I'm Self Reliant

I have a question on the essay, why did Emerson write this? What purpose was he trying to get at? Through out the essay, i thought to myself, is Emerson telling the reader to be a "man"? I'm thinking that might be what he is getting at. Because when Emerson writes "trust thyself"....., he wants people to believe what is right to yourself. Also, when he says "traveling is a fools paradise"..... I'm analyzing that people often go with the crowd, people don't think there own way. It's an intresting way Emerson is using these comparisons to make the reader feel more entitled to their own opinion, instead of choosing what society is giving us.