'The Talent Is the Call:' Emerson's 'Spiritual Laws' in Everyday Life
Our ultimate avocation is to become more and more an expression of our Source. That avocation can be united with any vocation.
This coming Saturday, we will complete our study of Ralph Waldo Emerson by considering his essay “Spiritual Laws.”
Following Emerson, we will complete our current Soul of Liberty series by turning to one of F. A. Hayek’s most significant essays: “Individualism: True and False.”
Hayek’s essay stands out as a work that, once you’ve read and reflected on its arguments, can fundamentally shift your perspective. It reveals, with clarity, the faulty mindset that is steering us away from genuine human flourishing. Hayek is not easy to read, but I promise you, after our study together, your gaze will be permanently altered. Hayek’s urgent warning about the future of liberty will haunt you because it is grounded in a profound understanding of how civilizations flourish and decay.
Emerson is a writer whose value to me grows each time I explore his thought world. He ranks among the very few of the greatest philosophers America has produced, and his writings are a treasure of Western civilization. Sadly, most students today never read Emerson or the other great thinkers we study at Mindset Shifts U. Is that why freedom is declining? There certainly is a connection. As Jefferson wrote in a letter, “If a nation expects to be ignorant & free, in a state of civilisation, it expects what never was & never will be.”
There is no greater state of ignorance than failing to understand the conditions that enable individuals and societies to flourish.
During this winter season of contemplation, as we approach 2026, we will enter the third year of Mindset Shifts U. Valuable new programs are on the horizon. The initial program for 2026 will be announced soon. For those new to our community, now is the perfect time to explore our extensive archives and reflect on themes that resonate with you.
If you haven’t joined our paid community yet, consider the value of investing just 21 cents a day in your personal growth and transformation. This small commitment could be the catalyst for meaningful change in your life. I invite you to join a study program that explores the ideas of the greatest thinkers in history. Through your study and reflection, the mind and spirit are enriched. Thank you for considering this opportunity and supporting this work.
In this post, I’d like to share a recent story that serves as a case study of the immediately applicable advice from Emerson’s “Spiritual Laws,” the essay that we will further consider on Saturday.