Trust Your Inner Self
I consider Ralph Waldo Emerson one of my greatest teachers even though he passed on well over a century ago. Emerson was the founder of the Transcendental movement in America; his philosophy emphasized the all-pervading spirit of the universe, wherein God existed everywhere. To understand the greatness of Emerson, it is important to remember that during his period of history, spiritual guidance was the exclusive domain of the established religions. Emerson was challenging the dogma and rhetoric of traditional religion. In perhaps his best-known and most frequently quoted essay, “Self-Reliance,” this provocative American author examined the basic tenets of what it means to be your own person. I can still remember the impact that the essays “Self-Reliance” and “On the Necessity of Civil Disobedience”—by Emerson’s contemporary Henry David Thoreau—had on me when I was a seventeen-year-old high school student.
People who truly understand what is meant by self-reliance know they must live their lives by ethics rather than rules. The rules are not reasons to live a certain way. It is the integrity of your own mind that you must first consult if you are ever to experience this quality of self-reliance. This lesson applies to all areas of your life, from making decisions for yourself about how you spend your free time, to how you will dress, to what you will eat, to how you will raise your children. Don’t let the voices within you grow faint and inaudible in favor of that societal conspiracy. Be yourself and run your life by what you know to be right and in harmony with your spiritual essence. That is, by the integrity of your own mind.
Be yourself, respect yourself, and create a harmonious relationship between the integrity of your own mind and your daily conduct. See the unfolding of God in everyone and in all life. Know that all are equal in the invisible realm of the spirit.
Another of my great teachers, from my own lifetime, was Abraham Maslow who cautioned us to be “independent of the good opinion of others.” If we are true to the divine wisdom within, we’ll be ready to follow our path and make our unique contribution to the world.
Topics: Abraham Maslow, Henry Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-reliance
Thank you for sharing your love for Emerson. I was reintroduced to him through a course on the History of Christian New Thought. Although I’d read him in high school, it was a TOTALLY different experience this time. My greatest hope is that my writing does for others what Emercon’s writing does for me!
It’s almost like if you don’t know you are flying – you cannot fall. Take a step….and the Lord will carry you the rest of the way because, when it’s right; it’s right. I have learned so much from your teachings – I thank you!
Namaste –
But when you arrive,
You know you’re alive
You are safe,
Until the next time dead men call
Unless you know The Way!
The pain is greater every step of the way,
It enters every cell,
Why don’t we listen to what dead men say?
And return to the comfort of hell.
And then a light,
Some solid ground,
The true road home,
Soon to be found.
It’s a long way home from hell,
When it ends,
Not one can tell,
It’s a Long Way Home From Hell
You drag yourself from the deepest pit,
Trying to keep the long pace
Voices of dead men call,
Wanting you back to the old familiar place
The pain is greater every step of the way,
It enters every cell,
Why don’t we listen to what dead men say?
And return to the comfort of hell.
It’s a Long Way Home From Hell
It’s a long way home from hell,
The road may never end,
Blinded by clouds from the storm,
And, surrounded by the never ending night.
Correction
I found the SKY IS THE LIMIT, LITLE BY LITEL , I RECOVERED ALL THEIR BOOKS, LOST IN THE TRAVEL AND MOVING.
IS DIFFICULT TO ACCESS TO THE BOOKS IN VENEZUELA, Due to political problems
BUT THE POWER OF INTENTION, HAS HELPED ME TOO. LOST INSIDE ME BY THE EMOTIONAL EVENTS IN MY LIFE
I found the SKY IS THE LIMIT, POCO A POCO, HE RECOVERED ALL THEIR BOOKS, LOST IN THE TRAVEL AND MOVING.
IS DIFFICULT ACCESS TO BOOKS IN VENEZUELA, Due to political problems.
BUT THE POWER OF INTENTION, HAS HELPED ME, TOO DEEP IN MY LOST BY EMOTIONAL EVENTS IN MY LIFE
NAMASTE
I am reading Emerson right now! I love that you also learned from him when you were a teen: that’s when I first read him. It’s amazing what he says about Spirit and how we are all ONe. Thanks for the post!
Dr.wayne dye, love it a lot am Colombian wanted to that please happened his video confercias and his material to Spaniard since aqui in this pais knows him muchisimo.
As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.
I LOVE THIS jung
I just FINISHE TUS ZONAS MAGICAS for several times), those are my bed bocks ,is the only one I have in Spanish, and ache time you can notice that you approach to anew dimension of your psyche .
NAMASTE
Dr. Dyer, I saw movie The Shift, it touched my heart, there was a question in my mind – can i change my thought pattern? after seeing- YES I CAN, all Thanks to you. Now listening Excuses Begone, and now no excuses- all thanks to you for ELEVATING so many lives. Your service is wonderful.
thank you Dr Dyer..you are a God gift..I’m stitll studing and practicing your book ” the power of intention “..
there is an other great spiritual man.. He is the prophet Mohammed peace be upon him..He is my example and I love his way of life..
I love the Maslo quote. you came upon that philosophy long before you heard of Maslo. As a child you were referreD to in school ( heard erroneously by you) as a “SCURVY ELEPHANT”. I have been a scurvy elephant all my life.
I AM COMING TO SEE YOU IN MAUI IN OCTOBER. fIRST TIME SEEING YOU LIVE, FIRST TIME IN HAWAII. i CAN’T WAIT!
listening to my “Inner Self” causes ME conflict. My inner self longs for peace, connectedness, unity, and immersion in “All that Is”, while the outer, physical representation of my individuity, is wrought with responsibilities, and desires. Trying to be true to my inner self, and also responsible to my outer world, often ends in conflict.
It is a simple cut out from a magazine? pasted onto a pallet of wood, and it encouraged me as I am soon facing major surgery. Once again, synchronicity!
It is so wonderful for each and all of us to be connected here.
Namaste,
Anna
I just looked up this night while reading todays entry and find that I have a Ralph Waldo Emerson piece hanging right above my computer; “All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.” I found it on an island near to Seattle years ago sent to a mother from her son while away at war.
I send you love Dr. Dyer,
Anna
I am gland you are here. when I was in need of help you were there for me .I listen to all your cds
I was caring for my sister who had cancer.and you were there to help with the bad times I would listen to the shift and I would have the right words to say to Jane.
My God Bless you and your Family.
Many live by the rules so as not to face the consequences if caught breaking them. This requires constant effort and leads to resentment and anger. When one lives authentically, there is no effort. Decisions are easy because they come from knowing your values and being true to yourself. “To thine own self be true.”
The feeling of peace that comes from listening to my inner self is absolutely enlightening! Life is great and I cherish every moment, following that intuition and inner voice. Trusting in my own ‘self’ has led me to many great gifts this year so far and I know many more are coming. Thank you again for sharing your wisdom Dr. Dyer.
I love the majority of your books, but I love the best your own anecdotes; I almost feel a part of your family. Think about your biography. It is always nice to know more about you and all the pebbles OR ICEBERGS in THE road you had to sort
Have a nice day.
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I can understand People who truly understand what is meant by self-reliance know they must live their lives by ethics rather than rules. BUT IS FARTHER THAN THAT.
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not always you realize or can concrete or make tangible what you need ; depend on your ontogeny process I
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Both authors are great, of course I know better Maslow, and other like K Wilber but I agree with Jung in the concept of autonomy of the sphyque process
I think there is an inherent fault in the concept of self reliance, unless it is expanded to include that fact that we are all connected to one another because we are all extensions of the same God. Self reliance could be misconstrued to contain a me and you, an us and them, thus maintaining the illusion of separation from God.
Thanks for highlighting Emerson, just because what he wrote is over 100 years old, doesn’t mean it’s dated!
And your 4th paragraph sums it up simply; create a harmonius relationship between our minds and conduct. See God in everyone.
Thank you! I love this article!