Confidence

 

"Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice." -Steve Jobs

By definition confidence means the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; however, I think that believing or feeling that you can rely on yourself is more important, to know that you don't need anyone that you can do "it" yourself. Sure, don't get me wrong, having someone by your side is a great feeling but at the end of the day all you have is yourself.

Non-conformity

"Freedom began on the day the first sheep wandered away from the herd" -Marty Rubin

Non-conformity and individualism are interconnected, to non-conform means to be an individual and to be an individual means to non-conform. 
Peer pressure can become a major factor in anyone's life and its human nature to want to be apart of something that connects you to other people even if you have to question or go against your virtues and morals to be apart. I have been in many situations where I didn't want to do something but I wanted to be accepted by a group or person more. From experience I can say that its best to be your own person and never change for acceptance.

Connection to Nature

"Come forth into the light of things. Let nature be your teacher." -W. Wordsworth

Nature is apart of us and and we are apart of nature, we are the same being. We are connected both physically and spiritually we are just a small part of the unfathomable whole that is the universe. So go climb a tree, jump into a pile of leaves, swim in a lake, wonder at the stars, listen to the melody of the birds and connect with nature along with yourself.

Self Reliance

This symbol is one of the Jungian archetypes and signifies the unification of consciousness and unconsciousness in a person and representing a psyche as a whole. It represents individualism and one's personality.   

"To be like me is to deny who you are, and to deny who you are is to deny the most apparent truth you will ever know." -Dr. Jason J. Campbell

Self reliance is much more then just confidence or self assurance it's self realization and knowing who you are as an individual. People can tell you to walk like this or talk like that and completely change your outside appearance and mannerisms but they can never take away who 'you' are. A great man once said "To imitate is to commit suicide." At the end of the day all you have is yourself so it's best to just be yourself. 

Free Thought

"Dare to think for yourself." -Voltaire 

Think for yourself and question the authorities that run your life. There are no foolish questions because when one begins to question: the world around them, their country, their traditions, and their own god they break 'free' politically and spiritually and liberate their minds to a new 'world'. The greatest power that we all share as individuals is the power to decide for ourselves and chose our own 'path'. Now go out into your extraordinary life and dare to think for yourself, that is the transcendentalists way.

Father of Transcendentalism

Ralph Waldo Emerson  

"Nobody can bring you peace but yourself" -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Born on May 25, 1803 in Boston, Massachusetts the American poet, lecturer, and essayist led the Transcendentalist movement of 19th century philosophy. His ideals included: Self-reliance, individualism, free thought, and the souls connection with nature. Emerson first expressed his philosophy of transcendentalism in his 1836 essay Nature.