Things I Learned About Being a Woman in 2017

There are a lot of things that I have learned about being a woman in just the 365 days of 2017. Whether it be because of politics, heartbreak, society, or just my own personal experiences, I like to believe that I learn something about myself every day.

With this being said, being a woman in 2017 has only empowered me to look into my future as it being bright, no matter the trials that I have been through. Instead of dwelling on the past or any current unpleasant circumstances, I would like to highlight the life lessons that I have learned and relearned this past year.

I would also encourage you to do the same, and as you read through my most prominent lessons, consider what your own are.

Be independent.

Being strong is extremely important to every aspect of your personality and lifestyle. That's why being a woman in 2017 has taught me to be independent. Taking some steps toward being more self-reliant will not only improve your strength, but also your confidence.

And we all know that being a woman in 2017 relies on a lot of that. Plus, finding the freedom to let go of reliance on others is extremely liberating and character building.

Being more independent has also helped me find happiness within myself, whether it be because I can act as my own therapist, I find my time alone to be enjoyable, or because I have more confident in my decision making, all of these aspects are great improvements to my lifestyle.

Choose kindness.

Choosing kindness and choosing happiness go hand in hand. Sometimes the connection might not be crystal clear, as choosing kindness is a process. This can be done in even the smallest instances.

Just being aware of your respectfulness, and of course being genuine in your choices, will improve your lifestyle drastically. Being a woman in 2017 has taught me that though there are plenty of instances where I could choose to fight, mock, or simply be rude to someone who has an opposing opinion is never the correct choice, as it only brings negativity to everyone involved, including myself.

Being able to instead realize the effects your choices make is the healthier path to take.

Create your own happiness.

Going along with this same ideal, creating your own happiness is the next step after encouraging it in your lifestyle. Choosing happiness is an idea that has been going around for years, and though it is encouraging and empowering, some days it just doesn't work.

Even if you're simply having a rough morning and can't seem to get yourself out of a rut, choosing happiness might seem laughable. Instead, take on the idea of creating happiness. This includes searching for happiness and going out of your way to encourage your own mood changes, even if its something small. Your happiness depends on yourself.

Embrace your own humor, surround yourself with people who improve your lifestyle, and make healthy choices. These acts will all encourage happiness, and genuine happiness at that.

Make improvements in your life, even if it's something as small as making dinner plans after work, to get you through the next few hours. Look forward to things. And smile, even if it's forced, physically smiling will trick your brain into thinking you're actually feeling joy, and ultimately react in a similar way.

Embrace your emotions.

Being a woman in 2017 has taught me to not be burdened by my emotions. Our society has unfortunately created an unhealthy expectation that no one should show emotion, unless it's happiness. This is because people are selfish, and they become uncomfortable when others portray raw emotion.

They would rather you bottle it up and act like everything is okay. This is completely backward; we shouldn't be shamed by our natural ability to experience pain, sorrow, and grief.

Though there is a time and place for everything, it's up to you to judge the appropriateness of your actions, it's still important to find an outlet for your emotions. Whether this be therapy, friendship, talking to yourself, writing it down, or taking a mental health day, embracing your emotions in liberating.

As a women in 2017, I refuse to be embarrassed by my emotions. And just because there is a horrible stereotype of women not being able to control their own feelings, I would rather challenge the notion and be healthy.

Love without fear.

Though I'm still a young woman, 2017 has taught me that love often comes with a lot of fears. Like anything, it's important to not be held back by fear. And though it can often seem impossible to get out of your own head, rolling your eyes at your anxiety is liberating.

Do you believe that you deserve love? Then let go of the notion that you will fail. Love is unconditional, and though pain and heartbreak are real, they will only bring you closer to the person that you deserve to be with.

This also goes for loving yourself. Love yourself without fear, and find the strength and confidence in yourself to enjoy your own path toward becoming your own person. Self-love is the most important kind, and if you can respect yourself enough to fall in love with your own needs and responsibilities, you've made it.

Find your strengths.

Being a woman in 2017 has encouraged me to always be moving forward toward my goals. To do so, I had to acknowledge that I have strengths.

Not everyone can see these effortlessly, and often times we are mistaken with what is truly our number one talent. Try new things, try things that you are terrible at, but most importantly, always aim for your goals.

Now that you've discovered your passions, strengthen them daily. It is easy to become lazy once we've acknowledged what we are good at, because we feel that we've already mastered it.

Say you're good at writing, write something every single day, and come back to your pieces with an eye for criticism. Learn from yourself, and grow from those that you surround yourself with.

Learn everyday.

Though I have already somewhat covered this concept, I want to elaborate a bit more, to show how much importance this has been while being a woman in 2017. Though it might seem like an over-hyped ideal, learning something each day does not have to be opening up a dictionary and discovering a new word.

The best way to do so is by surrounding yourself with people who are smarter than you, who have something to offer to your growth, and vise versa. You want to feel accomplished by the time you lay your head on your pillow. Use each day as an opportunity.

Know your boundaries.

One of the most important lessons I learned in 2017 is that I should always be aware of the boundaries that I am comfortable with. There have been too many instances in my life that I have let things slide, that I would never allow today.

When you choose to love yourself, and more importantly, respect yourself, this comes easier. You have to set yourself on a higher pedestal than you can imagine, this way you will never question your own intentions.

You never want to think back to a situation and question if you were okay with it or not. And more importantly, you never want to regret the choices you made that led to belittling your own respect for yourself. You only get one life, treat it with delicacy.

Keep your standards high.

This concept can go hand in hand with knowing your boundaries. If you can master both of these lessons, you are golden. Keeping your standards high is ultimately a way to prove your respect for yourself and your path.

Never belittle your potential, and always reach for the goals that you know you are capable of, with a little bit of work. Don't be lazy when it comes to goal making. Taking the easy way out is a popular method when setting your standards, and this can even go for settling in relationships, jobs, and lifestyles.

Your potential is much larger than you think, so set a standard for the future that you can't yet gain sight of.

Give out what you want to receive back.

To complete my list of the lessons I have learned about being a woman in 2017, I want to end on a concept that has always been taught to me. However, I have only this year discovered its importance. If you want to be loved, you must give off love. If you want to be respected, you must respect others.

Though easily put, this is a lesson that takes times to receive the benefits. Once you alter your lifestyle in a way that will mirror the desires that you want for your life, you will find yourself living a life that is unimaginably great.