughout your life is a valuable investment in your well-being.
4. Have a Plan
Having a plan is essential when striving for personal growth, becoming self-reliant, and maintaining independence.
Having a clear goal in mind allows you to understand what you want to achieve in life and work towards it.
Creating a plan with objectives makes it easier to track progress and readjust your timeline if necessary.
Analyzing and evaluating progress allows you to know if they are on track, behind, or ahead of achieving the goal on time.
5. Take Responsibility
Blaming others instead of taking responsibility for your actions can prevent progress in terms of personal growth.
Refusing to hold yourself accountable for mistakes hinders your development and limits your potential for positive change.
Acknowledging your faults is crucial, and learning from them is a key part of becoming a better, more well-rounded individual.
Therefore, it’s crucial to take responsibility for your life, concentrate on things you can control, and disregard the ones you can’t.
6. Dreams Align with Your Morals
Ensuring that your aspirations align with your fundamental values is essential when achieving success and living a fulfilling life.
When your core values don’t align with your goals, it can cause internal turmoil. Therefore, going against your core beliefs may cause feelings of guilt and lead to demotivation.
A better approach is to identify a dream or purpose that aligns with your morals and core values.
Aligning your beliefs with your goals will inspire and drive you to pursue your objectives.
According to the article, Aligning Your Values with Your Goals Assures Inner Success, written by Rumi Mary Siga, “aligning your goals with your values, you’ll be able to pursue outcomes that are meaningful, fulfilling, and motivating to you.”
Therefore, it’s wise to ensure that your dreams and values are in sync so you can be at peace.
7. Ability to Help Yourself
It’s important to be self-sufficient and able to rely on yourself rather than constantly seeking help from others.
It is understandable to require assistance on occasion. However, it is unjust to constantly expect others to assist.
If you rely too heavily on others for help, they may begin to avoid you.
Developing self-reliance is essential to handling things independently and, if necessary, hiring a professional to assist you.
By learning to do things yourself, you will become more independent while gaining confidence.
8. Care Less What Others Think of You
Living a truly free and happy life entails not worrying about the opinions of others.
Focusing on what others think of you can hinder your ability to pursue what makes you happy, especially if you feel nervous about how others will view your life choices.
For instance, if you aspire to become a famous TikTok star and think dancing at gas stations could help you achieve that.
However, you are hesitant to do so due to potential judgment from strangers. In return, not doing something out of fear of what others may think will hinder you from pursuing your dreams.
Therefore, it’s crucial to not care about other people’s opinions and to pursue your passions without fear.
Allowing yourself to live without fear of judgment will enable you to experience a sense of freedom and strength from within.
9. Put Yourself Out There
Living an extraordinary life entails stepping outside your comfort zone and taking risks.
When you put yourself out there and pursue your passions, you open yourself to new experiences and opportunities.
It’s important to remember that success isn’t guaranteed, so if you put yourself out there and things don’t go as planned, it’s still a valuable learning experience.
By giving it your all, you can feel proud of yourself and grow stronger from your challenges.
10. Take Care of Your Body
Another way to achieve self-reliance and maintain your independence is by taking care of yourself physically.
Being mindful of unhealthy habits that can harm your overall health is essential.
These habits include skipping the gym or having a poor diet.
By focusing on your diet, working out, and your mental well-being, you can develop a healthy lifestyle.
Maintaining a healthy diet helps you feel better, keeps your mind clear, and allows you to have more energy.
According to Sutter Health, “A healthy, well-balanced diet can help us think clearly and feel more alert. It can also improve concentration and attention span.”
In addition to taking care of your body for your health, it can also improve your outer appearance.
Enhancing your physical appearance elevates your self-esteem and self-confidence, making you feel more comfortable in your skin.
Furthermore, feeling comfortable in your skin can help you feel self-assured in social situations.
Therefore, taking good care of yourself and your appearance can positively impact your self-esteem and confidence.
It is, therefore, imperative to prioritize physical self-care as an integral part of your daily routine.
11. Embrace Positive Outlook
Positive thinking enables you to recognize opportunities and lessons, even in challenging circumstances.
By motivating and uplifting yourself, you can pursue your aspirations and ambitions, even when those around you might not be supportive.
For this reason, embracing a positive outlook made it on our list of How to Achieve Self-Reliance and Maintain Your Independence.
12. Be Your Best Friend
Becoming your greatest advocate and supporter is essential to become self-reliant.
You may only sometimes have the support of others when it comes to your goals and aspirations.
By having faith in yourself and treating yourself compassionately, you can avoid being influenced by others’ negative opinions.
Your encouragement and support for yourself will help you establish a solid foundation for success.
Furthermore, you will develop a strong sense of self-worth by being your biggest supporter.
Having a strong sense of self-worth allows you to achieve success without depending on anyone else.
Self-reliance means prioritizing your emotional, mental, and financial well-being and not relying on others for support.
Investing in yourself and understanding your unique needs, goals, and values can pave the way for a fulfilling and successful life.
A crucial step towards achieving this is taking control of your life choices. This includes:
- Practicing self-care
- Cultivating self-control
- Maintaining a positive mindset
You can become your greatest advocate and supporter by prioritizing your needs and nurturing your personal growth.
Ultimately, this will enable you to succeed on your terms and become the best version of yourself.
About Author, Sara Elizabeth
Writer, Amora V Lifestyle
Co-Owner of Elizabeth Besich Boutique
Sara is a writer for Amora V Lifestyle and is Co-Owner of Elizabeth Besich. Sara previously worked as a Marketing Manager and has her Master’s from Lindenwood University.
Sara studies everything of interest, from psychology, recipes, finances, mental health, and travel, thriving to find happiness and to live a good life.
When not learning, Sara loves all things outdoors, food, and hanging around great company. Furthermore, Sara loves spending time with family, who she is blessed to have in her life.
Note from the author: Through my articles, I hope to bring you joy and peace and that you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I cannot guarantee personal success. Ultimately, your success depends on your own efforts and circumstances beyond our control. However, I am committed to equipping you with the tools and resources to help you reach your goals to the best of my abilities. Any reviews or comments written are the subjective opinion of an Amora V Lifestyle member and not Amora V Lifestyle. Amora V Lifestyle performs occasional checks on commentary left by users. It’s worth mentioning that we may also use comments in our articles. By posting a comment, you are giving us permission to use it in our content. Please check out Privacy Policy and Terms of Use for full disclosure. Sources: Source https://www.berkeleywellbeing.com/self-reliance.html https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffkauflin/2017/05/10/only-15-of-people-are-self-aware-heres-how-to-change/?sh=590437582b8c https://medium.com/@amisiga/aligning-your-values-with-your-goals-assures-inner-success-ef0729ce4448. https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/nutrition/eating-well-for-mental-health#:~:text=A%20healthy%2C%20well%2Dbalanced%20diet,can%20slow%20down%20reaction%20time.
