How to Be a Strong Independent Woman

While some women don't mind leaning on others from time to time, others pride themselves on standing confidently on their own two feet. If you would prefer to be a leader and are eager to make your own way in the world, you may want to dedicate yourself to becoming an independent woman. By doing so, you can increase the likelihood that you are able to handle whatever life throws at you with grace and ease....

Being a strong, independent woman doesn't necessarily require that you be a die-hard feminist. Rather, it means learning to express who you are at your core, whether you are shy and soft-spoken or loud and assertive, without trying to fit a certain mold implied by your being a female. Read this article to learn how to undo this type of societal preconditioning and be the woman you are, whoever that may be.

Don't compare yourself to other women. While there is nothing wrong with having a female role model to look up to, constantly feeling jealous of other women will leave you feeling horrible about yourself. Though jealousy is natural to some degree, western society tends to exacerbate female jealousy through advertisements and films that feature unrealistic standards of beauty. The result is a culture of women who feel insecure and unhappy with their own bodies.

Don't base your happiness on being in a relationship. Having a man (or woman) to love should enhance your life, not define it. No matter how bad you may think you need a relationship, you must first learn to love yourself before you can even begin to love somebody else.

• Remember that nothing lasts forever. Even the perfect relationship might end one day, so you need to be sure that you have a strong enough cushion to land on after a breakup or divorce.

• If you are already in a relationship, be sure you have other things going on in your life outside of the relationship, whether it is school, work, friends, a fitness routine, or your family.

Don't feel obligated to follow fashion trends. Being an independent woman means dressing the way you want, regardless of what people around you are telling you to wear. Use fashion as a way to express your mood, your taste, and your creativity.

Stay educated. Being educated not only gives you the skills and knowledge you will need to pursue your career, it also makes you more well-respected by the people you encounter in your life. Your level of education (whether formal or informal) reflects your intelligence and shows others that you care about things other than your own personal life.

Make decisions independently. While it can be tempting to run your decisions by others, you aren't truly independent if you feel like you must do this. Although you can still ask friends and family for input when facing truly challenging decisions, you should avoid feeling like you have to ask others for advice every time decision time arrives.

Stand up for yourself. Whether you are a man or a woman, you will have to learn to fend for yourself in the real world if you want to avoid being taken advantage of. You must learn how to stand up for yourself at school, at work, and in your social life.Complete yourself. If you want to be an independent woman, you can't wait for a man to do this. Instead, be whole in and of yourself. By doing this, you can ensure that you are fine, regardless of your man situation.

Take care of your body. Personal strength is manifested physically, mentally, and emotionally. If you want to be a strong, independent woman, you need look no further than your own body.

Manage your finances. If you want to be truly independent, you must learn how to pay for your own life so that you don't have to rely on other people. Spend your money wisely, and avoid wasteful or frivolous expenditures.

Give to others. One of the best ways you can exert your strength is to give back to those who are less fortunate than you. You don't have to be rich or affluent to make a positive impact in your community, so start small.

Have self love and respect. What we put out in the universe usually comes back. Karma, so just be aware of what your putting out there.

Finding a strong female role model to look up to can help you find the inspiration you need to feel more independent. This woman can be a family member, a female suffragist, or a female artist or politician.