We all have heard or read about the Independent Woman – the strong and confident female who is totally in control of her life, making sound choices and facing challenges along the way without batting an eyelash. She is focused and fearless but also knows how (and when) to let her hair down and have fun.
As a matter of fact, she has learned to master work-life balance – which many people consider a rare skill – so that she can enjoy life to the fullest. She knows what her worth is, and she is never afraid to use her voice to make a change.
Are you an independent woman? Or are you still finding a way to become one?
If you already are, I am so happy for you! You have found your inner strength as a woman and what is left to do is to harness it properly. The steps below will teach you how to do it better.
If it is the latter, then you have come to the right place. This article will be your ultimate guide! I will discuss tips on how to bring out the independent woman in you because I believe that she is in all of us, just waiting to emerge and thrive.
Let’s get started!
1. Know Yourself
When asked the question “How well do you know yourself”, most of us will answer with “100 percent” or “very well” too quickly. After all, is it not embarrassing to admit that we do not know our own selves, right?
In reality, we do not set enough time for self-reflection, to know what we truly want in this life, what we value, and what path we want to take. We also forget to examine our weaknesses, flaws, and shortcomings most of the time. Being an independent woman means being honest with yourself – brutally so. You have to accept that you are not perfect, none of us is, and no one is meant to be.
Spending time to reflect on yourself paves the way for understanding your wants and needs and your strengths and weaknesses. The knowledge of these values is important in acquiring the confidence to be independent.
2. Find a Role Model
History is teeming with famous strong and independent women from different periods, cultures, and eras – Emmeline Pakhhurst, who was a founding member of the Suffragettes, Coco Chanel, whose last name is used by one of the most iconic (and expensive) brands in the fashion industry, Katherine Hepburn, an actress who challenged the concept of feminine fashion by wearing trousers at a time when women are supposed to wear dresses only, Oprah Winfrey, the media legend who has donated millions of money to charity, and Malala Yousafzai, the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. These extraordinary women have lived – and some still living – extraordinary lives and have served as an inspiration for millions of others.
Having a role model is important because it gives you a clear vision of what you want to be. Do you want to be a successful businesswoman, a famous scientist, or a great actress? Or maybe you want to be known for philanthropic works? Whichever it might be, you need someone you can emulate.
You can find information about their life and work in books or on the web. You can also apply your creative skills to go a step further by creating customized tokens, posters, stickers, or pins with the image of an independent woman (or women) that you idolize. It is one way of paying tribute to them as well!
3. Determine Your Goals
Strengthen your resolve by having a set of goals. You can do this by listing down all the things you hope to achieve and the methods that you are planning to use. You should also identify an appropriate timeline for actualizing your goals and the metrics to judge the success of your goals.
Visualizing the attainment of your goals is essential – according to research, mental imagery can improve engagement in planned behaviors. An independent woman has clear goals, and she will do anything and stop at nothing to make those come true.
4. Engage In Positive Relationships
Ever heard of the phrase “Birds of the same feather flock together”? Well, when it comes to achieving independence, you need to surround yourself with independent women that share the same passion and drive!
This means choosing friends and people who will inspire you to become the best version of yourself. These are the people who can and will encourage you to become stronger, especially in times when you need a push.
5. Treat Your Time as Gold
Your time matters and you should always remember that. Invest in activities and interactions that will result in something useful and will add to your life’s experiences.
By any means, do not waste your time doing things that do not add value to you.
6. Take Care of Your Health
Make yourself a priority. In your quest to achieve full independence, remember that self-care is as important as working hard. An independent woman knows how to take care of others and of herself. She exercises regularly, eats healthy and nutritious food, and gets enough sleep and rest. A strong physique and sharp mind will get you a long way.
7. Live Your Life (Just the Way You Want It!)
No one gets to tell you how to live your own life – it is your life, your choices. Being independent is a matter of making the right choices for yourself. Be informed, be prepared, and you’re set! Listen to your inner voice telling you what to want to do and where to go, then enjoy every moment of it.
And it is not a crime to fail; if you make a mistake along the way, give yourself enough time to reflect on your actions and see what you missed. Then forgive yourself for it. By forgiving, you are preventing action or incident from having a negative impact on you and by doing so, you allow yourself to move on from that moment. It is one of the most important things that you can do to be independent.
A Final Word
Know what you want in life and fight for it – that is independence in a nutshell! Getting results from the guidelines is not instant; it might take weeks or months to make a difference.
Just be patient, kind, passionate, and true, and everything else will follow.
