As the years pass, people gradually transition from being dependent on their parents to being self-independent. During university, we were eager to graduate, start our careers, and earn a salary that we believed would help us achieve our identities.
However, later on, we faced many challenges and difficulties, each of which was like an exam no less important than university exams. Succeeding in these challenges is essential for continuing our self-independence path and taking control of our lives.
This article will discuss the most prominent challenges people face on their journey to self-independence and strategies for overcoming them. So, keep reading for more.
What is Self-Independence?
Before discussing the challenges, let's define self-independence—another word for "freedom." However, people's levels of self-independence differ, as some have control over their financial and professional matters but lack control over their personal lives. Also, independence degrees vary according to people's goals, desires, and surrounding circumstances.
Generally, self-independence is a human need and a cultural construct. Some people grow up in environments that encourage independence from childhood, while others are raised in totally different circumstances. When people achieve self-independence, they feel happy because they have more control over their lives since all choices are available to them.
This gives them the freedom to develop their personalities as they see fit. They can follow their interests, grow their self-awareness, discover what drives and fulfills them, and experience greater success, productivity, and creativity.
Our current time differs from the past when families would gather, with individuals living with their parents alongside their extended families, to form a cohesive unit in the face of challenges. Now, a successful person becomes independent from their family at an earlier stage. The family structure has become limited to just a mother, father, and children.
The Obstacles on the Path to Self-Independence
Self-independence is a journey filled with difficulties and tests that one must succeed in. Here are the most important challenges that must be overcome:
1. Parental Control
It is natural for parents to provide their children with everything they can out of their deep love. However, this love should not translate into dominance and control over the kids. Most parents forbid their children from making any decisions, leading them to grow accustomed to having decisions made for them.
Psychological studies confirm that the pressures a child experiences have long-term effects on their psyche, linking parental control to life dissatisfaction. Not controlling does not mean leaving the child to their own devices and fulfilling all their requests. Rather, it means granting children a space of freedom where they are not suppressed while still respecting customs, traditions, and moral values.
Parental control can take many forms, such as rejecting children's talents, disapproving of their university choices, and objecting to divergent fashion and attire tastes. This extends to the social relationships children build with friends, colleagues, or even life partners under the pretext of having more life experience, a better education and cultural background, or a financial situation that enables parents to give their kids everything they want.
The desire for self-independence means breaking free from all these previous constraints, each of which is a challenge that must be consciously and wisely overcome without losing parental support.
2. Difficulty of Financial Independence
People usually get used to having their needs for food and drink met in their parent's home, so they do not experience the difficulty of securing household needs. However, they must consider all the details when they want to become independent and leave the family.
Living in an independent home means having monthly bills that must be paid on time and basic necessities that need to be secured for the household. Being financially independent entails being self-sufficient in meeting all of your needs, which eliminates toxic relationships or inappropriate jobs. This is not easily achievable, but it is essential to achieving self-independence.
3. Lack of Self-Motivation
Achieving any goal in life requires motivation that comes from within oneself, independent of external encouragement. Self-motivation is a driving force that empowers a person to achieve the impossible in their life and allows them to rely less on others' support since it fuels them with the necessary energy, patience, and strength to overcome all challenges hindering self-independence.
4. Lack of Creativity
People need creative ideas and unconventional methods to solve potential issues to take full control of their lives. Most problems require thinking creatively and independently, so you should no longer depend on your parents' or friends' ideas because you want to create a life that fulfills you personally. You must strive to bring out the best ideas, talents, and qualities that will lead you to your desired destination.
How to Overcome Challenges on the Path to Self-Independence?
You must face challenges with strength to achieve self-independence. Here are some helpful tips:
1. Accept and Believe in Yourself
A person cannot be independent without having a strong self-belief. Confidence begins with self-acceptance, allowing you to put past mistakes behind you and focus on your strengths and qualities. This gives you the freedom to rescue yourself when needed and to follow your own path to fulfillment, regardless of those around you.
2. Face Challenges Courageously
As mentioned earlier, self-independence often requires confronting parents, close friends, or others. Do not focus on what is usually repeated about self-independence being just a trend. Remember that you do not want to waste any more time. Rather, you want to realize your potential and lead a free life.
Therefore, try to convince your close people of this. If persuasion fails, bravely confront them and stand up for your goals. Life is a one-time opportunity, and it’s important to note that independent people are not arrogant. Accept the world and its complexities, as well as differing opinions. Your personality will be respected more the more you respect others, eventually leading to your independence.
3. Be Patient
Self-independence is often a long process that cannot be achieved overnight. It requires going through many experiences alone. Therefore, be patient and keep going.
4. Motivate Yourself
Unless you motivate yourself, no amount of moral support from others will push you forward. Instead of adopting a pessimistic view or fearing the future, always maintain a positive outlook and repeat encouraging phrases in every experience, such as "I can do it" or "It's simple, and I can succeed." Accept that life is not fair, as you may see many people achieving their desires without putting in real effort. So, do not compare yourself to others.
5. Maintain Your Relationships, but Don’t Depend on Anyone
Self-independence does not mean avoiding social interactions. No one can live without family and friends to talk to, go out with, share happy and sad moments, and stand by them when needed. However, self-independence means managing all your needs alone—including grocery shopping, commuting, and meal preparation.
6. Achieve Financial Independence
You will go through many difficult financial circumstances, which is normal. Even though it may be tempting for many people to rely on others for financial support, you should politely refuse help and prepare yourself for challenging financial situations by saving for the future, avoiding unnecessary spending, and not following trends.
Live within your current means, not as you did in your parents' home. Maintain your health by following a balanced diet and exercising regularly to help you avoid getting sick as much as possible.
In Conclusion
Self-independence is a desire for most people; who doesn’t want to take control of their life? However, many fail to achieve this because of the challenges they face along the way, particularly parental expectations and their desire to possess their child, along with the difficulty of achieving financial independence that may tie an individual to a job they dislike. Additionally, a lack of self-motivation, confidence in goals, and creativity can leave an individual feeling helpless in the face of many problems, leading them to depend on others for solutions.
To achieve self-independence, people must overcome all challenges by believing in themselves, accepting themselves, trusting their ability to achieve goals, facing everyone courageously, and continuously motivating themselves to bring out their best. Also, people need to be patient and financially independent because the road to self-independence is a long and challenging one.
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