Self-Reliance
First there is self-definition. That defines who you are at the center of your being. It is your core values that define who you really are.
Then there is you self-discipline. This is evidence of your self-definition. If you claim one set of values, but act in a manner contrary to your self-definition, then you have not really been honest with yourself regarding what your core values actually are.
Put together your self-definition and your self-discipline and you have the framework for your self-reliance.
Now, somewhere in setting your self-definition, and your self-discipline, you probably have had a good dose of humility. You learned that you just can’t do it on your own. You have to have God’s help. You know that even the boring everyday things require God’s help to get done. In fact, the more boring and mundane a task, the more help you may need to get it done. You have learned somewhere that your ability to be self-reliant depends entirely on the Holy Spirit. So when we consider ‘self-reliance’ we are considering self-reliance that begins with faith that God is with you and that God will help you. The firm foundation of self-reliance is of course God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You want to be self-reliant as in not waiting on the government to step in put you on a monthly bottle feeding that will never allow you to be self-reliant again.
Within the boundaries of self-reliance on the Judeo/Christian God of the Bible, there are things that must be done physically. The self-reliant person is willing to figure out a way to do what needs to be done.
The self-reliant person is:
curious,
alert,
thinks outside the box in which peer pressure wants to imprison him/her,
willing to adapt to new and changing situations, and
willing to learn new things.
Remember the three things of ‘self’:
Self-definition
Self-discipline
Self-reliance.
To these three things you add experience.
Experience is not a factor for determining truth and right.
I mean experience as in how something works and how to get things done. The only way to get experience is to live life and do things within the boundaries you have set for yourself.
Never think you have learned it all.
Stay curious and willing to learn and change within the boundaries you have set for your life.
These things can open the door to a better present and better future.