Being a strong independent woman is a big theme in the 21st century. An incident recently happened that had me asking, what does being one ACTUALLY mean? Spoiler alert: I don’t think there is a correct answer. Surely being an independent woman is individual to everyone. I think the essence of it is feeling empowered; the feeling you get when you are most confident and sure of yourself, but how can we achieve this?
One woman may think she’s a strong independent woman because she owns a business, another may think she’s one because she’s a mother, and another because she doesn’t rely on men. The reality is, they are all strong independent women because they feel so within themselves, I think that is the trick. It’s all about your mentality. It doesn’t depend on your femininity, money, or status. It’s what drives you to be the best version of yourself. It’s when you are celebrating womanhood by showing an interest in women, hyping other women up (because we are a team, ladies!) and doing things for ourselves. I think it’s easy to feel like you’re being selfish when you put yourself first but it’s needed. You are your home; you need to do things to protect and boost yourself. Forget ‘the male gaze’ and ‘the female gaze’ what about ‘MY gaze’? What can you do to make yourself feel powerful and stunning? Try pushing yourself out of your comfort zone because this is how we develop and progress. Push yourself to be the best version you can be.
So, can you be a strong independent woman while still relying on someone? The answer is absolutely, yes! I don’t think being independent should mean you don’t need anybody, because that goes against our human instinct. Try not to allow all your emotions to be totally dependent on one person as this is when relationships can get toxic. Surround yourself with people who boost your strength, happiness, and confidence. The best of friends are the people who, even when you leave their side, the world feels like your oyster and you are exactly where you need to be.
You don’t need to have everything together to be a beautiful, strong, independent woman. We all have rough patches. It’s about getting through and learning life lessons at every twist in your life. The truth is, you are a strong independent woman right now, even if you don’t feel it. I know you are. So, chin up and believe in yourself.