How To Successfully Live an Independent Life

November 20, 2020

Relationship experts agree that many people live in a state of co-dependency – either with their partners or other social groups. The problem with letting other people dictate your thoughts and decisions is that you end up losing touch with your own sense of self-identity. Depending on other people for assistance is good, but living an autonomous life is much better, as independence boosts your confidence and allows you to carve out your own destiny. Are you tired of being overly dependent on other people for most things in your life? Take charge of your own life using the following tips.

Understand who you are

You live in this world with over 7 billion people; however, everyone is unique in their own way. The first step to realizing your dreams about complete independence is to get to know your true self. It's virtually impossible for you to achieve your independence whilst you’re still trying to discover who you are as a person. Why not take some time to reflect on your personality from A to Z? Instead of sailing along the trajectory of each day, isolate yourself and answer questions about your self-identity. Deep questions like “Who am I?” and “What can I do?” help you to identify your uniqueness. If you said yes to something negative in the past because a friend pushed you, say no the next time around.

Meet your crucial needs

When you can't stand on your own feet financially, physically and emotionally, you probably don't want to think about autonomy. Few people want to depend on others for their basic needs. To live independently, financial stability is key, and so financial independence makes you capable of doing your own things. If you can meet your physiological needs with much left to spare, nothing can stop you from living independently. For instance, when you have enough savings, you may want to consider buying your own house. When taking big steps like this, it’s smart to do thorough research by consulting with property advisers such as Vail Williams who have a wealth of experience in that arena. This way you start off on the right foot in your pursuit of independence.

Make your own decisions

Living independently becomes more of a possibility when you start having more of a positive mindset, as you are the boss of every decision you make. Give yourself more attention and acknowledge your feelings when they arise. You can also try to comfort yourself when things are not moving according to your wishes; just be sure to find out what makes you happy and calm. More often than not, living autonomously requires you to follow your own instincts, instead of rolling along with the crowd. Many would agree that there's no way you can be independent if you keep chasing other people's dreams rather than thinking for yourself. 

Independent living is the right way to live a life of substance. You can look up to people for inspiration but never look down on yourself. Taking charge of your own life begins with you; so, take the first step.

Mark Asquith

That British podcast guy, Mark is co-founder of Captivate.fm, the world's only growth-oriented podcast host. A Harvard, TEDx, Podcast Movement and Podfest speaker (amongst many more!), he's a wildly approachable Brit and Star Wars/DC Comics geek.

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