EMERSON'S CHILD

         Be the person that makes you happy. Why else would Emerson push his message of self trust in his essay "Self Reliance". He wants you to show your personality not hide behind a veil of conformity. This is very clear and Emerson is very adamant about this message. You have to give it to Emerson, all he really wants is for the best of you so if you disagree with his message, he can care less. You can really take in what Emerson says however you want. But lets not forget that all he really wants is the best of you. To be the best of yourself is a challenge but to still want to be the best regardless of how society will see you is a greater challenge. You must conquer that  urge to fall in line with everybody else. Emerson explains why not conforming is so valuable in society. I can attest to that and many others can too but it is something easier said than done. Obviously not caring about what others think will be much better but to be aware of that and take action might be hard. Emerson guides us through this.
        "Be yourself." To be yourself is to be love yourself for who you are. When you can be yourself it life seems much easier. When I am around close friends everything just seems much easier and comes at natural. When I am in a room full of strangers and I feel pressured to try to impress them, it is not the same. Emerson says "Man is his own star". He says this to point out how we as individuals are unique. We have to embrace the beauty of being ourselves. To be yourself is to be great. If you are seen as misunderstood it doesn't matter. Emerson says "To be great is to be misunderstood."
     Look within yourself. The answer to your happiness might be within yourself. You shouldn't always seek the answer outside because it will influence you in ways that are not you. Emerson starts off the essay with "No te quaesiveris extra" which means "do not look outside yourself". By saying this in the first line he is establishing that you need to be self reliant on yourself.
     Why should you listen to Emerson? I think to be self reliant and confident when you speak is very important in this society. To be happy with yourself speak out on the things that matter. In this society it is so easy to fall into conformity, almost like you are being lazy. You need to stand up and do your part in a society like this. That is your duty as a human being.
     Whether you like it or not Emerson has a point he is trying to get across. He sees it as a persoanal need to be self reliant. Emerson would like it if we changed this society. He says " I hope in these days we have heard the last of conformity and consistency" He was hopeful back then, why can't we be hopeful today.