The piece of literature that I picked to do my essay on was "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson wrote alot of his works about transcendentalism and how we should acknowledge God in our existence and realize that the path we follow in life is guided by him. I believe that Emerson's essay "Self-Reliance" was trying to tell you that everyone has to realize in their lives God has given you the ability to be an individual and lead your own lives, but God will always be there guiding you on the right path. It is almost the same as the belief of predestination, only that we alone have the power to choose our certain destiny or fate. The believe in predestination is that God has intended us to do certain things with our lives, but Emerson shows us that we have our own will and have the power to control our destiny. Emerson feels that God has given us that choice to choose our fate and control our lives. Emerson shows that in his essay by writing, "Accept the place the divine providence has found for you, the society of your contempararies, the connection of events.".
Emerson also believed that we should say what is on our minds and be truely honest. He feels that we should say what is on our minds everyday even if you go against what you said the previous day. Even if that confuses everyone else, you should still be honest and not hold any of your feelings back. Emerson has also stated that "To be great is to be misunderstood.".
You also have to be able to trust yourself through God. You have to trust in God to tell you what to think and do and when you do so God will provide you with answers you need. As long as we fully trust ourselves and fully trust in God, and what he has planned for us to do, we will make the right choices in life. A quote from "Self-Relience" shows that point Emerson is trying to convey. "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.
