Being Your Own Village

AUTHOR: DailyOM

Simple survival requires us to own many skills. The pursuit of dreams requires many more. Most individuals rely on the support of a village, whether peopled by relatives or community members, to effectively address the numerous ways we need assistance. This can mean anything from asking favors of acquaintances and leaning on loved ones for support to paying a skilled artisan to handle specialized tasks.

However, each human being is born with the capacity to be their village. We embody many roles throughout our lifetimes, all of which are representative of our capacity for self-sufficiency and self-determination. We are our counselors, janitors, caregivers, cooks, healers, teachers, and students in different moments in our lives. Our willingness to joyfully take on these roles grants us the power to maintain control over the direction our life's journey takes.

In times past, human beings learned all of the skills needed for survival. Today, the majority of people specialize in a single discipline, which they hone throughout their lives. Thus, many of us feel uncomfortable standing at the helm of our existence. We question our ability to make decisions concerning our health, happiness, and welfare and are left feeling dependent and powerless.

But the authority to take ultimate responsibility for our lives is simply a matter of believing that we have the necessary faith and intelligence to cope with any circumstance the universe chooses to place in our path. Proving that we can each be our own villages through action lets us accept that we are strong enough to exist autonomously. Cooking, cultivating a garden of fruits and vegetables, undertaking minor home repairs, or adopting a healthier lifestyle can help you reassert your will.