Reading up on self reliance and people and organizations that are finding ways to help everyone be more self reliant I found the Omaha Together One Community who exist to create community.
We teach people to become effective leaders, explore their legitimate interests, do solid research, engage in sometimes tough, but always respectful public discourse, hold elected officials accountable and create positive change through collective action. Through the practice of these skills, people build relationships of trust and, by acting collaboratively, become part of solving their own problems rather than expecting someone else to take care of them. This is OTOC’s “Iron Rule,”- never do for others what they can do for themselves.
It’s that last line that were struck me. The OTOC’s “Iron Rule”
“never do for others what they can do for themselves”
Self Reliance is Not Doing it All Alone
We Americans are known for championing the rugged individual who stands alone. Some may differ on the amount of help we owe to the poor or disadvantaged, but we know it’s important to teach self reliance.
Yet here we have a group that advertises working together and collaboration telling us what I see as self reliance.
Great idea. Let people stand on the own and have the strength to join with us for important causes.
Sometimes a charitable handout is called for. The Iron Rule can help us learn where to draw that line.
Read more at: otoc.org
About Warren Whitlock
Moderator and producer of the Billions Rising radio show, Speaker, Blogger, and Social Media Expert. Best selling author of social media books
Angus Whitton February 19, 2013 at 11:46 pm
@”never do for others what they can do for themselves.”
Great statement… when we do this carefully.
You are right – there is a tendency nowadays to act with the best of intentions, but ultimately end up by de-skilling people – instead of helping them grow!
Angus
admin February 20, 2013 at 8:27 am
That’s a great phrase to “intending to help someone can de-skill”
The phrase “we want to empower” is overused, but does get to what we want to do
Duane Tilden February 21, 2013 at 10:39 am
The North American ideal of the self-reliant individual has in some part created family divisions. Parents who plan to evict children who become of “legal” age is a mounting social problem creating more homeless and burdens on the social system.
The secular, state run “democratic” way of our own societies which divides people is not addressing this big problem. Where I live we have plenty of housing for the elderly, where there are plenty of vacancies, however, the big problem has become single parent families, slumlords, and inadequate high priced, crime-ridden housing.
admin February 21, 2013 at 11:21 am
“mounting social problem” ?
That might be a bit overstated, but I agree with the principle of your comment. “Self Reliant” need not mean “all alone”
In my experience, there are more “helicopter parents” today than when I was young. They don’t allow their children to be self reliant. Balance is somewhere in between.
Self reliance is something that need to come from the individual.. a feeling that “no matter what, I will take responsibility for my life”.. There can’t be one policy that applies in all situations