Being a strong, independent girl is harder than it used to be. For
many girls, being considered strong and independent is a hard task,
particularly in a world where more young people and graduates than ever
are being driven back into living with their families, and into being
underemployed (if they can find work at all). However, the definition of
what it truly means to be a strong, independent woman has changed. Not
every woman has her own apartment overlooking the city, or a string of
adventurous lovers, or a high-powered job.
Strong, independent girls are not defined by their circumstances;
whether they’re from an Ivy League family or the first in their family
to ever attend college or graduate high school, a strong, independent
girl can find the best in her situation and work hard at improving it
while retaining her sense of inner strength and ethical values. Stuck as
how to become one of these strong, independent girls? Read below to
check out what to avoid in order to become one:
1. They don’t neglect their careers.
Firstly, strong, independent girls have their careers always at the
forefront of their lives. Working hard is something everyone should do,
regardless of age, gender or other factors, whether it’s pulling an
all-night shift at a fast food diner or clocking in hours as CEO of a
Fortune 500 company. Strong, independent girls always work hard, keep
their eyes to the future, and strive to work on their careers. That old
adage of keeping your standards as high as your heels applies somewhat
here — except that you should keep your standards, dreams, and
aspirations as high as your work drive.
2. They don’t fail to handle their own situations.
One of the most important things strong, independent girls always do
is handle their own situations, good or bad. Speaking for yourself is
something everyone should be doing anyway, but strong, independent girls
never have trouble making their voice heard and ensuring any decision
involving them directly is a reflection on their choices. Strong,
independent girls handle their own job worries and roommate problems and
flat tires. It’s not that it’s bad to rely on people; but to have the
knowledge that you can handle the situation is powerful in itself.
3. They don’t overreact to bad situations or mistakes.
Strong, independent girls have the ability to let
mistakes roll off their backs and to learn from their bad choices. They
don’t complain, or rally against a world that has bitten them in the
ass. If you’re a strong, independent girl, you let yourself make these
mistakes and you learn from it. You don’t overreact to bad stuff that
happens (although suitably horrific stuff warrants whatever response you
like). You see these negative scenarios as a learning process and a way
in which you can grow and become better and stronger. Strong
independent girls don’t whine or complain — they can mope for a little
while and then they move on to become better people.
4. They don’t rise to the bait of haters.
Haters seem to be everywhere these days — from the early days of
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, legions of these anonymous Internet
users can often be found crawling at the bottom of message boards,
spouting vitriol at every turn. Strong, independent girls can often find
themselves the target of such attacks, but thankfully never rise to it
or give it the time or oxygen it requires to survive. It also goes
without saying that no strong, independent girl is a troll herself.
Trolling is harmful, abusive, and utterly repugnant. All it serves as is
the symbol of the emptiness of a person’s life that they need to fill
it with anger and resentment. Strong, independent girls never rise to
haters’ bait — they’re usually too busy living the life they want to
lead to care or take notice anyway.
5. They don’t stop learning.
Strong, independent girls never stop learning or trying to better
their own sense of knowledge about the world or subjects. It’s a sad
thing when people stop being interested in the world around them, or
decide to remain set in their ways and not learn or explore any new
point of view or topic or challenge themselves. Strong, independent
girls are never, ever phased by someone thinking that their passion for
knitting, or science or Doctor Who is ‘weird,’ or that their desire to
learn about patterns or physics or sonic screwdrivers is worthless.
Strong, independent girls move on to people whose opinions they care
about and never let anyone stand in the way of their passions or their
education.
6. They don’t act on first impulse.
There’s something to be said for the virtue of patience. Strong,
independent girls practice patience and restraint every day — they never
act on the first wild impulse that comes their way. That way they’d be
making out with the random, bearded man in the club corner, spending too
much money on a bag that they won’t even like three weeks after they’ve
blown their savings on it, and doing other potentially dangerous,
potentially really stupid things. Strong, independent girls always wait
and think things through. They’re always in control of their lives — as
much as possible anyway — and do the things that will truly make them
happy. They pay the rent, and save the Birkin bag purchase for when
they’ve got enough that it’s a wild treat, not a one-way trip to being
homeless on the streets.
7. They don’t let other people affect their confidence.
One of the fundamental things that a strong, independent girl does
not do is let other people hold sway over her confidence and
self-esteem. Your body is just fine the way it is, and the projections
of perfection that the media brings about are harmful. Strong,
independent girls do not let themselves become affected. They carry
their heads high and no matter their shape, size, skin color, gender
identity or form of self-expression, they own themselves. The things
that make them stand out become their greatest assets. No strong,
independent girl ever lets herself feel bad about being herself.
8. They don’t neglect their physical needs.
One thing strong, independent girls never, ever do, is neglect their physiological needs and health. The fact is that your body
needs sleep,
needs water and food, and
needs to
unwind and relax. Neglecting these isn’t just stupid; it’s reckless,
silly, and not something that a strong, independent girl does at all.
Strong, independent girls get plenty of sleep; aside from being a
biological imperative, it helps your mental health, concentration,
healing factor, and makes your skin look amazing. These same girls drink
plenty of water in order to stay hydrated and healthy, and eat as much
and as healthily as they want without getting hung up on calories. These
girls relax and unwind and let their mind restore itself so that it can
be fighting fit the next day. Now then, that’s not so hard, is it?
9. They don’t have unrealistic expectations.
Having unrealistic expectations is one of the quickest ways to being
an unhappy camper. Fortunately, if you’re a strong, independent girl,
that’s not an issue for you as you have your expectations in check and
are realistically optimistic about the future and what it’ll bring.
There is a fine line between wishful thinking and thinking that some
outlandish event or scenario will actually occur. Let’s face it,
everyone has had a daydream fantasy of winning the lottery and retiring
to the South of France with a luxury villa and Jennifer Lawrence and
Lupita Nyong’o as speed-dial buddies. Strong, independent girls accept
and enjoy these brief interludes but never let them truly affect their
lives; they keep grounded and realistic, while never dampening down on
their dreams and goals.
10. They don’t stay in toxic relationships.
The law of attraction usually means that strong, independent girls
should flock with other strong, independent girls and guys. However,
sometimes they find themselves with other people who are dissatisfied,
petty, angry, or just generally toxic. If you can’t work through things
with your friends, then it’s time to cut the strings and let them go.
Strong, independent girls never let the toxic actions of another person
affect them — whether they’re a random coworker or a close friend — and
often they allow the relationship to dissolve. Hanging around in a toxic
friendship or relationship is never a good thing and is something
strong, independent girls never do.
11. They don’t let someone else dictate their relationships.
Most people are actively involved or interested in having or
maintaining a romantic relationship. Strong, independent girls never let
anyone else dictate or control their romantic relationships. They date
until they find a partner worth investing their time, energy, and effort
into. These women don’t entertain a partner who belittles them,
disrespects them, or attempts to control every aspect of the
relationship. They don’t have enough time to be dealing with the kind of
people who try to confine their lives or control them in any way, shape
or form.
12. They don’t lose control of their lives.
Finally, strong, independent girls never, ever lose control of their
life. Control is, at least according to selected philosophers, an
illusion created by mankind to stop us freaking out and destroying
society. However, it serves an important purpose, and knowing that you
are in control of your choices, decisions, and lifestyle is a massive
boost to your self-esteem and confidence. Self-control is one of life’s
greatest virtues and assets. Making sure you get enough sleep so that
you’re not late for work is being strong. Making sure you avoid
incriminating Facebook photos where any potential employer could see
them is being strong. Treating yourself to a movie or drinks after work
or a great meal is being independent. Strong, independent girls carve
out their own lives and their own paths; just how it should be
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