Do you know what women like Amelia Earhart, Jane Goodall, and Madonna have in common?
At first glance, they might seem like an odd cluster to group together, but these three women all broke barriers and lived their lives exactly how they wanted to.
They chose to chart their own course and clear new paths for others to follow.
In other words, they’re all spirited women.
Free-spirited women are unbound by traditional societal structures and do not conform to society’s expectations. They pursue their passions and don’t waste time on the dos and don’ts that people place on them.
Do you want to know if you’re a spirited woman? Well, then, you’re in the right place.
In this article, I’ll go over the ten signs of a spirited woman. I’ll also share tips on breaking out of the proverbial box and becoming more free-spirited.
1) She makes independent decisions
A spirited woman doesn’t need the approval or permission of others to make decisions. She has her own opinions and makes decisions based on her beliefs and convictions.
That doesn’t mean she never asks for help or advice, though. She still may, but she won’t feel the need to follow that advice. Ultimately, she’ll solve her problems the way she thinks is best for her.
2) She trusts her gut
A spirited woman is free of inhibitions and rejects conformity. Instead of relying on rules to govern or control her behavior, she trusts her instincts.
She is completely attuned to herself and pays attention to her gut feelings. This helps her make quick decisions and steer clear of people or situations that may do her harm.
3) She holds up under societal pressures
As I mentioned earlier, a spirited woman does not place much importance on the expectations of society. She’s relaxed and confident and doesn’t care what others think of her.
She doesn’t spend sleepless nights worrying about being perceived as a good person. Cultivating an image or a body shape that society approves of isn’t on her list of things to do.
4) She is open-minded and non-judgmental
Because a spirited woman has a healthy dose of self-love, she can show the same compassion and generosity towards others.
She doesn’t bend to common societal notions of what people should do or not do, so she’s likewise open-minded and accepts people for who they are—no judgment at all.
In fact, she revels in the differences between people and celebrates the diversity they bring to her life. Her friend list would include people from all walks of life and with various backgrounds and interests.
5) She is genuine and authentic
When you’re talking to a spirited woman, there’s one thing you can count on—she is honest and real.
You won’t have to guess what her words mean. She says exactly what she thinks and leaves no room for doubt.
Sincerity is one of her strongest points since she sees no need to impress anyone or pretend to be someone she’s not.
That’s also why not everyone likes her. In fact, she may even make other people uncomfortable because she won’t engage in fakery or follow the rules just to please people.
6) She is brave and bold
A free-spirited woman lives life the only way she knows how—boldly and fearlessly.
No matter how much society might find her ridiculous or unconventional, she walks her path with enough courage to overcome all the negative things others might say.
Once inspiration strikes, she’ll go all in and leap into action wholeheartedly. She won’t apologize for being passionate and strong-willed, and she’ll go about each day with spontaneity and joy.
She also knows to pick her battles; she won’t engage in pointless arguments or unnecessary drama.
However, she has no qualms about fighting for the things that matter to her.
If she finds a cause worth supporting, you can be sure she’ll make herself heard, sometimes to the point of bluntness.
7) She loves to explore new things
For a spirited woman, experiences are more important than material things.
You won’t see her often splurging on branded or designer items. When she chooses where to spend her time and money, she’ll always go for a new adventure or experience.
That’s because she has a growth mindset; she’s always looking for new things to learn and new ways to grow and evolve.
She loves traveling, not to show off, but to get to know other cultures and places and meet new people.
She constantly looks for meaning in everything she does. It’s not enough that she has a job that pays well; the work has to be something she finds meaningful and enjoyable.
As a free spirit, she won’t settle for a humdrum job that does not spark joy in her.
8) She is not afraid to be alone
Because she is fiercely independent, a spirited woman doesn’t mind being alone. In fact, she likes her own company and cherishes her alone time to recharge.
That doesn’t mean she can’t be in a relationship. She enjoys being in one and can give the best of herself to a relationship. It’s just that she doesn’t need another person to feel happy and complete.
On her own, she can thrive and live with purpose.
She has learned how to be whole on her own and doesn’t have unhealthy attachments to other people.
9) She has her own style
Just as she doesn’t see the need to conform to societal norms, a spirited woman doesn’t follow the latest fashion trends.
Instead, she has her own style, veering away from cookie-cutter clothes that would make her look like everybody else.
She sees clothes as a vehicle for self-expression and likes showing her personality and creativity through her wardrobe. Thus, her style is highly individualistic and unconventional.
Even if other people ridicule her for her fashion choices, she dresses as she wants and enjoys standing out from the crowd.
10) She can grow old gracefully
Graying hair, crow’s feet, sagging breasts…who hasn’t dreaded the signs of aging?
Well, spirited women don’t.
A free spirit understands and accepts that aging is a natural course of life. So, she sees growing old as a gift not everyone receives and embraces it with grace.
She certainly doesn’t bother with age-defying treatments like botox or plastic surgery.
How to be a spirited woman
Be honest with yourself
Break free of toxic people who tell you what you should and shouldn’t do. Aim to live your life as freely as possible, secure in your self-expression and life decisions.
Overcome your fear of judgment
Most of the time, we conform to other people’s expectations of us because we’re afraid of being judged.
I know many people who’ve incurred so much debt from expensive purchases like bags and clothes just because they wanted to appear successful.
Needless to say, they only ended up feeling stressed and anxious.
Connect with your inner wisdom
The more attuned you are to the stirrings of your soul, the more you’ll learn to trust yourself. This practice will help you get rid of the need to seek validation and approval from other people.
Give yourself time to be spontaneous
A common misconception about spirited women is that they are carefree and live life with abandon.
Well, yes, that’s true; a spirited woman is carefree. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t care.
On the contrary, a spirited life is intentional. That means anyone can become a spirited person if they approach everything they do with intention and meaning.
While most free spirits are born that way, you can also change your mindset and work to be more spontaneous and positive.
That said, I know it isn’t easy to get there. It needs a little planning, practice, and mindfulness to let go of your inhibitions.
I know it sounds counter-intuitive; after all, planning and spontaneity are two words that don’t typically go together.
But if you’re struggling to be more flexible, you’ll need some training first.
Here are some ways to help you be more spontaneous:
- Schedule a “nothing” time. This is a block of time—maybe just a few minutes or so every day—where you have nothing planned. Then, just do whatever comes to mind. Or do nothing at all. It’s your choice.
- Pause in your busy day to connect or chat with other people, even strangers.
- Create small pockets of joy in your day. This could be simple things like taking a photo of a pretty flower on the way to work or having a dance break between tasks. These are little gestures that cultivate gratitude, positivity, and openness.
- Add new activities or hobbies to your routine.
Final thoughts
The expectations of society can bog us down and keep us from reaching our full potential.
While breaking away from mainstream culture might seem like a daunting task, it leads to a fuller and freer life.
Living life joyfully and boldly as a spirited woman takes tremendous courage and a full heart. But it’s also impressive—there’s great power in knowing who you are and what you want in life.
If you ask me, the world would be a much better place with more spirited women in it.