Self Reliance

One of the most famous essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson is one of self-reliance [1841].

"Emerson advocates his readers to avoid blindly following the paths of others and instead to trust and follow their own instincts and blaze their own path. Conformity, according to Emerson, is death to an individual. Both hope and optimism are the essences of self-reliance. Emerson admonishes his readers to avoid debt as debt will rob them of opportunities and self-confidence. Self-reliance is the foundation of a productive, efficient, and self-sustaining society." 
-Emersoncentral.com

The idea of self-reliance is one of personal power and non-conformity by following your own inner voice rather than outside voices.

A question you may wish to ask yourself is; am I living how I chose to live each day or as others wish me to live?

Vaughan.