--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can believe we are being self-reliant…" description: "\"We can believe we are being self-reliant and independent, and yet there is still clearly an overarching destiny, a Great Maker. So when we say we have ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c3/julia-cameron-830_being_we-can-believe-we-are-being-self-reliant_2624780.png" --- # We can believe we are being self-reliant and independent… ![“We can believe we are being self-reliant and independent, and yet there is still clearly an overarching destiny, a Great Maker. So when we say we have faith in ourselves, we cannot really separate the small self from the large self.” quote by Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c3/julia-cameron-830_being_we-can-believe-we-are-being-self-reliant_2624780.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c3/julia-cameron-830_being_we-can-believe-we-are-being-self-reliant_2624780.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c3/julia-cameron-830_being_we-can-believe-we-are-being-self-reliant_2624780.png) > “We can believe we are being self-reliant and independent, and yet there is still clearly an overarching destiny, a Great Maker. So when we say we have faith in ourselves, we cannot really separate the small self from the large self.” [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Explores the balance between self‑reliance and a larger destiny, suggesting faith in oneself is intertwined with a greater purpose. **In simple terms:** Self‑reliance coexists with a larger destiny. Key Takeaway Align personal goals with broader purpose. Themes self‑reliance destiny faith purpose spirituality Mood reflective inspirational spiritual Type philosophical creative When to use this quote - goal setting - spiritual practice - creative work Key Concepts Existentialism psychology creative process Questions to Reflect On - How does your purpose guide your actions? - Can you balance independence with larger meaning? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on destiny can diminish agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) ## Related quotes > [The most satisfying thing in life is to have been able to give a large part of one's self to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/the-most-satisfying-thing-in-life-is-to-have-been-able-to-give-a/) [Pierre Teilhard de Chardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/) > [Fling away your soul once for all, your own small self; if you will find it again. 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People think they have to get rid of the small self in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-esmann/fortunately-all-you-have-to-get-rid-of-is-the-illusion-people-think/) Jan Esmann > [To live and breathe with an exclusive focus on one's small self, disconnected from the whole, is the definition of egotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gannon/to-live-and-breathe-with-an-exclusive-focus-on-one-s-small-self/) [Sharon Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gannon/) > [I'd like to get something small and self-generated in before Black Rock has whatever life that it has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-aselton/i-d-like-to-get-something-small-and-self-generated-in-before-black/) [Katie Aselton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-aselton/) > [“Let go of your small self and become your true self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuaki-tanahashi/let-go-of-your-small-self-and-become-your-true-self/) [Kazuaki Tanahashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuaki-tanahashi/) > [Our prayers may be an index of how small and self-centered our world is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/our-prayers-may-be-an-index-of-how-small-and-self-centered-our-world/) [D. 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Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [The self of which you speak, whether it is the great self or the small self, is only a concept that does not correspond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/the-self-of-which-you-speak-whether-it-is-the-great-self-or-the-small/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [I was probably about 22 years old when I recommitted myself to get off the fence and go all in and get serious about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-fisher/i-was-probably-about-22-years-old-when-i-recommitted-myself-to-get/) [Mike Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-fisher/) > [Here is the truly Christian life, here is faith really working by love, when a man applies himself with joy and love to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/here-is-the-truly-christian-life-here-is-faith-really-working-by-love/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [It matters not how large or small your faith may seem to be; What really counts is whom you trust In life's uncertainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-matters-not-how-large-or-small-your-faith-may-seem-to-be-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Walking by faith is dome by walking in faith. We can work as hard as we can in everything we do, and still not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/walking-by-faith-is-dome-by-walking-in-faith-we-can-work-as-hard-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The stress that some of us feel - it's a lack of faith, it really is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/the-stress-that-some-of-us-feel-it-s-a-lack-of-faith-it-really-is/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Our faith is really proven in the way we talk to ourselves. The loudest human voice you will listen to is your own. Choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-caine/our-faith-is-really-proven-in-the-way-we-talk-to-ourselves-the/) [Christine Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-caine/) ## More by Julia Cameron > [All too often, it is audacity and not talent that moves an artist to center stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/all-too-often-it-is-audacity-and-not-talent-that-moves-an-artist-to/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [Fatigue can make it hard to have faith. Too much busyness can make it hard to have faith. Too much of too little solitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/fatigue-can-make-it-hard-to-have-faith-too-much-busyness-can-make-it/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [We are not accustomed to thinking that God's will for us and our own inner dreams can coincide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/we-are-not-accustomed-to-thinking-that-god-s-will-for-us-and-our-own/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [What we really want to do is what we are really meant to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/what-we-really-want-to-do-is-what-we-are-really-meant-to-do/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [The need to be a great artist makes it hard to be an artist. 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Absorbed in our devices - at any age - we are absorbed in someone else's perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/technology-teaches-passivity-absorbed-in-our-devices-at-any-age-we/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [There's this mythology that parents are supposed to be parents 24/7 and are supposed to be completely fulfilled by their kids. That's not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/there-s-this-mythology-that-parents-are-supposed-to-be-parents-24-7/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [Perfectionism is not a quest for the best. It is a pursuit of the worst in ourselves, the part that tells us that nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/perfectionism-is-not-a-quest-for-the-best-it-is-a-pursuit-of-the/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [I am compassionate. I allow my heart and imagination to embrace the difficulties and concerns of others. While maintaining my own balance, I find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/i-am-compassionate-i-allow-my-heart-and-imagination-to-embrace-the/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [All change can be expansive in potential. The choice is ours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/all-change-can-be-expansive-in-potential-the-choice-is-ours/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) [Explore all 358 Julia Cameron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) ## More Being quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. 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I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. 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