Today is the first day of the 30-day Self-Reliance project started by Seth Godin’s “The Domino Project.” It’s a plan to celebrate Ralph Waldo Emerson’s 208 birthday and his essay on Self Reliance.

The goal is to blog, write or create something new every day for 30 days. I committed to do it. You don’t *win* anything and I think that’s what I like about it. You just do it. You do it for yourself. Life is supposed to be all about just doing it for yourself, doing what you love, doing what works for you. Do that part right and compassion, love and the rest follow. Too many of us don’t get that part right. We get all tangled up with believing that being okay means worrying about doing for others, worrying about others, posing, playing and participating for others. This month I’m doing it all for me. If that sounds selfish - well, it may be. That’s part of what self-reliance is all about - depending on yourself - your own dreams, your own passions, your own curiosity. And how else do you know what you’re capable of unless you begin by being selfish enough to sort through your own baggage?

The Road to Self-Reliance

“Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist. He who would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, but must explore if it be goodness. Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.”

If you take time to read Emerson’s essay and really think about what he’s saying, it’s pretty radical. He urges non-conformity, relishes the strength and superiority of it, then just as the reader is about to launch into this sparkling world of independence, non-conformity and self reliance Emerson paints he says:

“For nonconformity the world whips you with its displeasure.”

I had to laugh. There is no way to be both non-conformist and accepted by the world. You are one or the other. Only the truly strong, truly non-conformist and independent thinkers and doers separate from the world and go their own way. They may appear to their fans and followers to be *cool* and wonderful at times, or on the surface, or when the majority’s path parallels their own for a short span of time. The true test comes when it’s time to diverge and choose the path less taken. It’s then the whip comes crashing down. Not many can truly exist alone, comforted only by their own vision, mind and principles. But for those who can - he’s right. It’s all good and glorious as long as you trust in yourself, and only in yourself and your principles (I would say faith as well).

Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.