Self-Reliance

Self-reliance—the ability to depend on one’s own abilities, trust one’s decisions and choices, and take responsibility for the results—is often touted as the great ideal, especially in the US. It is important for each of us to develop our capacity to take care of ourselves so as to avoid unhealthy codependent relationships and social conformity that targets our unique sense of self. However, we remain deeply social, interdependent creatures, and the ideal of self-reliance can be taken to dangerous, isolating extremes.