Self-reliance is a virtue

There is no defeat except from within. There is really no insurmountable barrier saves your own inherent weakness of purpose.
 

 There is no more laudable ambition in life, than the ambition for personal power. Self-reliance is a sure key to success and happiness. A self-reliant person always depends upon his own energy, capacity to work, prudence and the resources. Therefore, a self-reliant person is master of himself and the circumstances as he does not depend on others. Such a person is always calmed, sure, confident and self-possessed. He is firm, prompt in action and even ready to face any challenge, and fertile of resources. While others who are not independent, are surely much handicapped. It is really a slavery to depend on others for help, guidance and aid or resources. And s slave is always at a great disadvantage. A person is most happy and satisfied when he relies upon his own strength, power and resources. He ever walks without crutches or outside support.

A virtue is a moral habit which generally results in the gaining or maintaining of your values. Your values are based on your moral standard which should be your own life. Virtues are pre-thought out methods for achieving your values. This means that with rational virtues, acting virtuous leads to a happy and successful life.

Self-reliance is the parent of many virtues. The self-reliant man is patient and persevering. He does not envy others, nor does he think of begging favours of others. He faces his misfortune with a quiet courage. Therefore Emerson Calls self-reliance 'the essence of hero­ism', 'the first secret of success'- The self-reliant man feels neither fear nor shame to labor with his own hands, if necessary. He is always learning new lessons, gathering valuable experience. His example is an inspiration and his achievement is an example to others. This confidence in himself wins him the confidence of others.

Self-reliance does not mean that one should be proud about oneself. It should always go hand in hand with a proper feeling of modesty. Another defect to be guarded against is selfishness. A man should act not for himself but be ready to lend a helping hand to others in their need. Finally, the self-reliant man should not be unwilling to accept help from others. Generally, the world estimates us as we estimate ourselves. If we think poorly of our own abilities, if we look to others for guidance at every step, we cannot expect others to rate us high. The best course is to start working in our own capacity—"Have faith in God keep your powder dry."

“How can I become more powerful and effective?” Do you want to be a power in the world? Power is the result of force overcome.
That there are great potencies and power possibilities within us which we never know is proved by the tremendous forces that are aroused in ordinary people in some great crisis or emergency. An important lesson in life is to value ourselves and believe in ourselves. Once we learn to expect great things of ourselves and prepare to receive the good things of life, they not only can, but will, be ours. There is genius within, but we are like sleeping giants. Unless we awaken to this fact and use the larger power, we sleep on and on and on. Once we believe in ourselves, our innate goodness and our value as unique beings created in God’s image and likeness, we will start living from different paragon.

Innate value is something that is independent of position, social economic status   we occupy in life. Although endowed with qualities and such ability that enable most people to stand alone, to be free and independent, the majority choose to be seekers and depend on others. We tie ourselves down with so many self- imposed limitations that eventually we even let others do our thinking for us.

The greatest lesson that any guru can teach to his disciple is the lesson of self-reliance, teaching the disciple to depend on himself. Well meaning parents oftentimes thwart the opportunities for their children by making it easy for them to get a start in life. Too many crutches contribute to weakness of spirit, mind and body. Your own mental picture of yourself is a good measure of yourself and your possibilities. If there is no out-reach to your mind, no spirit of daring, no firm self-faith, you will never accomplish much.

“The wise don't expect to find life worth living, they make it that way.” 

The heaven and hell lies within us. It is up to us what we choose. We are our own lamp, guide and staff. Never depend on others. “Be the maker of your destiny. Help yourself and the world will help you”. It reminds us as the famous saying “God helps those who help themselves” All successful men and women have been self-reliant. They achieved what thy desired because they did not depend on others. They ran fast and in time on the roads of self-reliance. A man walking with the crutches of others help cannot think of running a race, he cannot compete, he is sure to end with the crutches.

As we develop a keen sense of self-reliance and do the things ourselves which ought to be accomplished by ourselves, we develop the power necessary to reach higher and higher. to facilitate us in the development of self-reliance it is well to constantly hold the mental thought of our being, that we are created for a life’s purpose which we alone can perform .whether the journey is upon the sea of life be calm or stormy, we are the captains of our ship and masters of our individual destinies.

 A man’s confidence measures the height of his possibilities. A stream cannot rise higher than its fountainhead.

 

Power is largely a question of strong, vigorous, perpetual thinking along the line of the ambition, parallel with the aim—the great life purpose. Here is where power originates. Power in one form or another, is the object of most ambitions. Strength and power must be self-developed. We cannot become strong by visiting a gym. To develop the muscle we must work with it.  No one can do this for us. Our mental faculties work the same way. We must put our own into play and learn to depend upon self. Self-reliance is the key that opens door to strength and power. Once we realize our intrinsic value, we will stop playing to the gallery; we will not look for constant approval or appreciation. Whatever we do, we will rest in the assurance that we have contributed something worthwhile.

No one except him is the designer of his fortune. Most people do not give it a thought to this. Instead, they idle away their lives waiting for luck, fate, opportunity, a helping hand from government or others to do their boosting for them. They do not know that their “luck, fate, opportunity or help” is right within them all the time.

“Your best opening is in yourself”. As long as you think it is somewhere else, or in somebody else, you will be a failure”. As long as you lean on others, as long as you think there is something coming to you from some dead uncle or some rich man’s will as long as you think your success is in the money you father will probably leave you, you will be a failure. Your opportunity in your self, wrapped up in your own personality.

The biggest lesson one learns from successful individuals is self-reliance. Although we are free and independent, most of us choose to be learners and depend on others.

 

 Our winners in the battle of life are the men and women who can stand alone, who believe in themselves and are not afraid to overcome obstacles that lie in their path, regardless of their magnitude. All the greatest achievements in the world began in longing—in dreaming and hoping which from time were nursed in despair, with no light in sight. This longing kept the courage up and made self-sacrifice easier until the thing dreamed of—the mental vision was realized. “God loves to help him who strives to help himself”. - Aeschylus

 As we develop a keen sense of self-reliance and do the things ourselves which ought to be accomplished by ourselves, we develop the power necessary to reach higher and higher. To facilitate us in the development of self-reliance it is well to constantly hold the mental thought our being, that we were created for a life’s purpose, a purpose which we alone can perform. Whether the journey upon the sea of life be calm or stormy, or our journey to attain the ultimate level of spirituality; we are the captains of our own ship and the masters of our individual destinies.  Self-reliance is the best support, the best tool and the shortest way to success. Lord Buddha said “You are both friend and enemy of yourself”.

 

 You must know yourself in order to know your powers, and not until you know them you can use them wisely and fully.