9 Things Women Do Differently Once They Realize They Don’t Need Permission To Do What They Want
FabrikaSimf | Shutterstock Once a woman recognizes that she doesn't need permission to live life on her own terms, she'll start prioritizing what's best for her instead of everyone else. It's not hard to notice the differences she makes once you start paying attention.
Society has told women that they need to maintain a certain image, sometimes described by experts as Good Girl Syndrome. This is the way women have internalized society’s pressure to be perfect. Women who have broken free from this thinking don't behave the same way because they know that to truly be happy, they need to embrace their inner confidence and unapologetically make choices and mistakes without regret.
Women who do what they want without caring what others think make these changes to their daily lives:
1. They say 'no' and keep it at that
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Women can feel pressure to give a good reason for saying no to something, if they feel comfortable saying it at all. When society claims you have to be agreeable no matter what, it makes placing your foot down difficult. Psychology has found this is often the case when a woman turns down a man. If he won't take no for an answer, they have to come up with an excuse that pleases him.
It takes work to unlearn these concepts of appeasing everyone, especially men, before ourselves. Women are known to make excuses when they don't want to hurt someone's feelings or cause trouble. It leaves them feeling like they need permission to say no to someone. This changes when they realize they can say no, and whoever is bothered by it doesn't matter.
2. They don’t care about popularity
There is a time in everyone’s life when they think the more friends they have, the better. Social status was judged by how many people came to your birthday party. This notion left women with friends they had no true connection with.
Women who live life on their own terms value a smaller social circle and friends they trust. They don’t need to be the loudest voice in the room when they have real support from people who matter.
They may realize that having a friend group isn’t that big of a deal. Preferring individual friendships over being the center of attention in a large group isn't something to be ashamed of. Their circles may get smaller as they grow and realize who truly matters over the idea of being popular.
3. They view time as an investment
When you live for other people, your time can be taken advantage of. The effort you give to others can become your focus rather than putting that energy into yourself.
When you move past this idea that you owe everyone your everything, you start to view your time as money. Every second needs to be spent wisely by prioritizing what matters most. If someone isn’t returning the favor, you’re wasting precious energy that could be spent on yourself.
Living without permission means recognizing when your time is being wasted. When you stop devoting your life to others, you're understanding your own self-worth.
4. They live unapologetically
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I am someone who suffers from serious embarrassment. It’s hard for me to put myself out there because I am afraid of what other people think. I’ll avoid things like dancing in public or attending events alone because I’m self-conscious. I wish more than anything that I could live unapologetically.
There is nothing better than seeing someone live their life without fear. A woman with this mindset knows that messing up is normal, and it doesn't hold them back. This freedom can come from realizing people’s opinions don’t actually matter.
5. They are straightforward in their relationships
Have you put yourself into an uncomfortable situation to make someone else feel better? I’ve heard countless stories of women who stay in unhappy relationships out of pity. They don’t want to hurt their partner's feelings and will stay unhappy if it means not upsetting them. When they start putting their own needs first, they become more honest with the people closest to them, even if it might hurt them.
This outlook is better for relationships than beating around the bush. Embracing honesty and humor can transform a connection. It’s essential to be upfront with people to secure both the relationship and your true sense of self. Lying only hurts everyone involved.
6. People pleasing becomes a thing of the past
People pleasers may think that they are doing the right thing by giving the people in their lives what they want. It turns out that this can do more harm than good.
It prevents people from forming genuine bonds with one another because one person is always going along with whatever the other says. It can be hard to realize you don’t have to be agreeable, but when a woman finds her purpose without seeking confirmation from others, she changes everything about her relationships.
Suddenly, a woman on a self-discovery journey will stop telling people what they want to hear. Instead, they will be upfront, and in doing so, they may find their relationships grow stronger.
7. They chase their dreams no matter what it takes
It's not uncommon for a woman to feel she has to pursue a traditional marriage-and-family way of life. Once a woman realizes she can do what she wants, even if it means living like a nomad and never having kids, it changes everything for her.
When we cast a dream aside, we have to reflect on why we did it. Pursuing passions doesn't have to be put on the back burner in a woman's life. If someone thinks they can’t do it because they need to make sure others in their lives are on board, it can be a hindrance. Embracing that their hopes and dreams matter and shouldn't be left unfinished is liberating.
8. They never overexplain themselves
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People who overexplain themselves might be doing it as a defense mechanism. This can begin in childhood and continues into adulthood. This type of person often thinks that they will be judged for their position on something because they have been in the past.
While people can be critical of others, there is a lot to learn when you realize opinions don’t actually matter. Moving past the need for permission makes you confident in yourself. There’s no need to explain because you know your intentions, and that’s all that matters.
You may notice a woman in your life has started saying her piece and leaving it at that. If she never had this confidence before, it is a sign that she is moving past her anxiety and allowing herself to say what she means no matter the circumstances.
9. They trust their instincts
A study published by the American Psychological Association found that people who trusted their gut and made intuitive choices felt true to themselves. People in the study who made decisions without overthinking them were more likely to share their opinion with others, unafraid of judgment or other social pressures.
This proves how trusting your instincts can change the way you approach situations. However, it’s easy to think you have to go along with whatever everyone else is doing, even if your heart is telling you something else.
We can’t escape our gut feelings, even if we don’t follow them. Strong women don’t need permission to follow their heart. They’ve experienced the joy in acting instinctually and may stop thinking about what everyone else is doing to be their authentic selves.
Haley Van Horn is a freelance writer with a master’s degree in Humanities, living in Los Angeles. Her focus includes entertainment and lifestyle stories.
