Being independent is not exclusively about being able to support ourselves financially. Earning money is often more a matter of necessity than of will, and autonomy goes beyond the purely monetary. Being able to pay the bills does not necessarily make you fit to lead your life in a way that will guarantee you a stable and comfortable future, or at least one in which you will not end up hurting yourself. Being able to take control of you and take you to a good port has to do with much more than that.
It has to do with your aspirations, your capabilities, aptitudes and attitudes; it has to do with the clarity with which you see yourself in the future, things that are not always clear to us when we reach our adult life. Therefore, if you are already reaching that point and still do not know what to keep in mind to start the road to your independence, I share some ideas to accompany you and guide you on the road to being an independent adult:
- Take care of yourself physically and mentally.
If you are not able to respect your body and mind, it will be difficult for you to have a full life and, when the time comes to be an older adult, to be independent; if you do not take care of yourself, you will run the risk of being sick, ailing and what is worse, dependent on the care of another person.
- Be disciplined
It is very important to be disciplined if we want to take care of ourselves. Do not get carried away by fleeting emotions and have the willpower to do the right thing for our present, but above all, for our future.
Trust in yourself No dream can come true if we do not believe that it is possible. The first thing is to believe that we can make it possible!
- Seek to feel comfortable with your life
Remember that decisions are yours, therefore, you are the only one responsible for them and for them.
- Try to see the positive side of life
Just as important as having resources and believing in yourself, is to have the capacity and cold blood to know that life has good and bad moments, and that we will have to face both, because that is also what life is about.
- Motivate yourself
Remember that if you do not encourage yourself, no one will do it for you, and if they do, no word will have more strength for you than your own.
- Don’t look for acceptance from others
If you need others to tell you what to do, then you will not be in control of your life, and if things go wrong, you will not be able to take responsibility and will seek to blame others.
- Stand up for your opinions, your desires, and be congruent.
This is not about being intransigent or foolish, but about making it clear that you have a voice and that it deserves to be heard.
- Learn to do the household chores
It doesn’t matter if you are a man or a woman, it is important that you know at least the basics of household chores.
- Be organized
Disorganization and chaos tend to generate anxiety, depression and even rejection. They say that the shortest distance to get to a point is a straight line, so don’t complicate yourself by opening too many fronts: keep it simple, but do it!
- Control and manage your money
It’s best to budget and prioritize your needs, and don’t forget to save: no future will be bright if you don’t take care of preparing for winter.
- Don’t stop preparing
If you don’t prepare yourself professionally, it will be difficult for you to take advantage of the opportunities that come your way. And not only that: financially, you won’t be able to grow to your full potential.
- Plan your day according to your desires
If there is something nice about being independent, it is being able to have your time and space without having to ask for permission. So enjoy it and organize your activities so that your routine is varied and attractive to you.
- Enjoy your family and friends
If you want a full life, it is very important that your emotional ties are solid and present. They are the rock that will keep you focused, inspired and loved.
- Plan your life
They say that all reality had its origin in our mind, that is why you need to have a very clear idea of where you are and where you want to go. Make all your actions directed to reach that goal.
Life is not an exact science, everything is trial and error. However, there are recipes for failure and many others for success, and both depend on you, because, as Jorge Bucay said: “No one can know for you. No one can grow for you. No one can search for you. No one can do for you what you yourself must do. Existence does not admit representatives.”