Are you an independent man/woman? Do you live for the affirmation of others, or could you not care any less than you do right now? Do you worry about the comment that person made last week about your unlatching socks, or do you only worry about if your popcorn can last you through the entire next season of "Making a Murderer?" If you can relate to the signs below, you're probably exactly the kind of leader that every squad needs to function.
1. You do not need other people to validate you.
It can be really easy to turn to the people you care about for validation in your plans, feelings, and choices. Doing this is a habit for most of us. Whether we'd like to admit it or not, we all care what other people think to some degree. How many times have you turned to your parents, best friend, or peers to make sure that what you want is okay? Although it's important to consider others' opinions and to look to peers and those with more experience for guidance, ultimately, you have to do what makes you happy. One thing that you know as an independent person is that just because someone does not validate your feelings, fears, experiences, or choices, does not mean that they are incorrect. You've learned to validate yourself, and take care of the people around you.
2. You dress to impress be comfortable.
You get dressed in the morning based on factors like the weather, and how lazy you're feeling. The last thing that crosses your mind is the boy from Chem class, comparing yourself to your slightly more fashion-motivated peers, and the look your mother would give you if she saw you entering public wearing that.
3. You strive to be healthy, not thin.
You go to the gym because you want to be in shape and you want to be your best self. Your main goal isn't to lose weight-- it's to feel as good as possible and to take care of yourself. You take time to relieve stress and stay in the zone by taking care of your body as much as possible.
4. You don't beat around the bush.
You're pretty straightforward when it comes to your relationships. When your relationships are involved, you're to the point and blunt. You don't see any reason in ignoring problems, no matter how uncomfortable they are to talk about. Likewise, you appreciate it when other people can be honest with you about where they're at. As the independent and self-assured person you are, you don't waste anyone's time by faking it.
5. You own up to your mistakes.
Just because you and your entire posse are on point doesn't mean that you don't make mistakes. You own up to your own mistakes and you take the appropriate measures to make things right. You try to learn from your mistakes, instead of casting the blame on someone else.
6. You accept yourself... Even the weird parts.
Okay, admit it. We've all got some weird things about us. Do you put guacamole on your pizza? Did you turn Candyland into a drinking game? Are you emotionally invested in "The Bachelor?" The difference between you and everyone else is that you don't really care.. or at least, you accept the weird things about yourself. Yes, even the weird scar on your elbow from falling during running up the downward escalator, and the fact that you can't dance even with the drinks it takes to get you to try. You don't see these as flaws as much as you see them as something to keep life a little more interesting. These things are what make you unique, and you see them as assets.
