WCWD?!

One of the values we need to return to is self-reliance.

You can build self-reliance by first doing it in small ways. Once you start doing it, you realize other ways you can do it & you feel more comfortable & confident in it & you can build more of it into your life. /1

Being self-reliant makes you freer. It gives you options & flexibility when things outside your control go wrong. You’re also less dependent on others & their potential failure, betrayals, mistakes, etc. I’m not recommending isolationism, of course. Just more self-reliance. /2

It becomes a mindset & if you make sure you don’t go overboard either, it’s healthy. Some examples to start with:

1. Spend less; save more & give more to charity.
2. Eat & drink less; walk or play or exercise more.
3. Watch less tv; read more.
4. Be online less; sleep more.

/3

You don’t have to start with or even end with radical changes. Just shift the dividing line you are currently using a little bit between spend & saving for example. If you want to shift it again, fine.

You don’t have to give up everything you love; just shift a little. /4

After you see some success, re-evaluate & see if you want to make a bigger shift on those things or pick something else to infuse w/more self-reliance. For example, maybe you decide to cook at home a few more meals a week instead of eating out. Ideas will start to come to you. /5

Research self-reliance & resiliency online. Learn about them. The better you understand them the more comfortable you’ll be in making changes.

If you screw up, it’s not the end of the world. Look at it, learn from it, try again. “Failing” is really just a step toward success. /6

About reading.

Read every day. Reading always improves your mind, really no matter what it is.

If your budget doesn’t have room for books: read online, ask for books from friends for gifts, borrow books from friends, get a library card. There is no excuse for not reading. /7

The goal is to get to where you feel comfortable making changes & being more self-reliant generally. Once you’re there, sit down & make a list of things you can/want to change to make yourself & your family really self-reliant. You want to be debt free or have manageable debt. /8

Maybe you want to work for yourself. Maybe you want to learn a new skill - first aid, computer science, nutrition, etc. Maybe you want to have a kitchen garden. Maybe you want to home school. Maybe you want to have time to be on a local board. Maybe you want to own, not rent. /9

The more self-reliant you become, the happier, the more confident, & the more truly free you are. /10