How To Be A Strong And Independent Woman ? 27 Tips

Being a strong and independent woman means that you must be able to find happiness on your own. You are self-confident enough without having to wait for another person or society to agree. It means that you are emotionally independent and able to have healthy relationships with others without falling into codependent relationships. It means that you must learn to express who you really are inside, whether you are shy and soft or outgoing and confident. There is no need to try to conform to a certain standard.

1. Think of yourself first.

When you notice that you need something, whether it's a need for intimacy, affection or attention, give yourself what you need. If you need attention, take a day to take care of yourself in the way you want. If you need privacy, spend time writing in your journal or exploring nature. If you need affection, give it to yourself by thinking about what you like about yourself or by going out to dinner or watching a movie. The more easily you can meet your emotional needs, the healthier your relationship will be, because you will know and understand yourself better and it will be easier for you to express yourself to your partner.

2. Don't compare yourself to other women.

It can be great to find a female role model that you can learn from. Just be careful that it doesn't lead to jealousy. Although jealousy is a natural feeling to some degree, Western society tends to exacerbate female jealousy with the help of advertisements and movies that portray it in an unrealistic way.

This kind of jealousy is called "relational aggression [1]". Studies have shown that the media plays an important role in the development of relational aggression in women. Women who experience relational aggression are more likely to suffer from low self-esteem and feel rejected or lonely. The result is a culture of women who feel insecure and unhappy in their lives.

Recognize when you are feeling jealous. The first step to overcoming jealousy is to recognize when you are feeling it. If you find yourself reading a magazine and comparing your body to the models in it, stop for a moment. Remember that these women are paid to have the body they have and many of them also lead unhealthy lives to maintain such an appearance. In addition, the camera thins out their shapes and women who look perfect in magazines are nothing special in real life.

3. Set clear boundaries.

Set clear boundaries that put your own needs first. For example, set boundaries about how much time you want to spend with someone or what kind of criticism you want to hear. Make sure you have activities in your personal life other than your romantic relationships, whether it's your studies, work, friends, sports or family.

Set clear boundaries with each other and let them know that you need to remain an independent woman. Once you've discussed these boundaries, stick to them.

4. Stand up for yourself.

Whether you are a man or a woman, you need to learn to stand up for yourself in the real world to avoid being stepped on. You need to learn to stand up for yourself in school, at work and in your social life. Make an effort to learn to be assertive. Don't be ashamed of yourself and don't apologize for the confidence you have. This assertiveness is a happy medium between passivity and aggressiveness.

• People who are more assertive are happier in their relationships and have higher self-esteem.
• Use the "I" word. Sentences that contain an "I" are less perceived as accusatory and mean that you take responsibility for what you do and how you feel. For example, instead of saying "you never listen to me," you can say "I feel left out when you keep checking your phone instead of talking to me.
• Learn to say no. Make your needs a priority instead of trying to please first. For example, if someone keeps asking you to lend them money, it's okay to say no. If a friend asks to borrow your car all the time, you can tell them you don't want to lend them your car anymore.

5. Believe in yourself.

When you believe in your abilities and successes, you will look stronger. Pursue the things you need and want. When you lack confidence or make yourself look like a victim, you take the risk of letting others walk all over you instead of getting what you want and need.

6. Let others know that they have hurt you.

If someone betrays you in some way, make sure you tell them. It can be hard to share your feelings, especially if someone has hurt your feelings or if you are feeling upset. But you may be able to prevent this person from doing it again in the future by telling them how you feel.

For example, you could say, "You hurt my feelings when you told me you didn't like my hair. I would really appreciate it if you didn't criticize my appearance in the future.

7. Deal with disrespectful and offensive comments.

If you hear someone make a racist, sexist or disrespectful comment, don't let it go. This doesn't necessarily mean you have to argue. Calmly tell that person that you didn't like what they said.

• Do not talk about other women in this way.
• Why do you feel this way?
• Could you refrain from making derogatory remarks?

8. Learn to recognize when you are codependent.

If you are codependent, you will find that your relationships define your life. You may think about the other person obsessively, and you may put off a decision to wait for the other person to agree. Make efforts to avoid codependency by watching for the following signs.

• Low self-esteem.
• You are eager to please others.
• You have blurred boundaries.
• You feel reactive.
• You feel like taking care of the other person.
• You have a desire to control.
• You have ineffective communication.
• You have obsessions.
• You have a sense of dependence.
• You feel denial.
• You have intimate problems.
• You are experiencing painful emotions.

9. Accept that everyone, including yourself, is unique.

Try to be compassionate and happy, because everyone is talented and has a special gift. Every woman has special strengths, whether it's math skills, painting skills or decision-making skills. Accept the skills and resources you have and love yourself for who you are.

If you appreciate someone's qualities, tell them.

10. Try to feel more comfortable with your body.

Many women feel some degree of discomfort with their bodies, especially when they are naked. It can be difficult to feel comfortable with your physical appearance, but you should try to focus on a part of your body that you like. Think about the different parts of your body and how they enhance you.

• If you are looking for a good way to feel comfortable with your body, you can try letting your hands glide over it. Find the way you like best and keep going. Learn to like yourself.
• If your partner criticizes your appearance, show your confidence by telling him or her that his or her comments don't help you feel good about yourself.

11. Communicate your needs to your partner.

When you find yourself in an intimate relationship, communicate your needs clearly to your partner. Talking with your partner about your likes and dislikes will help you to love and honor yourself sexually.

• For example, you can say, "I like it when you touch me here" or "I like it when you hold me after sex.
• If you don't like something, let your partner know. You can tell him or her that it hurts or that you don't like certain practices.

12. Embrace your sexuality.

Don't be ashamed to have sex. Embrace your sexuality, regardless of your orientation, preferences or desires. Find open and supportive partners with whom you can have the sex you want.

13. Don't be afraid to say no.

Almost every woman will be confronted by someone who wants to sexually abuse her. It's important to know when and how to say no to someone who offers you something you are not interested in. Don't let anyone sexually harass you. One in five women and one in seventy-one men are raped in their lifetime.

If someone is trying to force you, you should definitely tell someone. Society has taught women to feel ashamed and embarrassed when they are harassed or assaulted, even claiming that some women "ask for it [6]." If you let your abuser get away with it, you are showing them that they can do it again in the future.

14. Get enough exercise.

Being physically fit helps you stay healthy, in good spirits, and maintain a good energy level, allowing you to perform better in all aspects of your life. Regular exercise can help prevent the onset of diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, while helping you manage chronic conditions such as asthma and back pain.

Everyone is different, so you should talk to your doctor about the kinds of exercises that are safe for you to do.

You don't have to be an Olympic champion to be fit. Go for a run in a park near your home, walk your dog or go for a bike ride, you can even go gardening to get some exercise.

15. Eat healthy, nutrient-dense foods.

A healthy diet, like exercise, can help you prevent some diseases while improving your mood and energy level. Everyone is different and you may have different dietary needs. Talk to your doctor to develop a plan that works for you.

As a general rule, eat plenty of vegetables and fruit. Also eat whole grains and protein. Avoid processed and fried foods and avoid refined sugars.

16. Get enough sleep.

Not getting enough sleep can affect your health and mood. Try to get 7-8 hours of sleep so you can function at your best for the rest of the day.

17. Understand your health.

Personal strength manifests itself physically, mentally and emotionally. If you want to be a strong, independent woman, you don't have to worry about anything but your own body. Men and women face different health risks and challenges because of their biological differences.

In addition to these biological differences, there are other issues that women are more likely to face simply because they are women. For example, until recently, medical research was only done on male subjects. When a disease or disorder manifests itself differently by gender (heart attacks, for example), medical research had difficulty defining the exact symptoms in women. Fortunately, medical research is catching up quickly and is now using women in its research. Now that this information is available, it is important that strong, independent women use it!

Get regular checkups with your doctor. Be sure to tell her about any concerns you have about your health.

18. Keep your income in mind.

If you really want to become independent, you must learn to pay for yourself without relying on others. Spend your money wisely and avoid excessive or unnecessary expenses. When you calculate your income, make sure you take into account the deductions you will have to make from it, such as various taxes and amounts deposited in your savings account or retirement savings.

• Don't hesitate to take financial management courses on the Internet.
• Prepare a budget to control your expenses.
• Save between 10 and 20% of your income.

19. Don't be afraid to ask for a raise.

Women are less likely than men to ask for a raise. When asking for a raise, women usually ask for less money than a man would. Use your confidence and don't be afraid to ask for a raise that you deserve.

20. Study what you want to study.

Don't let society's standards influence what you want to study. Often, society pushes women to study certain fields (languages, arts, teaching, personal care and other helping fields) while men are more likely to study fields like science, math and technology.

More and more schools are pushing women to get involved in fields affiliated with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, as the number of women in these fields is extremely low even though many are interested in them. If you are interested in physics, go for it! If you like computers, immerse yourself in the subject and learn as much as you can about it. Don't be guided by gender roles to learn more about a certain topic.

Do what you can to keep up with your favorite subject. If you like music, go for it. If you like math, get into it.

21. Don't stop learning.

Remember that education doesn't have to take place in a formal setting (i.e., an institution like a university). Keep up with current events in politics, science and technology, read books (both fiction and non-fiction), learn another language, read documentaries, etc. For the rest of your life, you should be eager to learn new things.

22. Use your own style.

An independent woman dresses the way she wants to, no matter what anyone around her says. Use fashion to express your mood, taste and creativity.

Many times throughout history, women's clothing choices have been made according to the social and cultural norms of the time period in question. At one point in French history, the fashion was for tight corsets and women were not allowed to wear pants. We now live in a time when women have more freedom of choice when it comes to their clothing. Use this freedom!

When deciding what to wear, you should also consider your body shape and personal taste.

EXPERT ADVICE

Learn to be happy with yourself. The best way to be independent and strong is to be happy with yourself by not paying attention to what others think of you. Women are often trained to please others, but it's okay not to pay attention to what they think, even if they are not happy. You don't have to try to make others happy, it's not good for you or them.

23. Give to others.

One of the best ways to show your strength is to give to people less fortunate than you. You don't have to be rich to have a positive impact on your community, so you can start small. In a 2010 study on volunteering in your community, it was found that of those who did, 68% were more physically fit, 89% had higher self-esteem and a greater sense of well-being, and 73% were less stressed than those who did not volunteer.

24. Consider volunteering in your community.

Non-profit organizations in your community can welcome volunteers and receive support. Identify the issues you are most passionate about, such as animal causes, the arts, children, sports, etc. Choose an area that you enjoy and that makes you feel like you are making a difference.

For example, you can volunteer at a soup kitchen, animal shelter or other program.

Before joining a group, make sure it is an honorable mission and that you are not being used.

25. Practice selfless acts of kindness.

You don't have to officially become a volunteer to show generosity. If you see someone in need, you can help. Even a small gesture can make someone else's day better. For example, you can help someone carry their groceries or you can hold the door for someone.

26. Help other women.

Women are too often judged, belittled and questioned by other women. Instead, women should help each other and each woman should live the way she wants to live without ever being judged.

27. Teach other girls and women to be strong and independent.

Teach them to be strong and independent. Be a role model for these women.

Become a tutor in a girls' organization. For example, you could choose a girls' sports team in a sport you like or a group of high school girls who are getting ready for college.

Tips

• Find a strong female role model to help inspire you to become an independent woman. This woman could be a family member, a suffragette or a female artist or politician.
• Love and respect yourself. What you throw out comes back to you. It's called karma, so be careful what you throw out there.