In a life full of modern conveniences, it can be easy to take things for granted. Having quick access to clean water, food, electricity, medical services, or even just having a roof over your head can lull you into a false of sense of security that nothing bad will ever happen to you or your family. Unfortunately, disaster can strike at any moment. When that happens, all of these conveniences can vanish overnight. You likely won’t have anyone else to depend on except yourself, but self-reliance can help you get through any situation, including both large-scale disasters and small, everyday emergencies. Here are a few good reasons why you should learn self-reliance and how this important skill can make you the best version of yourself. (h/t to ModernSurvivalBlog.com)

Self-reliance allows you to become more independent

When you learn to rely only on yourself, you gain a sense of freedom to live life on your own terms. You will no longer have to be tied down by having to depend on other people or the systems of society. You can have full control over your own life and the decisions that you make. When you can fully take care of yourself, it will be much easier for you to focus on taking care of your loved ones. If you only need to provide for yourself, then, you will also be able to live a more practical life, even without money or other resources. You can make your own resources, grow your own food, minimize your consumption, and make do with what you have. (Related: Self-reliance in the city: One family proves it’s possible.)

Self-reliance allows you to plan for the future

Once you take care of all your needs in the present, then you can start planning for the future. You can create your own safety net and have back-up plans in place in case SHTF. If you stock your pantry now with enough food to last you several months, then you won’t go hungry even if you fall ill or lose your job. You can even further secure your own food supply by planting your own edible survival garden. No matter what challenges you may face in the future, you will certainly be better equipped to handle them if you are self-reliant.

Self-reliance brings a sense of satisfaction

With every new accomplishment you achieve, you can gain a greater sense of self-worth and satisfaction knowing that you were able to fulfill the task without any assistance. You can take pride in your own achievements as a self-made person. Self-reliance can also help you build newfound confidence in yourself. This can motivate you to take on even greater tasks and challenges that you may have previously thought were impossible to undertake. Over time, the more obstacles you face, the less scary they become. Every step you take can bring you closer to a better and more fully realized version of yourself.

Self-reliance can help you accumulate new skills

It doesn’t matter if you start off with absolutely no survival skills whatsoever. What is important is that you don’t remain that way. Self-reliance can move you along the right path to self-improvement and progress. As you undergo new and different experiences, you can become a more well-rounded individual. You can acquire new skills along the way that can help you better adapt to whatever situation you are in. Through trial and error, you will inevitably make mistakes, but you can learn from these mistakes and avoid them in the future. Ultimately, self-reliance teaches you that even when the odds are stacked up against you, you have to keep on going, because it’s the only way to survive.

Sources include:

ModernSurvivalBlog.com

AmericanPreppersNetwork.com