Have you met women who are just so sure about themselves?
Their confidence is the first thing you notice and as you get to know them better, you realize that this contributes to their highly independent and self-reliant nature.
They also exhibit certain behaviors that may have also led to you taking notice of them – some of which they may not even be aware of because their confidence just comes so naturally!
So if you want to learn how to be similarly independent and self-reliant, read on to find out what behaviors you can emulate.
1) Set boundaries
Women who are highly independent and self-reliant value their mental and emotional well-being over almost everything else.
This is why they set clear boundaries when it comes to their careers, relationships, and even family.
Depending on which they prioritize more, they will, of course, give that area of their lives greater focus.
But essentially, they try not to allow anything to come in the way of their mental health. They’ll try not to take on too much to ensure that they’re not overloaded with stress or anxiety.
If they’re at capacity, they’re not afraid to say no.
This could be turning down social invitations, communicating to their supervisors or colleagues that they’re unable to take on more work, or getting their partners to assist with some of the chores in the house for that day.
Their ability to set clear boundaries confidently is one behavior that reflects their independence.
But it doesn’t stop there.
2) Unafraid to voice their opinions
This group of women are similarly unafraid to voice their opinions. Whether it’s at a family gathering, in the workplace, or in the boardroom – their confidence carries them wherever they go.
However, this confidence also stems from their self-reliance; they’re able to trust themselves to make good decisions, which translates into assertive opinions.
So when they express their opinions, they’re confident that they will not be in the wrong.
And this comes so naturally to them that when you point out this behavior to them i.e. their ability to voice their opinions without hesitation, they’ll probably be surprised that anyone took notice of it at all.
Because to them, these are habits that they have instilled within themselves for a while now.
Not everyone is able to be assertive from the get-go, so it takes time and practice to get to where they are. And when they do, they execute it flawlessly.
3) Adaptable to change
Women who are highly independent and self-reliant are very adaptable to change. When plans change abruptly, they’re able to pivot and adapt to whatever the situation calls for.
Their flexibility in thinking extends to their execution as well – they’re used to making decisions on the fly, and good decisions at that.
They’re comfortable with navigating unknown or unfamiliar situations with ease, by themselves. This is because they’re used to relying on their intuition and experience to solve challenges without little to no help.
Whether it’s a project or event that took months to plan and may have some hiccups along the way, these women will prioritize getting the job done and set aside feelings of disappointment.
4) Confident in making decisions
Another habit these women have is that they’re confident in making decisions.
While anyone can make decisions in a less stressful environment, these women are able to make major decisions when they’re called to, even at the spur of the moment.
I’ve seen this in action at my workplace, during a mini-crisis at work. One of our female leaders had to make a decision that if done wrongly, would have a significant impact on the company’s reputation.
I was in the meeting room with her and it was incredible how she gathered information, relayed instructions to others, and formulated a quick action plan – all under an hour.
Such decisions would typically be made over the course of a month, with adequate prep work and research, but because of the urgency of the matter, she had to do it as soon as possible.
And throughout it all, she was as cool as a cucumber. The thing is – when we brought this up to her months later and commended her efforts, she explained that it was years of experience kicking in.
While to her this confidence came so naturally she isn’t keenly aware of it, to us, it was a great display of her capabilities as a highly independent and self-reliant leader.
5) Embrace solitude
Being independent, these women also love spending time alone.
They won’t say no to a gathering with friends, but they will not hesitate to turn down invitations to hang out with friends to spend time on their own, sometimes for an entire day.
And they’re perfectly fine doing things on their own as well. Whether it’s watching a movie, having a meal in a restaurant, or just sitting in the park, they’re very comfortable being alone.
This is a strong reflection of their self-reliance and independence because they don’t need to wait for someone to tag along before they go out and do things.
When they’re alone, they don’t need to worry about making conversation with their friends or having to cater to the preferences of a group of people.
They’re able to do whatever they want whenever they want, giving them the freedom to enjoy their alone time to the best of their ability.
Concluding thoughts
So there you have it – 5 behaviors that characterize a highly independent and self-reliant woman.
Perhaps you may just only realize that you do exhibit some or all of these behaviors, but have never been acutely aware of any of these. You’re just comfortable in your skin, unafraid to express your individuality.
Perhaps you may want to also be independent and self-reliant. You could start with emulating the behaviors mentioned in this article.
It may seem unfamiliar and even scary at first – especially at the thought of doing things alone, but remember that independent women are also mindful that they can tap into friends for guidance.