In "self reliance" Emerson's purpose is to argue that people need to avoid conformity, to keep your inner self and wisdom and stand out.
"Nothing is at last scarce but the integrity of your own mind."
"Envy Is ignorance, imitation is suicide."

"Nothing is at last scarce but the integrity of your own mind." This quote is well-knit into the purpose of "self reliance". Emerson is trying to get everyone to be themselves and not a copy of someone else. Life right now, and the way society is being built is producing a stereotype of a certain look, and a certain personality. This is the exact opposite of what Emerson is saying. He is saying that your mind is one-of-a-kind, you should take pride in that. Stand out.

Self reliance by Emerson