Emerson- "Self-Reliance"

http://www.emersoncentral.com/selfreliance.htm

"There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till. The power which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried. Not for nothing one face, one character, one fact, makes much impression on him, and another none. This sculpture in the memory is not without preestablished harmony. The eye was placed where one ray should fall, that it might testify of that particular ray. We but half express ourselves, and are ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represents. It may be safely trusted as proportionate and of good issues, so it be faithfully imparted, but God will not have his work made manifest by cowards. A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or done otherwise, shall give him no peace. It is a deliverance which does not deliver. In the attempt his genius deserts him; no muse befriends; no invention, no hope.
Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place the divine providence has found for you, the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events. Great men have always done so, and confided themselves childlike to the genius of their age, betraying their perception that the absolutely trustworthy was seated at their heart, working through their hands, predominating in all their being. And we are now men, and must accept in the highest mind the same transcendent destiny; and not minors and invalids in a protected corner, not cowards fleeing before a revolution, but guides, redeemers, and benefactors, obeying the Almighty effort, and advancing on Chaos and the Dark. "

Reflection
I like this selection because it is straightforward. In the first line it says, "envy is ignorance...imitation is suicide." I agree with this statement because I have never seen the point in wanting to be somebody else. Everybody should work to be their personal best rather than attempting to be somebody else's. I also agree with the line, "none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried" because people may tell you what you can and can't do, but only you know what you are truly capable of. Even if one tries and fails, at least they won't live with regrets. The second paragraph of the selection is saying to stand up for what you believe in and accept what the "divine providence" intends for them to do. I agree that everybody should follow their own path, because life would be boring and monotonous if everybody was the same.

Dear Diary,
As G. H. Hardy said, "It is not worth an intelligent man's time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that." This quote relates to this selection because if everybody was the same, the world would be in chaos and there would never be any progressions in society. I think everybody should read this selection because it is so true and motivating. If someone tries to be like someone else, they won't succeed. Everybody is meant to serve a specific purpose and if everyone was too afraid to stand out, the world would be full of "Chaos and the Dark."
Just like everybody has a different purpose in life, everybody has a different American Dream. It is possible, but not probable that any two people will be able to achieve the same one. Since everyone is different, everyone has different opportunities and personalities which are meant to serve their specific purpose in life. If people would stay focused on their own dreams, instead of comparing themselves to others, the world would be a much more advanced place. It would also encourage others to step out of their comfort zones in order to fulfill their own dreams. I think people should stop envying others and feeling judged in order to work towards their own goals.