If you don’t have the money for these expenses, save aggressively. Not only will you gain financial freedom with your savings, but the money you keep to yourself will give you an incredible feeling of independence and motivation.
Work your best and hardest to leave people saying “That person doesn’t rely on anyone to do things for them. What a strong, independent person. "
If you’re used to always having a buddy when you go hiking or go to the mall, see how it feels to rough it on your own.
Avoid any friends who really like building a following and having people worship them. These people will want you to only do what they say and will keep you from being independent.
You may not think that you have the capacity to save money, but even doing small things, like making your own coffee instead of going to Starbucks once a day, can save you over $30 a week – that’s over $1,500 a year!
Having your own bank account will keep you from depending on others for money, and will help you stay away from reckless spending.
The majority of students end up in careers unrelated to their major. Some people do not get far in formal education and end up millionaires. Working in a career that you enjoy is a part of becoming a mature person.
Treat your alone time like it’s a date with Brad Pitt. That is, guard it carefully and don’t let anyone stop you from spending time with yourself. [3] X Research source
It can be refreshing to hang out with a lawyer if you’re a yoga instructor, or to spend time with a chef if you’re a student. This can make you more open-minded and more willing to do something completely new on your own.
If you’re in a big city, don’t depend on walking everywhere if the weather is nice or waiting for a friend to give you a lift – learn how the subway, bus system, or train system works. Depending on other people to get around will make you more likely to stay home or to wait around for other people to determine your fate. You should be able to do whatever you want to do – whenever you want.
It’s great to have people to turn to, but the next time you pick up your phone, ask yourself: “Can I figure out this information on my own?” The answer will most likely be yes. Sure, it will take longer, but think about how much more rewarding it will feel.
And hey, learning how to quickly unclog a toilet is much better than waiting for somebody else to get to it.
If you become a great cook, you can even invite other people over to enjoy the benefits of your skills. Not only will learning to cook for yourself make you more independent, but it will help you save lots of money, which is another key to your independence.
Finding ways to save money will make you more independent because you’ll have more money to spend however you like.
If you’re taking a long trip, then sure, the GPS can be useful. But make sure that you have a strong sense of where you’re going regardless, so you don’t feel completely clueless.
It’s all in the attitude. If you look and feel like you’re really comfortable doing these things on your own, then no one will think twice.
This is an important part of being independent because accepting who you are will keep you from trying to act like someone else.
If you don’t have faith in yourself, you will always second guess yourself and turn to others for help every time you have to make a decision. Step away from that.
Accepting the world and all of its complications will also help you see that there are an infinite number of ways to live out there – nobody is forcing you to conform to one of them.
It’s okay to get attached to a few key people in your life, but you cannot let these people determine your level of happiness. That’s up to you. [8] X Research source
Avoid idolizing any friends or acquaintances in your social circle. This will only make you even more likely to forget about doing your own thing.
Don’t let the unfairness of the world keep you from doing what you want to do. Want to be a male nurse? A female in the military? The first person in your family to graduate from college? Go for it instead of convincing yourself that it’s just not possible in the world you live in today.
If you always have the nagging thought, “But what will other people think if. . . " in the back of your head, then you’ll always be holding yourself back from doing your own thing.
You don’t want to be a lemming and to believe something just because your 50 closest Facebook friends tell you to.
