A Short Guide to Creating a Self-Sustaining Life
“To thine own self, be true” goes the saying. And as we all struggle to find ways to function in this stressful world, we start to fashion our own way of coping. But when we feel external pressures upon our quality of life, what can we do to look after ourselves while still living the life that we want?
Self-sufficiency is one of those terms that is bandied around a lot these days and it can mean a wide variety of different things. But let’s dive into this a little bit more. What can you do to make a self-sustaining life using this term in as many different contexts as possible?
Photo by Annie Spratt
Making a Self-Sustaining Life #1
Self-Sustaining Resources
Self-sustainable living is all about the resources you use. Being self-sufficient is, for many people, about living off the land. Eating in season is a very common approach, going back to a more basic way of living is another. You might consider growing your own food, or cutting out fast fashion for the less but better quality approach. The question to ask yourself is what do you need to guarantee a sustainable self-sustaining lifestyle.
Just remember that using self-sustainable resources can be an investment upfront, whether you’re keeping chickens for eggs, growing plants, or just getting started on a vegetable patch, however the many significant benefits outweigh the costs as long as you work these changes into your current lifestyle.
Photo by Markus Spiske
Making a Self-Sustaining Life #2
Self-Sustaining Improvements for Happiness
There are days when you may find yourself in a slump. Sometimes it can be difficult to pull yourself out of it and get back on the right track.
The upside is that there are changes you can make that will have a positive impact on you. All you have to do is be willing to modify your habits and approach a bit. A good starting point is to learn about some tips for improving your life and finding happiness. Here are three to get you started:
Find A Job You Like
Working takes up a lot of your time and energy. Therefore, you want to make sure you’re doing a job that you love. There are many different options out there depending on your interests and skill set. And it’s never too late for a career change!
For example, maybe you’ve always wanted to get into the tattoo industry. In this case, you’ll want to receive the proper training, and invest in the right supplies; from tattoo ink to machines.
Working a job you like will help lift your spirits. You’ll feel more motivated to get out of bed each day when you are working in a career that is fulfilling for you.
Engage in Meditation
Learning to slow down and stop rushing through life will help with your self-sustaining goal of happiness.
Get out of the rush and in to the habit of nurturing your mental health. One beneficial way to do so is to engage in guided meditations. It’s something you can do in the morning before work or while you’re out on a walk enjoying nature. It’s a chance to slow racing thoughts and get in better touch with your feelings. You’ll feel less stressed out and can find greater happiness when you give meditation a try.
Remember: Be patient with yourself because it can be difficult to do the practice successfully initially.
Practice Gratitude
Improve your life and find happiness by practicing gratitude daily. It’s a great way to start and end your day. You may want to keep a journal and make a list that includes what you’re most grateful for in your life. It will allow you to keep a positive mindset, and eliminate and challenge negative thought patterns.
You’ll likely find that you feel healthier overall – and that your sleep quality improves!
Photo by Danielle MacInnes
Making a Self-Sustaining Life #3
Self-Sustaining in a Physical Sense
Physical strength is integral to our health and happiness. But as time has gone on it seems that many people have become reliant on the gym as the only means of physical activity.
The great thing about physical activity is that we don’t need a gym. When we look back to our ancestors who were hunter-gatherers, they didn’t need to lift a barbell over their heads. It’s just as beneficial, if not more beneficial, to utilise your body weight.
So many people have had to make do with what they’ve got around them in light of the pandemic, but the great thing about using your own body weight is that you are able to grow stronger more naturally.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema
The big problem many people have when they lift weights is that they will try to contort themselves to get more reps, which people think is the best way to grow muscle. In fact, the best marker for strength is about fatiguing the muscle. Fatiguing the muscle with the perfect form will not just mean you grow strength naturally but you will also avoid injury.
Set fitness goals for yourself. Make exercise a priority if you want to improve your self-sustainability as well as your life and happiness. Your clothes will start to fit better and you’ll gain a boost in your self-confidence. Working out is also an effective way to reduce and manage stress. Keep yourself motivated by creating a playlist of your favourite songs you can listen to.
Photo by kylie De Guia
Making a Self-Sustaining Life #4
Self-Sustaining as a Mindset
Mental strength is something that we either believe we have or we don’t. But whether your work life is adding to your stress or there are external forces at play, it’s important to learn the arts of strengthening ourselves.
Self-sustainability is a mindset that isn’t about protecting ourselves but learning and developing. People believe that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. But our brains are so adept due to something called neuroplasticity, that we can develop. It’s all about the mindset we practice.
Self-sustainability is about realising that we can learn new tricks. Many people do not believe that things can change. But we can use cbt as a fantastic example of how to change our mindset.
Photo by Diana Schröder-Bode
In life, we, unfortunately, conform to perceptions about ourselves which makes it difficult to escape our old lives when we’re trying to be a new person. This is why sometimes we need to start again and either make new friends or throw ourselves out of our comfort zone. But mental strength is something that can yield so much in terms of our quality of life but, as is the cliche, we are the ones holding ourselves back.
Self-sustainability is a mindset but it’s about knowing and trusting you have the abilities to develop yourself. And this is something that we are all capable of. The mind, much like the body, is a muscle and it can be stretched and contorted to help itself grow.
Photo by Tim Goedhart
Building a Self-Sustaining Life
Using these four components as a foundation for our lives we can achieve almost anything we want. To thine own self, you need to be true. But most of us seldom are honest with ourselves. If we want to build a life where we can be healthy, happy, and proud of who we are, there is a lot to be said for relying on ourselves.
Of course, that’s not to say you should avoid ever asking for help – asking for help is also a sign of strength. But when we live in a world of sheer external stress we need to remember the importance of developing resilience.
Resilience in a natural sense by caring for this earth (e.g. growing our own produce), resilience in life by continually working on improving our happiness, resilience in a physical sense where we are strengthening our body, but also resilience in terms of strengthening our mindset. Get these pillars correct, and the sky’s the limit!
You are armed with the keys to a self-sustaining life.
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