As humans, we never fully expose or convey our innermost thoughts or ideas for fear of embarrassment, vulnerability, or recognition of the inalienable light we each unknowingly contain.
Upon reading this quote, my mind immediately jumped to a famous quote: "Our greatest fear
is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure." Emerson's realization and recognition that within each person resides a "divine idea" brings forth a whole new sentiment of self-awareness and empowerment. This so called divine idea, to me, means a certain spark of divine light uncovered by the fingerprints of a very near creator. Being a transcendentalist, i feel Emerson could agree.
By recognizing the presence of said 'spark' we are forced to confront our very human- and often subconcious- fear of exposing the light within, in greater favor of comfortable conformity. We naturally seek approval, and thus are afraid to follow our "Inner Institution" that may lead us elsewhere.
This quote fits perfectly with when Emerson said: "What i must do is all that concerns me, not what people think." After informing us that we each contain an irrepresable light, he gives us instructions on how what to do with this light. He tells us NOT to worry about people perceiving us as something were not, because if we try to control others' we in turn drive ourselves to the point of insanity. He says "SPEAK your latent conviction and it shall be the universal sense." All you can do is act in accordance to your 'Intuition,' and as long as you've gained your own self-contented approval, the world's opinion really won't matter.
Though this may come off as a generic 'be yourself' talk, Emerson gives his message teeth by taking it a step further. Not only should we follow our inner guidences, but be unapologetic for it as well. How do you have any control over others and their emotions? Its not your responsibility, and therefore you shouldn't spend time censoring your actions for the sake of others.
Here's where it gets personal for me. So often I look to the reactions of others to approve/disprove my actions. I allow my self image and appraisment to be interpreted through the eyes of another. We can do more than allow our Divine spark to guide and illuminate our lives- no matter what direction it leads us in- because according to Emerson, those are the places we should never be afraid to go.
4 comments:
Hello Megan Murray. This is Period 5 English. We very much enjoy your blog. And goodbye now.
Megan-
I strongly agree with what you are saying in your blog. I think you did a great job getting your point across and making it personal, and I loved how you brought the word "spark" into it. Alot of the time, and its just part of being human, we look to others for approval. We will look to our parents, our teachers, our peers, and the media to try and determine what is socially acceptable. What Emerson is trying to say, is that we all have our own God-given gifts and we must use them, and not change them for others. We should be comfortable with who we are, and share that comfort and confidence with others and create a "chain-reaction" as cliche as that may sound. I think you did a great job getting that point across. I know personally, when I see someone who is completely themselves, and unique and unconcerned with what others think I am inspired so share my own light, and insight and personality and I think that you really did a fantastic job taking Emerson's thoughts and putting them in your won words, I couldn't agree more with what you have to say. :)
All you can do is act in accordance to your 'Intuition,' and as long as you've gained your own self-contented approval, the world's opinion really won't matter.
Megan,
i really like this point that you made in your essay. i think it is completely true that we must be okay with ourselved before we can be approved by the world. I strongly believe that our the purest pieces of our being can be shown in moments where our intuition takes over. When our inner-self begins to tell our outer-self what to do is when we have real harmony between body and midn and that is what i think you were getting at. I completely agree with you and I know Emerson does too.
Good Job!
I strongly agree with what you have stated- that we must look only to ourselves for the approval of our actions. Sometimes we get so caught up in what others around us think that we forget to stop and tell ourselves that the only the thing that really matters is what we think of ourselves. I think you do an outstanding job of defining this in your post. Your idea of a "Divine Spark" is thought provoking and made me think further about what it is that I really want to believe in and follow. Your message to follow your inner light is something that I couldn't agree with you more on.
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