The core of Emerson's philosophy, centered around Emerson's representative essay "Self-Reliance"
ㆍWhat's more important than other people's 'likes' is 'Do I like myself?'
If you want to break away from the success formula set by others and become the main character of your own life,
ㆍCircumstances may change, but the self-confident 'me' remains unchanged.

“Are you living as your true self?”

This question, posed 200 years ago by American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, resonates even more urgently with modern people who constantly compare themselves to others and lose sight of themselves.
Between other people's success stories and the endless barrage of advice on how to live, we've lost track of what we truly want.
So how can we regain our sense of balance? Emerson's answer is "self-reliance."

The self-confidence Emerson speaks of is different from the self-confidence or self-rationalization that is commonly referred to.
It is not a power that comes from someone else's recognition, but rather a power that believes in the voice that already exists within me.
The strength to remain unshaken even when others are anxious, and to quietly follow one's own path even when everyone opposes.
Self-confidence is ultimately the courage to live by 'my own standards' rather than the world's standards.

As a young pastor, he gave up the stable path and demanded spiritual independence from an American society that was imitating Europe.
His cry, “Don’t follow others, think for yourself” became a source of strength for each individual to protect their own lives, and at the same time, it was in line with the trend of American society finding its own voice.

『Super-Translated Self-Confidence』 was born in this context.
Centered around Emerson's masterpiece "Self-Reliance," this book contains only the messages necessary for modern people, carefully selected from his core essays such as "Compensation," "Circles," "The Over-Soul," "Heroism," "Love," "Art," and "Considerations by the Way."
Emerson's thoughts, scattered across various writings, were systematized under the single theme of 'self-confidence' and reconstructed into a practical philosophy of life for all who need the courage to walk their own path.

Philosophy may seem difficult, but it is actually not far from our lives.
『Self-Confidence: A First Edition』 preserves the depth of the original text, making it accessible even to first-time readers of Emerson's writings. It is rewritten in sentences that directly touch life, rather than as an unfamiliar philosophy.
After reading this book, you will say:
“I decided to live as myself, not as someone else.”

Emerson says that we should not force ourselves to fit the standards set by others, but rather move forward at our own pace and in our own direction.
He also emphasizes that life can be bright enough without grand goals or special talents.
Because in the seemingly ordinary moments of each day we live, there is hidden deep meaning and beauty that only those who live true to themselves can feel.
This is precisely why we need to read Emerson again today.
Because living as oneself is still difficult, and therefore still desperate.
--- From "Why We Read Emerson Again"

Greatness is misunderstood
Let's stop idolizing other people.
We must realize that humans are inherently completely independent beings.
Chasing someone is ultimately an instinct to bring out something inside us.
Other people are, after all, just ordinary people like us.
Everything we need is already within us.
["Friendship," Essays: First Series]

Pythagoras, now respected as a great mathematician,
He was considered a mystic at the time,
Copernicus and Galileo, who were scientists,
He was accused of heresy for saying that the Earth rotates.
Even Newton's revolutionary physics theories
At first, it was met with skepticism and opposition from many scholars.

What do these have in common?
They all shook up conventional wisdom.
It questioned things people took for granted,
It presented a new perspective.

Ironically, it was because they suffered so much
In later generations, we can call them 'great men'.
Greatness is ultimately the power to confront old ideas,
This is because there is a high possibility that it will lead to misunderstandings.

So, is being misunderstood a sign of greatness?
Of course, it's not that simple.
But if you truly pursue something new and walk your own path,
A certain amount of misunderstanding is something we have to be willing to accept.

As time goes by, the truth will come out,
True value will eventually be recognized.
So even if not everyone understands you right now,
Keep walking on the path you believe is right.
--- From "Part 2: Don't Be Swayed by Others"

Telling my story, not someone else's
Cowardly and timid people cannot say, “This is what I think,” and instead, they only quote the words of great men.
[Self-reliance, Essays: First Series]

People are often afraid to voice their thoughts.
I hesitate to say it, afraid that it might be wrong or that it might seem strange.
So, I'm quoting from people who have already been verified.
He quietly hides behind those words.

Of course, it is meaningful to follow in the footsteps of great people.
The lessons they leave behind are the wisdom and achievements they teach us.
It becomes a nutrient that enriches our lives.

But behind the words that start with “Someone successful said...”
Actually, you don't have any thoughts.

Now you might be thinking, “Isn’t this a bit unrealistic?”
Those words that I erased from my mind in advance, saying, “I could be wrong.”
It could be a whole new story that makes someone's heart race.

It's okay if it's a little awkward or seems childish.
Make your voice heard.
That's something only you can do,
Because it is a path that opens up a story that never existed in the world.
--- From “Part 3: Putting My Faith into Action”

Yesterday's words may be different from today's words.
Why should you be stuck in the past? Don't obsess over consistency.
Don't be afraid that what you are about to say now will contradict what you said before.
What if your past self and your present self contradict each other? Live with a renewed mind, judging through the eyes of the present, not the past.
[Self-Reliance, Essays: First Series]

Why are we so stuck in the past?
For fear of being embarrassed by someone finding out about my past,
Or maybe I'm afraid of being criticized for changing,
I feel anxious, afraid, and my past self holds me back.

But think about it carefully.
Even for the same person, what they see and feel changes every moment.
Why do I have to live with the same thoughts all the time?
Even if the words of the past and the judgment of today contradict each other,
Why is that a problem?

Our hearts waver several times a day,
Even if you look at the same thing, you can understand it with different eyes.
Rather than keeping your thoughts tied to the past,
A person who knows how to look back at this moment with the eyes of the present,
That kind of person can always be new.

The choices I made in the past may explain who I am today,
Don't let it determine everything about you in the future.
You can start over at any time.
--- From "It's Okay to Be Imperfect in Part 5"

The life I've lived will soon become a work of art.
Everything I create must bear the vivid traces of the life I have actually lived.
It's like the scent of pine trees and the buzzing of insects fills my book.
[Self-reliance, Essays: First Series]

What do I like, what am I attracted to,
What rhythm does your mind respond to?
All these inner movements are your own language.
It's your own world.

If you follow what you like
Before you know it, you will develop your own aesthetic sense.
This is cool, this is not so cool,
I'm starting to feel confident that this is really me.
Rather than forcing a story that others can relate to,
It's about facing your own experiences honestly.

On the Han River trail I ran alone at dawn,
On the stairs, where I was sitting blankly after receiving a sudden notice of separation,
At the restaurant where I bought meals for my parents after receiving my first paycheck,
Such personal and specific feelings
It piles up and piles up to become my own work.

I know what I really like,
It's about putting time and effort into it.
It is an attempt to care for and understand me.
So you are nobody's,
You are just creating a life that is 'your own'.

--- From "Part 6: My Taste Makes Me"