Ever wonder how some people seem to do almost everything on their own? From growing their own food, to fixing their own vehicles, to brewing their own beer, to raising their own livestock, to even building their own homes, self-sufficient folks need little to no help from you or anyone else.

I guarantee you they didn’t just end up that way. It took many years of victory and defeat before they felt comfortable venturing out on their own.

And it all started with being outdoorsy. How do I know that? Simple.

Outdoorsy souls aren’t exactly inclined to worry about your overall well-being. They’re more concerned with their own health and safety. Sounds harsh, I know. While everyone tends to “watch out” for each other outdoors, and will hopefully be helpful in emergency situations, the safety of the group is greatly increased if each member is self-sufficient and reliable.

If you’re new to spending time outdoors, away from civilization, you might actually feel insulted at times when your buddies don’t drop everything to help with your minor setbacks and dilemmas. Don’t take it personally. All you need is practice and patience.

You’ll become more self-sufficient by spending more time in the wilderness. I guarantee it. The deeper you get, the more you’re going to need to rely on your skills to survive. You’ll be as comfortable  and self-sufficient as the next guy/gal soon enough.

Think about it like this. You build on your self-sufficiency skills every time you fix a stove at high altitudes, make an improvisational sling out of a bandana, construct a suitable emergency shelter in driving rain, repair a tent pole with limited supplies, or use your head to overcome any number of events nature throws your way. Victory and defeat, over and over again.

And here’s the good news: anyone can be self-sufficient. I really mean it.  Because there are varying degrees of self-sufficiency—from the modern day Thoreaus to the lady down the street growing a simple, productive garden—you can adjust accordingly to fit your lifestyle at home.

What’s important is self-sufficiency knowledge and know-how. You will be more confident and more capable not only out in the woods, but in life in general. You can achieve this faster and with better results by spending more time hanging out with Mother Nature.

When you do start growing your own food, brewing your own beer, and raising your own livestock, call me. I’ll be happy to take homegrown produce, meat, and beer off your hands.