Being a strong, independent woman who can take care of myself and doesn’t need to be in a relationship to be happy is something I’m very proud of. But I’m a lot more complicated than just those few qualities — there are a lot of other traits that come along with being a strong woman that deserve a little recognition too:
- I’m super dependable. I don’t make promises I can’t keep because it’s important to me to be able to keep my word as often as possible. One of the things that makes me a strong woman is the fact that I’m resourceful enough to go with the flow and I know what I’m capable of. If I say I’m going to do something, I find a way to do it.
- I get things done. Since I’m used to doing things on my own, I rarely sit back and wait for someone else to take care of things. That means when I have to do something, I just do it. My friends and family know they can count on me and I’m confident enough to know I can take care of business if I need to. But that doesn’t mean I won’t accept a genuine offer for help — I’m still human after all.
- I’m not afraid to have an opinion. Strong women have opinions. It just comes with the territory. I’m not going to hide those opinions just because they might not be exactly what someone else wants to hear, either. I’ll admit I can be a little stubborn with my opinions sometimes, but at least I can own up to it.
- I stand up for myself and others. Strong women don’t let anyone walk all over them, and they don’t like to see other people being treated badly either. Maybe it’s some form of a maternal instinct, but I’ll always support someone who needs it and encourage them to believe they’re strong enough to take care of themselves too.
- I’m willing to take risks. As a strong, independent woman, I believe in myself and know what I’m capable of. I’m willing to take risks because I know usually the only thing standing in between me and my goals are my own insecurities, so if I can get past those, there’s nothing I can’t accomplish.
- I can admit when I’m wrong. As much as I wish it weren’t true, I know I’m not always right. That stubborn streak combined with strong opinions means I’m sometimes going to say things that aren’t exactly what I mean. But as long as I can take a step back, realize when I’ve done something wrong and humbly admit my mistakes, I think I’ll still end up okay in the end.
- I’d rather lead than follow. Strong, independent women are always the ones who step up to take the lead no matter the situation. But at the same time, I don’t need to be the center of attention, so I’m happy to share the responsibilities with anyone who wants to pitch in. I just feel more comfortable when I have some sense of control over what’s going on and can trust the people I’m working with.
- I don’t dwell on what people think. Everyone cares about what people think a little bit, it’s just human nature. But the key is to not dwell on those things and not let them affect how you feel about yourself. At this point in my life, I know who I am and I’m not going to let anyone else’s opinion get me down. It’s not worth it.
- I refuse to settle. Whether it’s the guys I date, my job or my friendships, I’m not going to waste my time on anything that doesn’t make me happy. I don’t have time for people who bring me down or jobs that make me miserable and I’m not going to settle for less than I deserve anymore.
- I genuinely enjoy doing things on my own. When I say I’m independent, I don’t just mean I’m perfectly capable of doing things on my own and taking care of myself– I mean I actually prefer it. Life is too short to wait around for someone to want to do all the same things at the same time. I’m not going to dinner by myself because I’m a sad, single girl without a date — I’m going because I actually enjoy my own company.
