Self

"Self-Reliance Essay"
Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of the most significant figures in the 19th century American literature, encouraged all to be their own individual.   Whether that meant expressing your own thoughts or feelings, or doing something that you believed in when everyone else doubted you.   This is Emerson's definition of non conformity.   As Emerson said, "The objective to conforming to usages that have become dead to you, is, that it scatters your force.   It loses your time and blurs the impression of your character."   By this, Emerson means that conformity can be so damaging because it takes away the pure, strong, and true expression you are.  
I strongly agree with Emerson on his outlook on non conformity.   To me conforming means to follow and not be open minded.   When you join a group or club, you are conforming to that belief or perceptive of the group.   You retain yourself from the truth.   Emerson's said that "children provide models of self-reliant behavior because they are too young to be hypocritical, hesitant, or cynical."   I agree with this, because as adults you are exposed to so much more.   You learn and become familiar with how people do things, and you notice signs of a lies and you seem to carry that with you.   Thus, causes us to make certain judgments or makes us to have biases.
If your true to yourself than know one can tell you you're wrong.   Emerson said, "Envy is ignorance; imitation is suicide."   We are all different and hold something special to us.   If you try to imitate someone else you kill your own originality.   Envy is a lack of appreciation of your own special gifts.   You have to express your own gifts for someone else, let alone yourself see them.   There are so many ways to express yourself.   You can verbally express yourself, you can express yourself through your actions, or you can even show your character through example.   Emerson wanted the individual to express him or herself in whatever way they wanted to, because...