The power which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried.
― Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance
A former professor told me many years ago that I should never go into the particular field she taught as she thought that I was not very good, going by my assignments. She did not see my learning curve there. Since that time, twenty years ago, I have taught all forms in the field she mentioned—and it worked out well. Since that time, I have always believed in encouragement—rather than its opposite. You never know what someone is capable of if they have enough interest and desire.
The example demonstrates two things. Do not always listen to the advice of someone who does not see your big picture, and you need to go where your passion lies. Do not listen to the critics.
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.
―George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman
Trust in yourself
Listening to your passion is key to the journeys of self-discovery and awareness. Acting on your initiative is imperative to moving forward in life. Trust yourself. Realizing that you are responsible for yourself is something one should understand if one wants to accomplish more in life. Assuming complete responsibility and not waiting to be told what to do will mark significant moments.
Realizing that no one can be responsible for your actions or goals is an incredible understanding and a key to being independent. Being self-aware and self-reliant allows you to put yourself “out there” and accept all forms of feedback.
We all have desires and dreams. We can research what we want to do for hours, though it does not mean that we can fully understand or even appreciate what we need to do all the time. Thus, acting on your desires is necessary. Sometimes it takes a few weeks, or a few months—and sometimes a few years—to understand what we want to do and who we want to be.
Taking the next step, though, is important. Always striving to do better than before gets you further than you were. You develop an understanding that is deeper, and you ease into relaxation about old anxieties.
Long-term, we must begin to build our internal strengths. It isn't just skills like computer technology. It's the old-fashioned basics of self-reliance, self-motivation, self-reinforcement, self-discipline, self-command.
—Steven Pressfield
Believing in yourself, in your abilities, and knowing you have the potential will get you very far. If someone says you cannot do something—in your life, your business, your education, or anything you want to do—give it some thought and think about why they would say that and if it does not even have anything to do with you.
Empty out the pre-conceived notions or ideas that may have been built up and recognize what you can do if you try and do it.
You usually know yourself better than other people—so use your self-knowledge to your advantage and believe you can do what you intend. Explore your options and do not criticize yourself.
Enjoy your awakening ideas and plant them—to see where they and you might go. Listen to yourself. You know what you need to do.
I think self-reliance and self-responsibility and self-accountability will help you as a parent, a teacher, as a citizen, as a friend.
––Henry Rollins
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—Photo Credit: Flickr/gnuckx
