Trust yourself, your intuition, and your nature.

According to Emerson's
Self-Reliance, these qualities are essential to contentment and harmony
with one's self. Self-reliance is an appeal to the individual to obey his
instincts and to challenge tradition and conventional wisdom.
According to Emerson, those who are truly self-reliant have the ability
to mark their place in history as great and genuinely creative men.
The greatest virtues that one should try to cultivate are the habit of
self-reliance. A man who relies upon himself wins a sort of glorious
independence. For he has not to wait to be helped by others. To
depend on others is to build on sand. I always take the help of my good
right hand. Life to him is a great adventure, full of interest and
excitement. He never feels dull and dispirited. "Most happy is he", said
Cicero, "who is entirely self-reliant, and who centres all his
requirements in himself." Thrown upon his own resources, he accepts
the challenge of life, and develops new virtues new qualities. His latent
powers awaken and flourish. He is ever ready to take the initiative,
always confident of finding a way out of difficulties.
In our country, the lesson of self-reliance is particularly needed. We are
by nature fatalistic in our attitude. Our tendency is to depend too much
on fate or change, or some other person to help us and to pull our
chestnut out of the fire. This habit destroys the springs of action. But if
we have courage, and initiative, we may become the masters of our
destiny. There are many who make their fortune by their own efforts. If
it is God who has given us strength of body and power of mind, he
surely expects us to help ourselves with these. It is our duty to develop
the gifts that God has given us. The carter who started cursing Fate
when the wheels of his cart fell in a rut is a typical example of this
attitude. He should have applied his own shoulder to the wheels to lift

his cart from the rut. The sleeping faculties of a man come out and bear
fruit when faced with crisis.
Self-reliance is the parent of many virtues. The self-reliant man is
patient and persevering. He does not envy others, nor does he think of
begging favours of others. He faces his misfortune with a quiet courage.
Therefore Emerson Calls self-reliance 'the essence of heroism', 'the first
secret of success'- The self-reliant man feels neither fear nor shame to
labor with his own hands, if necessary. He is always learning new
lessons, gathering valuable experience. His example is an inspiration
and his achievement is an example to others. This confidence in himself
wins him the confidence of others.
The history of human achievement is, indeed, a record of what man can
do by himself. Great heroes, great scientists, great businessmenthey
were all self-made men. Michael Faraday began as a bookbinder but
came to be one of the greatest scientists of the world. Vidyasagar was a
poor Brahmin's son but he made himself the most honored man of his
age by dint of own efforts.
Self-reliance does not mean that one should be proud about oneself. It
should always go hand in hand with a proper feeling of modesty.
Another defect to be guarded against is selfishness. A man should act
not for himself but be ready to lend a helping hand to others in their
need. Finally, the self-reliant man should not be unwilling to accept
help from others. Generally, the world estimates us as we estimate
ourselves. If we think poorly of our own abilities, if we look to others
for guidance at every step, we cannot expect others to rate us high. The
best course is to start working in our own capacity"Have faith in God
keep your powder dry."