Rich Aanrich
I’d like to share some thoughts with you on what “self-reliant” means. Hi, Rich Aanrich here.
“Do-it-yourself” is the title of a very large book our computer is sitting on. It was published as part of an encyclopedia series, which includes topics within science and mechanics. It’s also the advice my dear old dad gave me early in life. Of course, for a man who was a “working child” growing up in the Great Depression it was very real.
His actual advice was, “if you ever think you need a helping hand, look to the end of your own arms, because that’s the only place you’re going to find it!”
For a self sufficient man … it no doubt made perfect sense that he would want his son to learn what he had learned. To be Self Reliant is to be a person who always “does-it-himself” and relies on his own resources. People act from a place within… a belief … an intention.
His advice came from his “positive intention” for his son. Using NLP, we believe that every behavior has a Positive Intention connected to it. Even if it doesn’t make sense later, it made sense in the moment. Based on the context of a given time, situation, and what knowledge we have in the moment (and available to us in the moment) we operate from the best intention.
Definitions
According to my computer’s dictionary:
Self-Reliant:
self–re·li·ant adjective \-ənt\
1: confident in your own abilities and able to do things for yourself: not needing help from other people
My-self:
1 : the person who is speaking or writing: a — used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to yourself after you have already been mentioned.
1. (used as an intensive of me or I ): I myself will challenge the winner.
2 : my normal or healthy self.
By myself:
1 : without any help from other people
- I can’t do it (all) by myself.
2 : with nobody else : alone
- I’ll do it myself. ▪ I had to learn to do it myself.
- if I want it done right or on time I better do it myself.
Another Perspective
And, then we have the wisdom of others with a different reality:
Maya Angelou
My life has been one great big joke,
A dance that’s walked,
A song that’s spoke,
I laugh so hard I almost choke
When I think about myself.
What I (myself) have discovered through the years is that the mindset of being self-reliant isn’t always useful. Sometimes we need others to come up with new or better ideas.
More Perspective
“Knowledge comes from but a single perspective; wisdom comes from multiple perspectives.” ( In other words, true wisdom comes from at last three or more perspectives.) – Gregory Bateson, English anthropologist, cyberneticist, social scientist linguist.
I’ve also learned it is more fun, and it isn’t as lonely, when you’re connected or working with others!
What Is the Meaning of the Quote “No Man Is an Island”?
The meaning of the quote “no man is an island” is that man is a social being that cannot exist without his fellows. No one is self-sufficient and everyone relies on the other for successful survival. It is a quote from “Devotions’” by John Donne. (Approximately 1600 AD)
William Shakespeare
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts…
So, my friends and fellow players, let’s write some fun parts for our “Selfs” and meet at this special place:
Rumi
“Beyond our ideas of right-doing and wrong-doing,
there is a field. I’ll meet you there.”
Are you ready to play bigger than you were?
Come check out or great courses and Coaching at Apositiva Center. Share your perspective. Call us at 503-525-0595.