There are many components of personal sovereignty that lead toward greater freedom and independence.
To me, they can be grouped into four pillars.
Thought Sovereignty
You have to think for yourself.
Almost everything you read contains a hidden agenda, marketing spin, or outright misdirection. The ability to research an issue, analyze the facts, and reach your own conclusions is one of the most valuable skills you can develop.
As Canadians, we like to assume people generally have good intentions. That’s a good quality, but it doesn’t mean we should stop asking questions. Always consider what someone’s agenda might be and what’s in it for them.
People without thought sovereignty are often called sheeple. They simply think and do whatever the television networks, advertisers, fashion retailers, politicians, or governments tell them to do.
Food Sovereignty
Nothing makes us more dependent on others than our food supply.
The average Canadian buys nearly 100% of their food from a grocery store. Unfortunately, I have to include myself in that category.
Growing a garden is one of the best steps you can take toward greater independence. From there, the possibilities are endless. Raise chickens. Plant fruit trees. Learn to preserve food. Produce what you can.
Food sovereignty isn’t just about saving money.
It’s about knowing where your food came from, improving its nutritional value, and becoming a little less dependent on the modern food system.
The food you eat also affects every other pillar. Better food improves your health, reduces medical costs, and often requires you to think more critically about what you’re consuming.
Financial Sovereignty
Debt is financial cancer.
It destroys marriages. It traps people in jobs they hate. It quietly replaces freedom with monthly payments.
When it comes to debt, just say no.
Maintain control of your finances.
Don’t automatically put every dollar into an RRSP simply because your bank tells you to. There are certainly times when RRSPs make sense—especially if your employer matches contributions—but they aren’t the only way to build wealth.
Resist the movement toward a cashless society where every dollar can be monitored, controlled, or switched off.
Hold some cash.
Own silver and gold.
Invest in assets that produce long-term value, whether that’s efficient equipment, farmland, houses, productive land, or your own business.
Most importantly, think for yourself financially instead of blindly following the talking heads on television, the salespeople at your bank, or the bureaucrats in Ottawa.
If you’re interested in building more financial independence, you’ll probably also enjoy my article on Foreign Real Estate Investing for Canadians.
Health Sovereignty
Being Canadians, most of us have never known anything other than government-run health care.
I’m neither a lover nor a critic of the Canadian system.
It’s adequate.
By that I mean it’s generally very good at testing, diagnosing, and treating illness.
Where I believe it falls short is prevention.
The medical industry doesn’t make money from healthy people. Pharmaceutical companies don’t promote healthy living—they promote treating illness after it appears.
I believe your health is ultimately your own responsibility.
Eat well.
Exercise.
Stay active.
Learn about nutrition.
Prevent disease wherever possible instead of simply assuming medicine will solve every problem later.
Canadians should also understand that healthcare options exist outside our borders. Sometimes looking elsewhere is the best decision for your own situation, which is why I’ve written about Medical Tourism for Canadians.
Final Thoughts
These four pillars are the foundation of personal sovereignty.
I’m nowhere near perfect myself. I work on all four every day, and I expect I always will.
Personal sovereignty isn’t something you achieve overnight.
It’s a direction.
Every skill you learn, every debt you eliminate, every tomato you grow, every dollar you save, and every independent decision you make moves you one step closer.
After writing much of this article I listened to an excellent discussion by Jack Spirko on The Survival Podcast (Episode 985: From Pawn to Personal Sovereignty). I found it extremely inspiring, and if these ideas interest you, it’s well worth a listen.
Do you agree or disagree with these recommendations?
Are you working toward greater personal sovereignty yourself?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
