Women empowerment is something that we typically hear in TED talks, leadership conferences, and interviews.
But what, really, does it mean to be an empowered woman?
While most people associate it with success, influence, and courage, empowerment can mean different things for women. For some, it can mean the ability to make their own decisions, for others, it’s making social change.
In its essence, being empowered is having a sense of self-worth.
Women should feel empowered not only during certain events in their life. It should be something they feel and strive for, every single day.
Here are 9 qualities of an empowered woman:
She lives her purpose
An empowered woman knows her purpose.
She doesn’t rely on anybody for her happiness. She has dreams and strives to achieve them, even though she knows there are challenges along the way.
She is not limited by her profession or degree. An empowered woman knows that her purpose is broader than her job. While career and purpose are connected, she knows it doesn’t have to be a definitive fact.
Living on purpose is having a sense of spirituality, meaning, and connection.
She loves herself – and her body
Empowered women don’t put labels on their bodies.
They love themselves regardless of the scars, stretch marks, curves, and blemishes. They aren’t confined to what society has dictated about who is beautiful and who is not.
An empowered woman knows that even though she has a less ideal body, she is still worthy of love and respect.
She believes in herself
Empowered women believe in themselves. They know that their abilities aren’t limited by their gender or role.
She shows confidence in everything she does, from the way she talks to the way she dresses, deals with people, and everything else.
She owns her emotions and owns up to them. An empowered woman is self-assured. She has the opportunity to express herself without blaming others or needing someone’s confirmation.
She puts self-care as a priority
An empowered woman knows that no one can take care of her more than herself. Thus, she puts self-care as a priority.
She doesn’t wait for an important occasion to buy herself a beautiful dress or gorgeous jewelry. If she wants to buy the diamond station necklace she’s recently loved, she’ll spend her money on herself. Because she knows she deserves it!
She shows vulnerability
An empowered woman understands that vulnerability is not a weakness, rather a strength. She knows that it is necessary to make meaningful relationships with other people.
An empowered woman acknowledges her emotions, good or bad. She is not afraid to show her feelings to the people she loves.
She is disobedient
An empowered woman knows when to say NO. She is not intimidated by someone’s authority. If it’s against her values and will, she will disobey.
Because she is honest and authentic, she sets healthy boundaries with other people. She knows her priorities. This strengthens her relationship with others, whether personal or social.
She challenges the status quo
Empowered women aren’t just those we see rallying in the streets.
They could also be at their homes, making an impact using different media. They are not afraid to challenge the status quo, whether at work, in politics, and other aspects of life
Whenever they think of better solutions for pressing issues, they voice it out. Even if it means getting criticized by others sometimes.
She trusts her gut
An empowered woman makes decisions according to her intuition, not because someone forces her to do so. While she seeks other people’s opinions from time to time, at the end of the day – she knows that it’s her decision and stands by it.
Intuition is relying on one’s mind, body, and personal experience. An empowered woman knows that it’s an ultimate act of trusting herself. She’s willing to take risks because she knows it’s necessary for her personal growth. She is not afraid to make mistakes. She either wins or learns.
She’s unthreatened by other women
Sometimes, women tend to be harder on other women as men are harder on other men.
An empowered woman, however, doesn’t dwell on envy, insecurity, jealousy, or superiority. She understands that every person is unique and special. They have skills and great attributes, so she has. She is secure on her own and is happy when she sees another woman succeed in her endeavor.
For some women, feeling empowered is a struggle. For others, it can happen overnight. If you feel like you’re struggling, it’s okay. You can always take it one step at a time. Start by believing in yourself. You may not have all these qualities yet. But you can learn to apply them in your life. When in doubt, just remember that you are a woman. And you are powerful.