How to Need No One and Lack Nothing… Kinda
The Timeless Principle of Self-sufficiency
This is one in a series of essays that was originally conceived as a book for print publication. If you enjoy it and would like to read more from the collection, you can find a sort of Table of Contents here.
Before going too far into self-sufficiency as a Timeless Principle that will help you lead a satisfying and successful life, I want to take a quick moment to explain what I DON’T mean.
Some people, in my opinion, take self-sufficiency too far. Isolationists, survivalists, and all the folks whose goal is to live and exist completely “off-the-grid” are misunderstanding the meaning and value of self-sufficiency.
Not that I’m passing a personal judgment. I can respect a person’s desire for privacy, and if they choose to attain it by removing themselves from society, I say more power to them (as long as they’re respectful of others at the same time.)
But self-sufficiency, at least in the way I mean the word, does not require isolation or separation. It does not mean you are able to — or even want to — handle everything on your own.
Self-sufficiency is the mindset that allows you to take on whatever responsibility is necessary to do what you want and need, and moves you to work at accomplishing the…
