Journey of Change 3: Balance Self-Reliance and Community Support

I’m a self-reliant person and often tackle projects on my own. But, this time I am proud of myself for reaching out and inviting four of my closest buddies to be involved in this painting extravaganza. The most amazing, wonderful surprise is they all offered an enthusiastic “Yes!”―even though we all know that painting (especially painting inside someone else’s house) isn’t really at the top of our “this is fun” list. I have to say, “I LOVE my peeps!”   

As with most projects, this one has required more time, effort, and motivation than I had anticipated. Aren’t most plans, goals, and dreams this way? We start with good ideas, excited and giddy with the prospect of creating something new. But when we actually begin to put our hands into the process, we discover how challenging it can be to bring an idea into physical completion.  

Making ideas real requires numerous self-leadership skills including persistence, focus, and tenacity to finish the project. It also involves relying on inner wisdom to know when it’s important to go the distance alone to strengthen self-reliance, and when it’s important to reach out for community support.  

Self-reliance and allowing support are generally not an “either / or” proposition. Both are required, often simultaneously to achieve success. What’s most important is recognizing the benefits of each and trusting your true self to know when to reach inward and when to reach outward. 

Self-Reliance

Self-reliance is a critical step in making the most of our life and taking responsibility for our own decisions. It allows us to take control over our own destiny. We gain the capacity to choose a course of action from among various alternatives and summon determined purposefulness, conviction, and resolve to consistently make choices that move us forward toward our dreams.  

Self-reliance awakens the ability to keep going despite encountering a multitude of unforeseeable challenges. As we meet challenges head on, we come to understand that challenges compel us to delve inward to unearth new strength, motivation, and determination. Challenges have a way of freeing us from false hope and illusionary beliefs, and it is during these times that we are more likely to rise out of our ruts and discover truer answers.  

Strengths of self-reliance include: 

• Learning how to listen to our authentic voice
• Paying attention to our true feelings
• Learning how to put our authentic voice and feelings into action
• Assuming responsibility for our own decisions
• Gaining an ability to try step into new avenues of creation
• Strengthening the capacity to make decisions in our own interest
• Saying yes to intuitive opportunities and experiences instead of being afraid of them
• Allowing new experiences, including the experience of failing
• Developing responsibility for personal well-being and happiness
• Tapping into greater depths of inner resources, talents, and creativity
• Develop the ability to think and feel for yourself
• Gain confidence in your ability to survive, create, and manifest a great life

 Community Support

Life is a personal journey and sometimes it’s important to know when not to go it alone.  Some of the benefits of adding support to your journey include: 

• Knowing you are a part of a larger community and your desires are important
• Recognizing you are supported
• Gain fresh or alternative perspectives on your issues or obstacles
• Get advice, suggestions, or options you hadn’t formerly considered
• Acquire a new skill or improve on an existing one
• Gain the ability to focus on personal desires while working productively with others
• Strengthen and share skills you already have
• Develop self-awareness and how your style impacts others
• Develop a personal leadership foundation
• Identify personal communication style strengths and overcome limitations
• Experience the energizing synergy of two or more people acting together to create one common outcome

Today’s Invitation: As you look into your personal dreams, desires, and goals invite yourself to notice the balance of personal self-reliance versus support. Are you perhaps overly reliant on yourself to get everything done, or are you the type of person who has become overly reliant on others to heal your life? Is your balance between self-reliance and support leading to a more fulfilling life? 

P.S. If you’re going through change yourself, or if you have any helpful inspiration, please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below. Your insights may be just the light of hope or help that someone else is searching for.

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Tagged as: conscious transformation, creating change, personal growth, pesonal development, self help, self improvement, your highest potential