{"id":3201,"date":"2012-07-12T12:01:50","date_gmt":"2012-07-12T16:01:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/lessonsfromarecoveringdoormat\/?p=3201"},"modified":"2012-05-29T22:09:10","modified_gmt":"2012-05-30T02:09:10","slug":"thoughts-on-ralph-waldo-emerson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lessonsfromarecoveringdoormat\/2012\/07\/thoughts-on-ralph-waldo-emerson.html","title":{"rendered":"Thoughts on Ralph Waldo Emerson"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>I\u2019m a big fan of Ralph Waldo Emerson. That\u2019s why I\u2019m happy to share an article today by Daniel Berkowitz about him. In addition to freelancing for websites and magazines, Daniel is a student at Columbia University\u2019s Graduate School of Journalism. Before enrolling, he played baseball and majored in Religious Studies at Vassar College. His senior thesis transposed Emerson’s conception of individual democratic contribution into the modern world of standup comedy. Below he shares his thoughts about Emerson in a ways that\u2019s very enlightening.<\/p>\n

Emerson and the Self<\/strong>
\n by Daniel Berkowitz<\/strong><\/p>\n

I think what I love most about Ralph Waldo Emerson is that, despite the fact that he was religious, his teachings can used by both religious believers as well as those who do not publicly endorse any specific creed, without losing any of their wisdom or value.<\/p>\n

I wrote my undergraduate thesis on how Emerson\u2019s teachings, though certainly idealistic, can lead, on a grand scale, to a better, more effective American democracy. What I aim to show here, however, is how self-reliance, the basis of Emerson\u2019s philosophy, is critical to individual happiness.<\/p>\n

Emerson posited that every person has, what he called, a \u201cgenius.\u201d For my purposes, the genius is better construed as a unique voice, a personality, a perspective, etc. In this way, every person is different from all others (if ever so slightly). By extension, every person looks at the world differently, and listens to and interprets external ideas in different ways. Hence every person is self-reliant in his own way.<\/p>\n

Self-reliance, in Emerson\u2019s view, is the aversion of blind conformity; it is the universal obligation of the individual to act, live and give back to society according to his genius\u2014his unique voice.<\/p>\n

If one listens to his genius, he is self-reliant. If one thinks for himself, he is self-reliant. If one trusts himself, believes in himself and knows he has unlimited potential, he is self-reliant. The key to happiness lies in honoring the self.<\/p>\n

Look at any successful artist or person of note. Do you think Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel by burying his genius? Do you think Bob Dylan composed some of our greatest songs simply by copying those before him? And do you think Mark Zuckerberg created a social network empire by ignoring what his gut\u2014his genius\u2014told him? No, no and no. All successful individuals, irrespective of their field, find success and contentment by honoring their individuality.<\/p>\n

Self-reliance does not dictate that one must ignore the ideas of others; it instead compels the individual to meditate on them\u2014to see if they jive with his sensibility. If they do not, then those ideas are for not for him. What self-reliance teaches us is that we, as individuals, all of us, are important. We all have a voice. We all have something we want to say. In all of us lay the seeds of something beautiful. We just need to tap into our geniuses. We just need to be self-reliant.<\/p>\n

This is where it gets tricky. For how does one find his genius? For some, it can be difficult. For others, it\u2019s simple. There is no one right way to find your genius. What you must accept, though, is that no matter what you have been told, no matter how you feel, no matter what your circumstances may lead you to believe, you do have importance. You do have value. You do have a genius.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s there. It\u2019s deep inside you. It\u2019s at the core of your being. It binds your world together. And it\u2019s always with you.<\/p>\n

Your genius is the lens through which you view the universe. It\u2019s the voice in your head that tells you whether or not you agree. It\u2019s what makes you, you. It\u2019s who you are. It\u2019s the only thing in this entire world that solely belongs to you. And no matter how much someone else may want it, it\u2019s yours. All you have to do is believe in it.<\/p>\n

Once it\u2019s found, it will only better your life. The trick to finding it lies in three simple words: Think for yourself. No, do not ignore others, and no, do not subjugate them, either. Simply allow for your voice to enjoy the value it inherently deserves.<\/p>\n

Emerson famously wrote, \u201cImitation is suicide.\u201d What he meant was that if we blindly follow, we negate our own worth. We minimize our capacity for excellence and we do not live honorably. If, however, we follow our geniuses, if we honor our inalienable worth, if we truly realize that we, as individuals, are important, valued and capable of immense beauty and excellence\u2014if we do these things, we are self-reliant. And if we are self-reliant, no one can command us. For if we believe in ourselves\u2014if we trust our geniuses\u2014the world is at our fingertips.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d like to close this post with my favorite Emerson quote. It uses some religious language, but I do not believe that diminishes its appeal. I hope this post has, in some way, helped you reorient yourself with your world. For it\u2019s yours, and you only get one. On that note, please enjoy Emerson:<\/p>\n

\u201cTo believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men,\u2014that is genius. Speak your latent conviction, and it shall be the universal sense; for the inmost in due time becomes the outmost, and our first thought is rendered back to us by the trumpets of the Last Judgment.\u201d
\n***************<\/p>\n

Take the 31 Days of Self-Love Challenge<\/strong><\/a> and get my book, How Do I Love Me? Let Me Count the Ways<\/a><\/strong> for free at http:\/\/howdoiloveme.com<\/a><\/strong>. And you can post your loving acts HERE<\/a><\/strong> to reinforce your intention to love yourself. Read my 31 Days of Self-Love Posts HERE<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Please leave comments under my posts so we can stay connected.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m a big fan of Ralph Waldo Emerson. That\u2019s why I\u2019m happy to share an article today by Daniel Berkowitz about him. In addition to freelancing for websites and magazines, Daniel is a student at Columbia University\u2019s Graduate School of Journalism. Before enrolling, he played baseball and majored in Religious Studies at Vassar College. 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Daylle's books have been translated into over 10 languages and are popular around the world. She speaks for colleges, organizations and corporations. Through her company, Project Self-Empowerment, Daylle creates programs and materials to help people empower themselves. One goal is to raise the money to self-publish her book, How Do I Love Me? Let Me Count the Ways and give it away for free in colleges and through organizations, to give thanks for all her blessings. 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