‘Atmanirbharta’ is Self-reliance. ‘Swavalamban’ is self-sufficiency. Both epithets have been used in the past few months freely by both inside and outside the government. Both are vehicles for happiness. Positive psychology, a basis for self-reliance helps one explore self-worth, self-expression, self-knowledge, resilience, all needed for self-acceptance. It’s not about doing everything oneself. It’s not even being financially independent. Certainly not for shouldering every hardship alone. It’s about a reliance on internal resources to provide life with meaning and fulfilment. Is ‘atmanirbharta’ our ‘sanskriti’, our ‘samskara’ as enshrined in our religious scriptures? There is a certain conformity in our lives that can be boring. We can challenge that through self-reliance, self-trust, and individualism. Cognitive, emotional, behavioural, interpersonal and practical skills help us in that pursuit. Fear has no place in realising these goals.