Discipline

It takes discipline to do anything and do it well. Ask the most successful people, and they will tell you the considerable role self-control plays in ensuring you make it to the top. Having complete control of your emotions and reactions to adverse circumstances is a skill everyone should desire because it keeps you in check. 

You can only depend on yourself if you are reliable. It would be best if you had control over yourself, keeping your word at all times. If you constantly let yourself down by failing to do the things you commit to, you will lose confidence in your ability to achieve anything significant. 
Self-sufficiency requires you to stay true to who you are and your beliefs. It demands control over the decisions that you make. Being independent of other people's opinions is only manageable with that discipline. Instead, you will stop doing what you know is right in favor of things that make you feel validated.

Someone who is self-reliant believes in themselves. That is not to say that doubt does not creep in when things fail to go according to plan. It takes a lot of discipline to shut out voices that influence you to think less of yourself or your dreams.

 
Train yourself to remain positive in the face of adversity. Otherwise, you will constantly bow to everything threatening to bring you down.

To be truly independent, you need the discipline to stick to your path when everyone else is abandoning theirs to pursue emerging trends. In a world where people rely heavily on the approval of others before making any moves, you need to trust yourself to do things without always asking your close friends for validation.

It isn't easy to step out on your own because there is always a chance that you will not land where you want to be. Failure always makes us question our adequacy in pursuing the things we want. Instead of allowing your esteem to be shaken, control your reaction to every setback and every failure you encounter. To cling to a chosen path after falling is commendable. It brings growth and resilience. All of this requires discipline.

Develop self-control to maintain your independence.
Discover yourself and what you stand for.
Once you discover your purpose, you must do everything possible to live according to it. Discovery culminates into the values and ethics that govern you. These keep you grounded and from compromising on the things that make you who you are. You will not feel pressured to play according to the rules of others. 

Accept your flaws.
Self-acceptance is a vital part of attaining self-sufficiency. When you embrace yourself, with all your shortcomings, you will not feel the need to hide behind others. Instead, it gives you the desire to hone your skills and talents to find your place in society. Loving yourself just as you are will stop you from trying to fit in where you have to hide your true identity from others.

Have a vision.
You need to have a vision of where you want to go to keep you focused on being the best version of yourself. What meaning do you want to add to your life and the lives of those around you? Keeping your goals in sight will stop you from focusing on what other people are doing or what they think of you, especially if you are fully committed to achieving your goals.

Be accountable to yourself.
When you commit to specific tasks, make sure you follow through. Never make excuses because there is no one to demand accountability from you. You will only feel disappointed in yourself when you let yourself down by slacking off on the things you committed to doing. Keep track of the tasks you need to accomplish. You can do so by keeping a journal or a planner.

Understand your capacity.
If you take on more than you can handle, you will wear yourself out fast. Instead of committing yourself to enormous projects in one go, break them into smaller tasks you can manage. Biting off more than you can chew may cause failure and, in turn, chip away at your self-esteem.

Make room for failure.
No matter how much effort you put into any project, there is always a chance that things will go differently than you want them to. It takes self-control not to fold when everything around you demands it. 

It would be best if you never let yesterday's failure stop you from shaping the future of your tomorrow.
Positively viewing failure will equip you to handle whatever life throws at you. After all, without the challenges, there would be no growth.

Healthy self-reliance is the key to a gratifying and productive life. It gives you a chance to take the reins off and steer your life in the direction you want. With discipline, that task can be manageable. It takes self-control to do life the way you want and not conform to everyone else's dictates.

Until next time, be Resilient!