Trying so hard to impress people makes you devote tons of energy to gaining other people’s validation. It’s simply not worth it because people should love you for who you are. Real power lies in achieving internal validation. Here are 15 strengths displayed by women who don’t spend time trying to win everyone’s approval.
1. They trust themselves.
Women who don’t need other people’s validation have rock-hard self-confidence. They trust their abilities and value their self-worth, instead of waiting for other people to make them feel good about themselves. Their self-confidence makes them so much happier and more of a go-getter in life because they don’t get held back by their own insecurities.
2. They don’t wear social masks.
Some people try to be what they’re not in order to get people to like them. But women who don’t fuss with impressing other people don’t waste time pretending to be something they’re not, which is exhausting. Instead, they show their real selves to anyone else without worrying that they won’t be liked. Interestingly, this serves to draw people to them because they come across as authentic.
3. They’re self-sufficient.
Independence is linked to not requiring other people’s validation, Psychology Today notes. When women rely on themselves and can look after themselves, they make decisions based on their own values and beliefs. This prevents them from waiting for other people to tell them how to behave or live. Although they might value feedback from people they trust, they know what they want!
4. They express their needs.
Women who don’t try to impress anyone tend to be assertive. They have a high self-esteem that enables them to express their thoughts and feelings clearly and confidently, even if other people disagree with them. By being aware of their needs, they can stick up for themselves in relationships, instead of settling for less than they deserve.
5. They’re resilient.
A woman who doesn’t depend on other people’s validation is strong, capable of bouncing back from challenges and setbacks. If people try to bring her down, she doesn’t allow them to zap her confidence because they can’t define her or hold her back. Her inner strength is what guides her through life. When life gives her lemons, she laughs and moves on.
6. They have high emotional intelligence.
Having emotional intelligence is linked to not seeking validation. Women with empathy easily relate to other people’s emotions and perspectives. This prevents them from wanting to impress people because they’d rather build genuine connections with them. They’re not motivated by gaining superficial approval but enjoying authentic interactions.
7. They laugh at their flaws.
If someone’s too worried about what people think of them, this can make them take themselves too seriously. By comparison, a woman who doesn’t care about other people’s opinions of her will embrace her shortcomings. She’ll laugh at her mistakes and what she considers to be her flaws, showing that they hold no power over her. By embracing herself, she isn’t easily affected by other people’s criticism.
8. They focus on their goals.
A woman who prioritizes her goals and dreams has a laser focus in life that prevents her from getting distracted by what other people think of her. She doesn’t try to impress people because all of her energy goes into being creative and productive as she chases her passions. She knows what’s important in life, and it’s not what the peanut gallery has to say!
9. They set healthy boundaries.
Women who don’t try to impress people tend to find it easy to set healthy boundaries for themselves. Since they know their worth, they’re not afraid to say “no” when something doesn’t feel like it aligns with their level of comfort and values. They also don’t allow themselves to get manipulated into doing things they don’t want to do, whether that’s attending a party or helping a friend with a project.
10. They embrace failure, instead of fearing it.
One of the best qualities of women who don’t work hard to get other people’s approval is that they have a healthy approach to failure. If they don’t achieve their goal or they make a mistake, they don’t view it as something negative that defines them. Similarly, they don’t fear being judged by anyone. Instead, they view failure as an opportunity to learn more about themselves and fine-tune their craft.
11. They’re highly self-aware.
When women don’t put too much importance on what other people think of them, they become more aware of their beliefs, feelings, opinions, strengths, and weaknesses. This helps them to better understand their path in life and make themselves a priority. While they can be aware of other people’s opinions of them, they don’t take them all on board. They choose other people’s feedback based on how it can help them to grow — but they don’t need it to feel worthy.
12. They have a fearless approach to life.
When a woman isn’t afraid to share her opinions, thoughts, and feelings with other people, she lacks fear that holds people back and forces them to censor themselves. She isn’t scared that people will reject her or make her feel inferior because she knows that her feelings are valid. Instead of waiting for anyone to validate her, she gives herself a big stamp of approval. Her reaction to rejection is, “So what?” Just like failure, it doesn’t define her.
13. They don’t compare themselves to anyone else.
When someone is desperate for other people’s validation, they might constantly compare themselves to other people to try to one-up them. This makes them feel good about themselves. Women who don’t care what other people think don’t have to resort to competing with people in order to impress them or feel better about themselves. They find more meaningful ways to feel good about themselves.
14. They can be vulnerable.
Women who don’t care about impressing anyone don’t censor their feelings out of fear of being judged. This makes them more vulnerable and transparent in their relationships. Their emotional honesty helps them to build strong connections with people and enrich their current relationships with loved ones and romantic partners. They know that vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness.
15. They’re not people-pleasers.
People who depend on external validation tend to be people-pleasers. They crave approval from other people and determine their worth according to what those people say. This can cause them to become human doormats, prioritizing other people’s needs over theirs. Instead of doing this, women who don’t try to impress people don’t bend over backwards for them. They know that people either like them or not, but either way it’s not their problem!
