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Writer's pictureCynthia Fortlage

Self-Reliance or Rely on Self?

Napoleon Bonaparte is said to have coined the phrase, “that if you want the job done right, do it yourself.”



Was he talking about self-reliance or relying on self?

So, we begin as we have been doing by examining standard definitions as found in a simple google search.

Rely on Self - having confidence in and exercising one’s powers or judgment - Meriam Webster Dictionary

Self-Reliance - reliance on one’s efforts and abilities - Merriam Webster Dictionary

Along the way, I came across this piece that spoke to me about this topic.

“Self-Reliance” is an 1841 essay written by American transcendentalist philosopher and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. It contains the most thorough statement of one of Emerson’s recurrent themes: the need for each individual to avoid conformity and false consistency and follow his instincts and ideas. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

When I tried to compare the two ideas, there was no easy comparison between the two phrases, which tells me that while there is a very subtle difference in modern society.

I did, however, come across this piece, which introduces the idea of being self-sufficient. If we see your abilities as a personal resource, you draw upon, and then the concept flows into the comparison below.

The Difference Between Self Reliance and Self Sufficient. ... I look at self-reliance as being more about a person’s determination and skill, whereas self-sufficiency is more about the resources, the stuff. It’s you and your self-reliance that may lead to obtaining or producing resources. - Modernsurvivalblog.com

If we go back to some previous work and compare the idea of being “enough” as in the statement, I am Enough. If you don’t see yourself as enough, then the process of acceptance will help you along that journey, which means that when you accept yourself as enough, you have the resources necessary to be Self-sufficient.

If you don’t have acceptance of yourself, you may not be self-reliant enough to get started.

So the process of acceptance becomes critical in learning how to develop self-reliance.

That aligns with the idea of what makes a good relationship with a partner, when two strong independent people who do not need each other but wish to be together, you end up with a relationship built on strengths, not on weaknesses of I am not enough without that person.

So when you embark on a journey towards acceptance, this is how you awaken your awareness of a life that is personal and professional fulfilling.

Con Amor Y Abrazos de Colombia

Cynthia

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